The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-10-01
A PERTINENT QUESTION.

A PERTINENT QUESTION.
In its last issue the Mss0ulian asks
) the question: Twill the Northern
Pacific build q branch from Mis-
souls ?" And then adds:
sin the face of the fact that the
Union Pacific has an exploring
party in the field looking out al
eligible or practicable route to con-
meet its system with the Bitter Root
valley, the richest part of Montana,
the question, Will the Northern
Pacific build q Bitter Root branch /?
is q very important one. We wish
the people of the Bitter Root valley
nection, and the soone the Northern
Pacific realizes this fact and acts
upon it, the better it will be for that
company. 1t must be apparent to
many that the projected connection
between Anaconda and the head of
the Bitter Root valley, would be the
most advantageous to the people of
the Bitter Root valley and Butte, te-
cause the haul would be much less.
the distance between Anaconda and
the settlements on the Skalkaho
being about Fl ty- five miles. If the
Northern Pacific therefore would
control the trade of Missoula county,
it must not only build to Butte from
Garrison via Anaconda, but must at
the earliest practical moment begin
the construction of q branch from
Missoula to the Bitter Root valley.
Will it neglect the opportunity? 1t
may be said by the directors of the
Northern Pacific, that the financial
condition of the Union Pacific is not
such Ms to make the extension
of its road from Anaconda to
the Bitter Root valley a reason
able probability or certainty. In
answer to this suggestion it may be
stated that President Adams gives a
most encouraging report of the fnan-
cial condition Of the road and its
earnings during the past few
months. That it could command
the necessary capital to extend the
| Anaconda branch to the Bitter Root
| valley, certainly will not be Ques-
toned by any one familiar with the
methods by which railroads are
built. This is not all. The. Union
Pacific people will understand and !
appreciate the important fact that a
connection with the Bitter Root val
ley would give it control of the
timber and lumber trade of Ana
conda, Butte and the country
0rarnfinnnr1c fn ito linz &c fur |
as Pocatello, if it did not
extend beyond that. In addition
to this, it would carry the surplus
grain, hay, pork and vegetables to
Anaconda and Butte, and would in
time lind a most profitable adjunct in
the transportation of ores and bu!-
lion from the spleI did mining pros-
poets of the Bitter Root valley. The
mineral wealth of Missoula county
will in the near future constitute a
most important factor in the produc-
tive industry of the county. This
fact cannot be kept in the back
ground much longer. Some of the
best prospects in the different por-
lions of the county are falling into
the hands of men who are willing
and able to develop them. There are
two or three mines In the Bitter
Root valley from which large ship
ments of ore could be made TO Ana
conda, Butte and Wickes, could a
railroad rate be had IRON the hines
to tie place of reduction"
The fact cannot be denied that the
of that part of Missoula
drained by the Bitter Root
are of such magnitude and impor-
lance al eventually to command the
presence of railroad. Which Of the
roads now operating In tho Ter
ritory will secure the grand prize is a
question of less interest to the public
than the building of the road. The
Union Pacific seems to be fully in
formed touching the traffic possibil-
tiles of the Bitter Root country and {
has looked over the route leading
from Anaconda to it. We are not
informed as to the conclusion the
company has arrived but there is no
question that should there be an OF .
lection to the construction of the road
It would arise from the impractical ,
oility of the proposed route.
This objection, however, can l
be apprebcnded. Several =
who have recently gone over !
ground from Anaconda to the :
Bitter Root country, and particularly !
it with reference to its practi-
as a railroad route, unite in -
he opinion that it is feasible and :,
hat a narrow gauge road could be y
'ullt over it at a cost per mile not =
'bove the average which attended =
he building of the U. & N, from !.
Butte to Ogden. AS to the mag Il
lificent resources of the Bitter Root
country. those who have seen its =
immense pine forests, its great and =,
'aried agricultural productions and !.
mineral possibilities, do T
lot u~ndervalue them. AS we have u
aid, they are such as to command u
ne presence OF q road in their "
The great valley of the Bitter Root
'ould be more advantageously z
erved by a road running directly ii
Anaconda, thus connecting it H
nth Butte by a direct all rail line g
'ithout transfer of freight or passen- te
ers. Both the former and latter N
lace would afford a ready and prof 81
able market fer it's lumber and sur Il
lus farm products and would afford th
facilities for working it's ores which G
does not at present possess. But K
0ove these considerations a road to y
Bitter Root valley would develop h,
country approaching an empire in of