The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-05-28
THE c. P. BRANCH.
-. Efort in the Right Direction to Secure
a Railroad For Fort Benton.

40 connection with the Canadian Pa
a;fc at Medicine Hat or some other de-
oiroh1e point was discussed, and the
facts brought out made it pretty clear
.hot this. under all the circumstances, is
tho direction from which Fort Benton's
erst railroad will come, if an effort is
roode TO secure it. Mr.. G.. E. Conrad,
Who is we'll informed in regard to all
matters pertaining to the northwest,
.4atnd that the charter of the G. P. COM
many contemplated the construction of
tpwo branch lines into the Uuited States,
viz. One from some point near Winni-
neo TO Kansas City, and the other from
pWeedicine Hat or some other point in the
Northwest territory to Fort Benton.
These lines are already projected, and it
is the intention of the company to put
them through as soon as they get around
to if He also stated-a fact not gener-
allv known-that last season the sur
vpyors were directed to locate the Fort
Renton route, starting at Medicine Hat,
and that they actually passed over fifty
miles of the proposed line when recall
cd to do other work. 1t is we'll known
that last year representatives of the
Canadian Pacific o made an extern
sive trip through northern Montana,
looking up the resources of the country,
and that their report was very favorable.
There is no reason to doubt that this
company, with The view of securing an
important feeder for their main line, are
looking forward to the early construc-
tion of this branch, and if granted lib
eral aid we believe they would build it
at once. At least our people should
confer with them and see what can be
done. MI. Conrad is confident that the
result would be favorable and no one is
better posted in the premises. There
seems to be but little hope Of securing
railroad connection in any other direc-
ton at present, and we should now look
to the north for assistance. The enter
prise is so promising, as we look at it,
that steps should be taken at nee to
carry it into effect if possible.
The revival of this subject Of a branch
to the north reminds us of what Mr.. [.
P. Baker, general agent Of the Benton
''Pn line, said to our reporter last De-
cember in talking of the railroad pros
poets of this city. He said:
"You want a connection with the
Canadian Pacific. Such a road would
make Fort Benton the best town be-
tween st. Paul and Portland, and if
your citizens are awake to their own in
~terests they will leave no efforts undone
to secure its construction as soon as pos
sible. A connection with the Northern
Pacific might give you a temporary
boom, but what advantages i'll the way
of freight rates will it give you, or what
new fields of trade will it open up? Alb
solutely none. Billings or Helena could
undersell your merchants, and the deal
ers in the Judith Basin Gf the road
came that way would be independent
of Benton. But it would be altogether
different with a Canadian Pacific
branch. That would make Fort Ben
ton again the entrepot of the Northwest
territory, and your wholesale merchants
here would sell goods in every town.
in that large field from Regina to the
summit Of the Rockies. I'll tell you
why. They could afford to sell
them much cheaper because of more
favorable freight tariffs. The large
shippers of Fort Benton can get gopds
laid down here from Chicago, under
favorable circumstances, for $1.25 a ham {
dred [ have never known better rates
given from Chicago to Winnipeg THIN
81. Fort Benton has, then, to start within
an advantage of rs cents per cwt. over
Winnipeg as a distributing point. The
distance from Fort Benton to the North
west Territory is something over 100
miles from Winnipeg to the same point
over 800 miles, so that there could be no
comparison of rates. With such I'M
doubted advantages of transportation,
the northwest would look again to Fort !
Benton, and its growth and progress
would only be equaled by that OF st.
Paul and Minneapolis. The building of
this road would shortly bring you others
and would hasten more than anything
else the great future | believe there is in
store for Fort Benton" +,
These are hard facts. and If our peo-
pie are in earnest in the matter of secur-
ing railroad connection-and they GER
tainly ought to be-a determined effort
should be put forth AT ONCE to interest
the Canadian Pacific folks in this matter
and give them such encouragement as
would prompt them to undertake the
construction of the Fort Benton branch
already projected) of that road.
Our citizens seem to be thoroughly
to the importance of securing
railroad, and steps will at G be
taken to see what can be done. The I
proposition of getting connection with /,
the Canadian Pacific has awakened
more enthusiasm than any yet made, {
because the fact is apparent to every one
that it would be of vastly more benefit I
to the town. There is good ground to :
hope that the Canadian Pacific author 1
tiles will give the matter favorable con- /,
sideration. aud they will soon have an !
opportunity to weight the matter. 1t /,
Benton acts promptly and wisely I
in the. premises this important road can !
be secured, and the benefits to accrue
will be many times greater than II the I