The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
FORT BENTON'S FUTURE RAIL
ROADS.

VA -
Any one who has taken the pains to
construct an imaginary map Of the
future iron thoroughfares of Montana
cannot help being impressed with the
belief that one of the great centers for
these roads must be mt Fort Benton.
Any general map of the northwest
will present its natural advantages to
the ordinary observer as well as to the
railroad magnate. One hundred and
fifty miles to the south of us lies that
great transcontinental route, the North
ern Pacific. About 175 miles to the north
of us runs the Canadian Pacific. This
leaves an immense gap of 3325 miles,
whose only direct communication with
eastern markets is by steamboat naviga-
ton on the Missouri river. which, of
course, is not available during the win
ter months. Fort Benton's position,
near the center Of this gap and at the
head of navigation ON the Missouri,
would necessarily make it an objective
point for the new east and weshthrough
line, that the opening of the northern
reservation will soon demand. Itlmust
not be supposed that because the rail-
roads have heretofore stunned this inn
menses section of country it is a worthless
and barren region on the contrary, it is
conceded by all, without exception, to
have more varied, natural resources than
any other part of the west. AS a proof
of this statement take the exports from
Fort Benton for the three months, May,
June and July, last summer.-1,200,-
900 pounds of wool, representing the
fieeces of zoe, 900 sheep; 300, 900 pounds
of bullion, which show only prospective
ly the mineral wealth of the Belt noun
tains; $4,000 pounds of hides, furs and
peltries. Here are the immense cattle
ranges of the upper Missouri, Teton,
Marias, Sun River, Judith and Mussel-
shell. Of the ATS 900 cattle credited to
Montana this country can safely be said
to range two-thirds of the entire number,
and with the immense Indian country
north Of the Missouri still a blank, as far
as productiveness is concerned. The
finest sheep and horse ranges in the
west are to be found in this same, coun-
try, as is well demonstrated by the herds
and bands of stock now running hog-fat
on the immense pastures of native bunch
grass, in the winter at that. All the
beef steers that are marketed in the east
are driven to Miles City and Billings
and sent to The eastern cities, via the
Northern Pacific. Major Wyman, chief
roadmaster of the Yellowstone division
of the railroad, states that | ,768 carloads,
or about $500 beef steers, were shipped
east from that section Of the road in the
shipping season of 1883, and that 943 car
loads, or about 12,50O stock cattle, were
shipped in from. the states. Most of
these cattle shipments would have been
made by the proposed road further
north, as it would be right in the cen
ter of the cattle country of Montana in
stead of south Of it, as is the case with
the Northern Pacific. This country,
which is now ~railroadless, is one vast
net work Of fine valleys, whose agricul-
EuldI lCSOuISCo o1O oNCC3
wheat, barley, potatoes, peas and garden
vegetables of all kinds here grow in lux
uriance. The valleys that are best suit
ed to ranching are Sun River. Judith,
with its numerous tributaries, HighWood,
the smaller streams emptying into the
Teton, Marias, the lower Milk river and
the Missouri river bottoms. Railroad
construction would be easy-no noun
tain ranges to cross 0 expensive tun-
nels to blast out in coming up the Mis-
souri, from Bismarck until you strike
Milk river, and then up the wide bot
toms Of that river to a point north Of the
Bears Paw, from there up the Big San
dy, and on to Fort Benton. That it
is a natural and feasible route is shown
by its adoption by all, from the rowing
redskins to the heavy government and
private transportation of the present
day. From Fort Benton to Buford the
distance is 400 miles, from Buford to
Bismarck 200 more, making only 600
miles-a short railroad in these days.
Look at the mountains, whose min
eral wealth would have to be shipped
over the new route either in the state Of
gold and silver bullion or rich ore. The
Little Belt and Judith mountains have
already begun to be bullion and ore
producers at Barker, Maiden and Mel
hart. There are also the Bears Paw,
the Sweet Grass hills and the Little
n-.I... rx,l,a,n gold end a;1ynr ltnrtus