The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-02-02
THE WICKES BRANCH,

Our evening contemporary seems to
be greatly exercised over the fact
that movement is on foot to extend
the Wickes branch to Butte. We
have heretofore spoken of this mat
ter and have seen no reason since to
change the views then expressed.
No railroad to this city, coming from
whatever direction it may, can pos
sibly retard the prosperity of this
mining district. On the contrary, it
would advance it. Direct communi
cation with st. Paul and other East
ern cities via Wickes and Helena is
quite as desirable as by the round
about way by Anaconda and Gar
riaon. BY the Wickes branch a
through line to Eastern points could
be had without transfer of freight.
At the present time there are an
average Of twenty car loads Of Butte
ore received at Garrison for shipment
over the Northern Pacific. These
twenty car loads must oe rehandled
at Garrison. Labor and time could
be saved in the shipment OF this ore
if the Wickes branch were completed
to Butte.
Besides these advantages, the
Wic6es branch would open up a
country which would become tribu-
tary to Butte. The great ore beds of
the Cataract and Boulder districts
would be opened, aud a large per-
centage of their output would nat
urally find its way to Butte reduction
works. Hence. looking at the mat
ter from every standpoint one must |
come to the conclusion that the ex-
tension Of the Wickes branch to
putte will add greatly to the prosper
ity of this city.
No objection can be urged against
the building Of a Northern Pacific |
branch from Garrison to Butte via
Anaconda. If the Northern Pacific |
desire to compete for the Anaconda
and Deer Lodge traffic no one is hold
ing 1t back from building a road to
the one and through the other. 1t !
may find it to its interest to continue
the Wickes branch on to Anaconda
and from thence down the Deer
Lodge valley to Garrison. Or it may
after reaching Anaconda run up
Warm Spring creek and after strik-
ing Georgetown, Philipsburg and
New Chicago make connection with
the main line below Garrison. The
has the country before it to
build upon and the traffic if it can
get it. 1t pays its money and takes
it choice, and no one horse newspaper
in Butte will influence that choice.
The opposition of the Inter Moun-
'osn will have no more effect in stay
ng tue hnildlng of the Wiokas
branch to Butte than it had in pre-
venting the building of the Utah &
Northern to this city. If the North
ern Pacific intend to run the Wickes
branch to Butte, it v ill do it whether
he Inter Mountain likes it or not.
The latter may as well attempt to
lam the Mississippi river with a
traw as to attempt to stop the build
ng "f any road determined upon by
he interposition of its penny whistle.
Che assertion that Oul merchants,
miners and business men will not
,atronize the Wickes branch, it built
lere, is the rankest OF nonsense. If
'ur business men find it to their in
crest to patronize the road they will
,atronize it; otherwise they will not.
That is all there is about it. This
enseless chatter of our cotemporary
bout what tho Northern Pacific
must do and what it must not do,
nd what the business men of Butte
will do and what they will not do, is /
to say the least. We hope {
utsiders will not take Butte business
nen to be the fools that the Inter =,
fountain represents them to be. !