The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-01-13
of lead to a ton of bullion.


cannot be DONE Thus, notwithstanding
theexsent and value of the district its
industry is at practical standstil its
developments retarded its investments
rendered almost non.resultant eastern
Montana deprived of opportunity to adj
vance its wealth and population and
the energies and hopes of those who
have expended years of labor and enter
terprise and thousands of dollars, cast to
the ground.
In illustration of these facts the fol-
lowing comparison may be studied
BY wagon transportation Silver being
worth in eastern markets, say, Soc. and
lead, say, 75c., aggregating SIPS per bull
lion ton-$125 less by WACO so miles to
railroad. $25; by rail on railroad now ex-
istlng to the east, $500 cost to mine
smelt, $500 total $1ls0O profit, say,
500.
But against this apparent profit must
he considered the great cost OF getting
supplies and machinery to the mines,
which would be very materially reduced
by means of railway transportation,
which would also reduce wages at least
$1O0 per day per man.
By rail transportation Value per ton
as stated, $1250O; less transportation to
the east, $23 cost to mine and smelt,
$500 total, $4,000; profit, say, $45.e0.
As the cost of fuel, etc, would be re-
duced by rail facilities, corresponding
reduction would result to mining and
smelling. Thus, as shown, rail trans
portation would give profit at least five
times greater than can be secured under
the present condition of things, were it
possible to practically wagon such bulk
and quantity at all.
That we verify believe these mines
are of great value is not question, the
years of holding, the Investment doubt
less of 81 100000, prove that we are act
ing upon solid belief and knowledge.
But though there are at least 10000 tons
Of ore now upon the dumps as result
merely of development, without present
hope of market, and though MANY OF
these mines stand idle with from 10 to
80 tons on the dump land thu owners
living almost in them to mold them), yet
absence of railway transportation para
lyses every effort and leaves the locator
almost without hope,
Yet, not only the mining interest SUI
fers, and has suffered for years, by rea-
son of this state of things. We are far
from markets and are farmers are left
with limited demand for what they
raise. We know that rail facilities
would largely, vastly increase the min
ing population of said district, thereby
adding SO materially to the demand for
farm production that the Yellowstone
and GaIlatin valleys would be taxed to
supply me eelL Wn, -thorafnrn, speak
not only for ourselves, as mine owners
but for the farmers who have come here
to pioneer this frontier country.
The question as to the most available
route naturally, of course, demands space
herein. Ofall possible routes there are
but three. One by way of the Boulde'
is from ITO to 120 miles in length, but j
is impracticable and so difficult that it,
expense would deter the most venture
some, and it is not known who woulc
| think even of estimating upon it.
/ That from Billings, NJ. T., is not, i
may be, impossible, but its length il
from I35 to l45 miles over a terrible
country. Its construction would cost, il
must be, $4,OOO0OO to $5,000,0OO, and We
refer with confidence to the report o
General Anderson, as chief engineer o
! the Northern Pacific railroad. upon the
| subject. Who would build this road il
not known-it occupies like position
I with the Boulder route first mentioned
and, with it, is out of the question.
Lastly, the Yellowstone route, tha
suggested herein, is the only practicable
available one. From the end of th'
mentioned park branch of the n. P. R
R. is but (from Cinnabar, its presen
termus) 5S miles. The road would rul
thence up the Yellowstone river to it
east fork and up the latter and Sodi
Butte creek to Cooke City, located with
in said district, now public land.
Reliable estimates place its cost of con
construction and equipment at 81 10000
at the outside. Compared with the othe
two routes mentioned its length is les
T than halfand its cost one fifth, while a
to availability the said report of Genera
4 Anderson is referred to as settling tn
4 question, and it must be evident that i
| a nountairous country, such as this is
the sensible, available route for rail
way must necessarily be via the waite
courses at the head whereof las in thi
easel the point to be reached is situate
Attention is asked for the suggestiv
and important fact, that during the en-
tire period of occupation of this distric
Notwithstanding persistent efforts othel
wise, the only wagon route established
that by way of the very course laid dow
herein as the Yellowstone route" Ez
: periments otherwise have proved fai
! ures. From the point of practical er
trance into the district Of the Billing
s route, it would be almost if not absolute
; " impossible to reach the main minin
ground, and we especially court invest
CATION Of the statements herein mad
upon this point of route.
. In all this matter we assert that "
seek but way in and out-no plan b
which to secure land or coal or tinbe
or anything eles, from the Park, is col
cealed in this matter. We are not seel
ing the cutting down of the Park; v
are not making any raid against or upo
) ! that reservation; we bat ask and desi
the right to construct and operate raj
raad frau1 Cinnal1ar to the ClaFke's Fol