The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-01-20
REPORTED RAILROAD COMBINATION.

II JAS DeeH eNiue.h IoT tue past year "
those who gave railroad matters considers
tioE tina, a strong conflict of interests wa.
developing between the Northern Pacific
and Utah & Northern railroads In Mountains
"A conflict thar would develop intensity a.
construction progressed and the country wa'
traversed, or would result In compromise
and combination betweeL them. Still, wori
has continued. The Northern Pacific appsr
emily abandoned the Deer Lodge Pass route
which by Its southern sweep would have
held the Utah IL Northern Ia strong check
and Is going ria Helena-land grant or mo
land grant. Its true that, to the best Of our
information, the United States Government
does not know Of any location of the North.
ern Pacific railroad except ola Deer Lodge
Pass; also true that the contract for grading
OH that route was let from Little Blackfoot
TO Silver Bow; that several surveys have
been run, grading done, and ties contracte ed
for aud furnished. But work on the Mullan
tunnel progresses notwithstanding, and 1t is
stated obsi acles greater than thai-the sec
ond tunnel and the tremendous intervening
bridge-have been obyiated by new line.
Circumstances have pointed TO the certain
construction o. either the Northern Pacific
or road under control of the Northern Pa
cifc by Helena. IL remained to be seen
whether the main line ria Deer Lodge Pass
would be built. We have thought 1t would,
because the land grant would amply pay
the construction; the route is throu. h the
best pass in the Rocky Mountains, could be
built rapidly, and would shut off a rival
road.
The Union Pacific, evidently comprehend
ing the advantages Of prior occupation, has
In the meantime pushed the SURVEYS and
work of the Utah Il Northern northward,
and railroad building In 1882 promised to be
pushed with unprecedented energy. The
conflict Of interests involved has, however,
continuously invoked compromise between
the two companies, and 1t is an open secret
that the Northern Pacific In the past six
with the Utah & Northern, looking not only
to each road confning itself to district of
country, but to the Northern Pacific receiv-
ing material over the Union Pacific and Utah
a. Northern for the construction Of the form
er road both ways from the mouth of Little
Blackfoot.
In the Miner Of the 14th came the first
note of warning that the terms of compro-
mise had become public. 1t gave place to q
letter from New York saying the Northern
Pacific proposed. substantially:
/. The Utah IL Northern to he built 10 the
mouth Of Little Blackfo"t, but not TO Hell
ena; the Northern Pacific not to build to
Butte, but To Helena; each company to have
the territory travrrsed, and all profits arising
from freight and passenger Traffic TO be
pooled and divided pro rata.
2. Ii the Utah a. Northern will remain 81
Butte and not interfere with East Side traffic,
the Northern Pacific will pay the Utah &
Northern annually the sum Of $500 900.
The Herald day or two later had advices
which, from extrIpsic and intrinsic evidence,
we believe are somewhat authorit alive, that
the propositions were substantially as fol-
lows:
|. The Northern Pacific to withdraw from
its projected Butte branch.
2. The Utah IL Northern to extend its
West Side branch from Silver Bow to the
Little Blackfoot and stop.
D. The Utah a. Northern to extend its
trunk line from Dillon north to the Three
Forks and stop.
4. The Northern Pacific TO be supplied this
year over the narrow guage with iron for $50
miles Of trirk (Inore or less. a. required).
delivery at the Little Btackfoot commencing
May LIST, aud at Three Forks September LIST,
at rates agreed upon.
Our advises are 10 the same effect a. those
Of the Herald, except that the Northern Pa
cifc agrees TO give the Union Pacific and
Utah Il Northern $500. 900 worth of business
this year In carrying material-iron, rolling
stock, etc.,-for II to Little BIackfoot and
Three Forks. Propositions approximating
this effect have undoubtedly been made.
Five days ago they had not been accepted,
but Washington Dunn, Esq, who had the
Northern Pacific contract for grading from
Little Blackfoot to Butte, this week, under
orders, discontinued all work on the line,
and all the Northern Pacific engineers and
graders have left IL. This is an earnest on
The part Of the Northern Pacific of their pur.
pose and Is confirmatory of other advices.
We are well aware that those negotiations
will not be effected by newspaper comment.
We see in the arrangement, too, the expedi-
lion Of railroad construction in Montana.
But we cannot refrain from calling the at
tention of Montana to the danger that i'm
Ponds. This means simply districting off
The Territory, and giving to each company a
Of business, with rates to suit
Itself In the district 1t traverses. To break
This requires the construction of new road
Or roads, whereas If competitive roads we're
built and q pool then made, we could rea-
sonably anticipate break Of the pool some
lime. To Butte, and Helena especially, this
is a disaster. Butte will have
but one route to ship machinery
aud supplies. Helena will have no inside
margins on rates and with but one road
thereto Benton will have great commercial
\, vantages In supplying the rapidly develop
Ing north. IL also seems to us that Salt
Lake, Ogden, San Francisco, Omaha and St.
Louis will be losers by this combination and
The Union Pacific Is bartering away Its ad-
for trivial consideration, while
The Territory Is parcelled out In surgical
kind Of way for the use and purposes Of two
powerful corporations.
The brighter side Is that railroad construc-
lion will be expedited and rs the companies
will have already taken possession of the
Territory perhaps they will not have occasion
10 NEEDLE with our political affairs for some
lime to come.
Caiv~stons Big Fire.
GALVESTON, January 1.-THE loss by fire