The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-06-18
A RAILROAD ASSURED.
The Route from Butte to Fort Ben
ton to be Located at Once.

rne Railroad KING Favorably Impressed
with Montana's Varied Resources.
H. Hill's party, consisting originally
If only D. c.. Sheppard, Col Broadwa.
for and himself, arrived at Helena last
saturday evening and passed through
to Garrison without stopping off, there
tsking the Utan & Northern train for
Butte That evening until about mid
nioht was devoted to an inspection OF
tbe M great mines, mills and smelters of
Rntte and also portion of the next
mining camp with the impression that
Butte is the best town for railroad, in
nroportion to its population, in the
world. It was his first visit of any
length to a mining town, and he was
most favorably impressed with the inn
nortance of the mining industry to rail
roads. He said he would rather have
thp railroad business of Butte than that
Of a city of 10000 people in the east.
And this is not oversizing the impor-
tance of Montana's great mining center
in the least!
The party left Butte Sunday, arriving
at Helena again that evening, returning
in carriage by way of the Boulder di-
vide, the proposed short route for a rail-
road from Butte to the capital They
lodged in Mr. Hills private car that
evening, and left Monday morning by
private conveyance for Sun river, The.
Gibson plotting them through. BY the
aid of relays the trip was easily made in
one day. Mr.. Paris Gibson met the
party at Sun River, and on Tuesday
morning they left for Great Falls, where
they arrived in good season. Here they
were Joined by IT. e. Collins, Robt.
Vaughn, HI. 2. Rolfe and the RIVER
PRESS representative. all Of whom, after
al stop of half an hour, set out for Sand
Coulee, the land Of black diamonds and
blue joint
Mr.. Hill is well preserved man Of
about As years. He is medium sized,
low in stature, but stoutly built, and as
active and vigorous apparently as he
ever was He has a full, dark beard,
small, piercing eyes, and countenance
in general indicative of energy and de-
ermination-well known characteris-
tics of the man. There is nothing about
indicate that he is worth dozen or
more millions. One would be more apt
to take him for well-to-do farmer or
stockman than the first among the rail-
road kings of the northwest. A more
companionable, jollier man on trip of
that kind would be hard to find. Even
the genial Col. Broadwater could not
keep pace with him in this respect.
Mr.. Sheppard is different type. He
has not ''roughed it' as much as Mr..
Hill, and does not take so kindly to
Montana modes of travel. However,
on this occasion, the beauty of the seen
cry and the attractiveness of the country
made up in some part for the hardships
Ofthe journey, and despite his weari-
ness he admitted ,candidly that it was
the grandest trip he ever took in his
life,
The trip to Sand Coulee was much en-
loyed by all. This beautiful valley was
arrayed in its greenest costume, span.
ged with flowers of every hue. IT pEss
sented its best appearance, afld easily |
drew forth expressions of admtation |
nom the distinguished visitors After |
riding three or four miles through blue
lolnt grass nearly foot high, Mr.. Hill
Stopped the party to express his convic5l
uon that there is more and better land
IN Sand Coulee and its tributaries than
IN the entire Yellowstone valley from
tae mountains to the Missouri riYer.u
Even Broadwater, old-timer as he iss
Knew nothing of the beauty and extent
oi this valley and was as enthusiastic anV
aalnlrer as the visitors. In passing over |
q stretch of rich bench land both Hilrt
ana Sheppard expressed their belief |
laat the day is not far distant when for |
ssgflculture the bench lands will be pre-
ieffed hed to the valleys-a change that they |
nave seen occur In Minnesota, Dakota |
ana other western regions. 1t is need |
itss to add that the gentlemen were |
very favorably impressed with the agri-
cultural !, and stock raising resources OF
tue country they saw.
!, lhe coal mines were next visited, and |
uefe was another surprise party for |
'nose who had not seen them before.
~ AS There was no time to lose, only two |
~ VI The openings were inspccted-the |
,oagest stay being made at the Culbert- /
~ oSi | NINE. Here was presented a vein
h h, between fifteen and twenty feet in |
eaick ea ness, and although it is only open
H. H. lew feet from the surface, the quail
is nv OF the coal is excellent. All around
sle o' immense butte where this coal is
Ia <t~