The new North-west., 1885-10-23
BITTER ROOT DIRECT.


SrEvEEsvILLK. Mont, Oct. II, 1885.
Editor Times: At the last meeting held st
this place, two weeks ago, for the purpose Of
considering ways and means of building .
road to Philipsburg and other points across
the mountains, committee was appointed
to investigate, survey and estimate cost Of
building the proposed road and report at An
adjourned meeting to be held to-day. At 2
O'Clock the meeting was called to order by
the Secretary, and in the absence of w. J.
Mccormick, Chairman, +. @. Ives was called
to the chair. The committee previously ap-
pointed, made the following report
To W.. Mccormick, Chairman Bitter Root
Direct: We, your committee, appointed to
Investigate, survey and estimate cost Of
road from E. J. Hits mill, on Burnt Fork,
across the mountain to Philipsburg, would
respectfully report that we have made an
accurate survey of the proposed road, and
consider that practicable road can be built
across the mountain for heavy hauling; that
we have surveyed Rock Creek and find that
road can be built through to the saw mill
with but one crossing Of the creek, which
will require bridge; that we estimate the
cost of building the proposed road and make
1t practicable for heavy hauling, at eleven
thousand dollars.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
Dated at Stevensville, Montana Territory,
this 18th day Of October, 1885.
John b. Catlin, Abram NJ. Mittower.
Fred Buck, G. T. Jones,
G. w. Wade, Ed Carron.
Jacob Goff, Z. Hackett,
A. NJ. Hightower.
The report was received and committee
discharged.
Mr.. Jones, the surveyor, was called to give
the meeting some idea of the grade of the
proposed road.
He said that on this side of the mountain
the steepest grade was 18 inches to the rod
for distance of 18 chains. The most Of the
grade to the summit Of the mountain was 16
inches to the rod, while in many places it
was as low as inches to the rod. The dis
tance from Hits mill, on the Burnt Fork, to
the summit of the mountain. was miles.
Going down the mountain on the other side,
the grade was about feet to the rod, al
though that could be made less in many
places. The greatest amount of dirt that
would have to be removed would be about II
yards to the rod. The width of the road
would be 10 to II feet About one mile Of
the old Bitter Root Direct could be used on
this side Of the summit. The distance Of the
road from the summit to Rock Creek would
be 81 miles.
Rev. Stanley moved that we undertake the
building of the road, which was unani-
mously carried.
nr thHx
pointed for the purpose of soliciting sub
scriptions.
The following committee was appointed:
Stevensville-J. B. Catlin, +. c. Ives, Fred
Buck.
Corvallis-G. T. Jones, j. L. Humble.
Skalkaho-R. w. Nicol.
Sweathouse-A. 8. Blake, w. j. Kennedy.
Carlton-Robert Childs.
Butte-A. ii. Barrett, Joseph A. Hyde,
Sam Marchesseau, L. r. Mailett.
Anaconda-Morgan Evans, L. o. Leonard,
Lee Foster.
Philipsburg-Wm. Weinstein.
The committee was instructed to proceed
to obtain subscriptions payable July l, 1886,
and October l, 1886, no subscription payable
unless seven thousand dollars were sub
scribed, and to make report at an adjourned
meeting to be held Dec. s, 1885.
Henry Buck was elected Treasurer, and
ordered to give bond in the sum of $40, 900.
The Secretary was ordered to have the
minutes Of this meeting published in the
Missoula, Anaconda, Deer Lodge and Butte
papers.
The meeting then adjourned until Dec. 8,
1885, at Up. In. GUST MosER,
Secretary.