The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-08-14
NORTHERN PACIFIC EXTENSION TO
BUTTE.

The matter Of the Northern Pacific extern
sion from Garrison to Butte, which the NEW
NORTHWEST mentioned . couple OF weeks
ago, has come into quite aggressive promi.
nence since, and forms the burden of many
newspaper articles. Among ther influences
that have much weight with the Northern
Pacific management, the St. Paul Jobbers'
Union, which visited Butte recently, appear
TO have then really found out for the first
lime that snch place existed and are all
worked up about getting the Northern Pa
eific extended thereto and securing portion
Of its trade. The St. Paul and Minneapolis
papers TEEN with articles and correspond
ence relating thereto, and 1t is apparent
nothing will be left undone to impress upon
the directors Of the company, who meet next
month, the urgency of running into Butte.
While 1t is understood the Union pays the
Northern (under pool arrangement) forty
per cent Of the traffic profit from Butte 1t is
stated there is nothing to prevent the North
ern Company from withdrawing from the
pool. We believe that at the coming direc-
tors meeting the initiatory work will be Or
dered. for the extension. The following
from the Pioneer Press of Aug. 9Th shows
the interest the st. Paul merchants are
taking In the matter:
The new hall of the st. Paul Chamber of
Commerce was occupied for the first time
yesterday for meeting purposes, the Jobbers'
Union holding Its monthly session therein.
The jobbers had under onsderation, among
other things, the important question Of rail-
road facilities to connect Butte City anc
that section of Montana with st. Paul.
They were all Of one mind on that subject,
and unanimously adopted the following
resolutions:
WHEREAS, The St. Paul Jobbers' Union
has recently been impressed by personal OBJ
servation with q new and commanding sense
of the commercial Importance Of the city of
Butte, Montana, and of the inadequacy of
facilities now existing for the transaction of
Its enormous business with Eastern points;
and
WHEREAS, 1t has been brought 10 the
notice of the Jobbers' Union and of the gen.
eral public that the city of Butte, with lis
adjacent villages, now contain a population
of from fifteen 70 eighteen thousand souls,
constituting the largest mining center In the
world; that Its annual output Of silver and
copper, now estimated at SIS, 000, 600, is
about three fourths of the whole mineral
product of Montana; that the mines within
radius Of three miles of Butte produced In
1884 more of metallic values than those of
Arizona, Nevada or California, more than
twice as much as those Of Utah, more than
Idaho and New Mexico combined, and al
most as much as the entire State Of Colo
RADIO; and,
WHEREAS, The immense transportation
business growing directly out Of this causes
an average of ! 1915 tons OF ore to be handled
daily at Butte, and the addition Of business
interests fostered by its expansion raised the
total freight handled In 1884 to the mag
nificent figure Of nearly one million tons,
and furnishing nearly one-eighth of the ag-
gregate gross earnings Of the comprehensive
Union Pacific system.
WHEREAS, The only communication he.
tween Butte and any market Is the narrow
gauge Utah Northern railway line, necessi-
Eating tedious and expensive transfer of
freight, In whatever direction 1t may be car
rled;
WHEREAS, Under present arrangements
this extensive trade Is monopolized by the
Union Pacific line, although by that route
the distance from Chicago to Butte is nearly
400 miles greater than by circuitous line
via Garrison and the Northern Pacific; and
WHEREAS, St. Paul, the natural market
for Butte, is nearly 800 miles nearer than
Chicago, by the present route; and by exist
Ing arrangements the people Of Butte are
deprived Of the most natural and favorable
outlet for their products, are forced to buy
In distant market, and are compelled to
pay extravagant prices for inadequate SER
vice, while the business Interests of St. Paul
are shut out from an importan, field of trade
properly tributary TO this city; therefore
be 1t
Resoloed, That the just interests Of both
the city Of Butte and the city Of St. Paul
demand the construction of q broad gauge
railway from Butte to such point as may be
most eligible on the Northern Pacific line,
and the establishment Of through freight
service at reasonable rates;
Resolved, That the Jobbers' Union of st.
Paul unites with the unanimous desire of
the people Of Butte In requesting the man
agement Of the Northern Pacific to take the
earliest action possible In gratifying their
wishes, and securing for itself tie immense
advantages awaiting that system which shall
first provide through standard-gauge route
for the business to and from Butte.
Resolped, That the business men OF st.
Paul should leDi all necessary and proper
influence and aid within their power to the
contamination Of project SO just to itself,
so promising In It's bearing upon the inter-
ests Of this city, and 30 helpful for the de-
velopment of industry aud commerce In one
Of the richest markets Of the farther North
west,