The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-08-20
THE EXCURSION TO ANA.
CONDA.
Brief History OF the Montana
RAILWAY Company.
First Trip From and to It's Terml-
nal Points.

ABOUT tnfee years ago the Montana
Railway Company was incorporated
under the laws OF this Territory. The
original incorporators were: Hon.
Samuel Word, George w. Irwin,
Henry Filing, O. r. O'Banon, E.
T. Hulaninsky, Robert Dickens
derfer, w. w. Morris, w. Raymond
and s. r. Buford: The first sever
above mentioned were elected direc-
tors of the road, with Samuel Word
as President, o. B. o. Bannon, Vice
President, and George w. Irwin,
Secretary. These officers held their
position until July 3Oth last, when at
the third annual meeting of the
stockholders Mr.. Charles Francis
Adams was elected President, and
Mr.. Samuel Word. Vice President
The company "a incorporated to
build a system of roads reaching out
in every portion of the Territory
from the Bitter Root Valley to Fort
Benton. It has surveys of routes di-
verging from Butte in every direc-
ton, the plats filed and accepted. 1t
has done work in Beavernead canon,
Jefferson canon, Missouri canon and
other places. The road from the
Anaconda mine to the Anaconda
smelter, a distance of about 81 miles,
is the work of the present season.
With the exception of q little work
to be done upon the road near the
smelter the enterprise is finished.
In order to make this step in the
rapid strides Butte is making toward
the highest point of prosperity, and
to celebrate the completion of an en-
terprise which connected the greatest
copper mine in the world with the
largest and most complete smelling
works in the world, MI. Word in
vited about sixty of our leading bust
ness and mining men to make a tour
of inspection over the road last Sun
day. The West Side press was rep
resented by Mr. }. r. Wilson of the
Dillon Tribune, MI. Frederic Lock
lev of the Inter fountain and q
MINER reporter. At 9 o'clock a. m.
all the guests were seated in the fine
passenger and express cars
which Superintendent Dodridge
kindly furnished for the occasion
and the little train started in its de-
scent from the Anaconda mine to the
valley below. The grade upon this
part of the road is from $50 feet to
40 text to the mile, just steep enough
to make the novice look on each side
of the track for a soft place to jump
on In case the train concluded to dis
pense with air brakes and 60 down
the hill according to its own sweet
will. Conductor Hall, however, put
on the brakes aud the little train
moy ed cautiously and slowly down
as if feeling its way to the level
ground. 1t took just fifteen minutes
to reach Meaderville, three miles
from the starting point.
After leaving the latter place the
run down was made in the usual
time, and just before II O'Clock the
passengers were in Anaconda, shak-
ing hands with friends. Many went
over to the smelter to look at the i'm
buildings and vast works
others visited friends and
passed their time as best pleased
them. At $3.50 p. m. the train moved
and in just one hour and
q half, landed its passengers at the
mine, everyone voting
the excursion n Of the most pleas
ant and enjoyable trips of the sea-
son. MI. Word, with that grace and
of manner, which charac-
the gentleman, made his
quests feel at home and entirely at
ease from the moment they entered
The cars. Lemonade and cigars were
1t the hand of every one, but neither
liquors, beer. wine or ci-
lar vaa aboard. SObrietV Joined !