Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-07
THE MARCH OF EMPIRE.
The Wonders of Hallway Progress and
Industry-Thc Rapid Increase OF Pope
Misunderstanding Villages Following
the WOrkElen.


l have just returned from a visit to the end of
the Northern Pacific railroad track and the head
of the Yellowstone valley What an enormous
valley this is-six hundred and twenty miles
long! 1t would reach nearly in straight line.
from New ork to Chicago. The end of the
North Pacific track is at Young's Point, on
the Yellowstone river, or, rather. was
there few days ago. The road is
progressing at the rate of one-and-a-half to
two miles per day. and this winter will
reach BensOn's Landing. and possibly Bozeman.
The track leaves Yellowstone yailey at BenSOn's
after having traversed it for a distance of 400
miles. 1t strikes the Yellowstone at Glendive,
runs upto Miles City. 50 miles; thence to Forsyth,
4o miles; thence to Billings. 1873 miles. where ii
crosses over from the south to the north bank
OF the Yellowstone. From Billings it runs to
Countryman's Crosses. again to the north side,
and thence to BenSOnS. Here It turns sharp
west. goes up Trail creek to Eridgcr mountain
andthrOugh tunnel 2. 600 feet long and energies
in the head of the Gallatin valley. near Boze-
man. from which place it traverses the Gallatin
valley to Helena.
saw the tracklayers at work on the Northern
Pacific road. Little cars loaded with iron rails
were dragged forward by mules hitched to ropes
made fast to the sides of the cars and as fast as
the iron reached the end OF the laid rails new
iron was seized and rushed forward. So accu-
ratey could the handlers throw rail that it laid
where it fell and was instantly spiked down in its
place. If you stopped to converse for few min
utes the trackayers would get several rods ahead.
did not time them. but about a minute was
sufficient to place a rail. In advance of the
track layers were hundreds of men sizing up
the rOadbed building culverts and putting in
bridges. Behind the track men came scores of
boarding houses on wheels, long lines of cars
loaded with rails and great engines pushing them
along westward over the new laid track 1t
was sight we'll worth seeing, and one calcu-
lated to fill the breast of the Western man
with hope for the future of his country.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS.
met many distinguished men and capitalists
out looking at the country and seeking pleas
ure. Commander Gorrlnge, United States navy,
with party of friends, was on his way to the
National park, and close behind him Senator
Bayard, Of Delaware, with another party bound
for the park. l heard. of Senator Beck, of Ken
lucky, who has gone up Tongue river to see his
son. who is raising cattle and sheep on ranch
near Mckinney. Mr.. Frank Thomson, general
manager Of the Pennsylvania railroad, with
large party of friends, was hunting in Big Horn
canyon and would go up to Clarks Fork mines
before returning. where Mr.. Thomson and some
Philadelphlans have bought the Great Republic
mine. .
Bozeman. MT, found small New York
city. The streets were filled with bustling busy
men, and the hotels SO full / could not get bed
Property in BOzeman has doubled in value in
the last six months and rents have nearly quad
rupled. s. r4.r 80
The writer had the good fortune, some years
ago, while stationed at Fort Ellis, to buy two
buildings in BoZeman. One of these paid 81, 400
for The first year rented it for s25 per month;
the second year l got $40 for it per
month; last year $50, and now / am offered
800 per month for it. 1 could get
5000 for it any day. ! never improved
h11f1 4 10 10 hY1fo Tnsv
what other property in the town is doing. Miles
City and BoZeman are two of the best towns in
Montana. Last November bought two lots In
Miles City, for $3.50 each, and in April sold them
for 1887 each. Meantime had two per cent In
terest per month on my money from the rent of
q little building on the lots. During the past
year have loaned large sums of money not only
for myself but eastern friends. and SO tar we
have not lost cent.
The rates of interest are very high, one, one
and half and two per cent month being
readily obtained for loans of $780, 81 600 and
$1,000. For sums under $500 two and two and
a. half per cent month are charged. The loans
are met with great punctuality when due, and I
would rather loan money for safety in Montana
than New York.
PRICE OF CATTLE.
Last year we bought cattle at SIG and S17
per head all round, good assorted herds. and
calves under one year Of age thrown in, This
year we are selling the same cattle for S25.
$50 and $50 per head, and selling everything.
calves being up no longer, thrown In with
the herd, but counted as regular beeyes. This
unprecedented rise in live stock is owing to
the opening of .the Northern Pacific railroad
and the speculations in beef east Cattle are
too high and must come down in price be-
fore long. People are going crazy on stock
raising, and everybody who can raise money
wants to buy breeding herds. Cows viii
soon be higher than beeves. saw 5000 head
OF cattle awaiting shipment east at Billings. and
many herds could not be furnished cars. These
are driving toward Miles City, and ], 700 head
are now coming in, closely followed by other
herds The shipments from Billings will be
over 1000 head for the season. and 600 head
from Miles City. All the cattle the Northern
Pacific road can carry up to October 31st can be
furnished from our Montana ranges. These cat
tie are very fine, averaging over 1O5O pounds
per head, and saw steers at Billings that
weighed 1880 pounds each. It is no 1ncom-
and as high as s67 per head has been paid
Some stock raisers have 400 to 800 Of these
beeves for sale. You can zee what money thew
are making. A beef does not cost "a to raise
until he is four years old, when he win bring
Il