Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-01-26

tGrcat Falls Tribune.1
I'VE are surprised to read in SO well
informed II paper as the Portland
Oregonian. a statement that this road
(the Manitoba) parallels the Northern
Pacific all he way from Saint Paul to
Helena, and will draw most OF its
business from the Northern Pacific"
Thus says the Northwest Magazine
for January. which proceeds to give Il
statement of the distance OF the Mani
toba track ut various points in II
straight line from the nearest point
south on the Northern Pacific. This
statement shows that the distance
apart ut Devils Lake is 100 mile, a'
Fort Isuior,i so miles; at Fort ASSN
aboine PIG miles, and at Great FALL
lI5 miles In geomc,rical sense the
lines are not parallel, but in the com
mon railroad Use OF the word, the
Manit oba and Montana Central may
compete with the Northern Pacific for
the Helena trade on the same basis as
if the lines entered that city side 10y
side. Great Falls. hy the way. is only
81 miles from Helena. the nearest
point on ,he Northern Pacific, and not
| l45. a.i the Northwest says.
The same magazine says: East OF
Great Falls there * very little traffic
| which the Manitoba can divert from
4 the Northern Pacific. IL will take II
/ Jew cattle. but the Missouri river Is II
barrier to It's invasion OF the North
eri Pacific cattle country in northern
Montana" This calls for correction.
East OF Great Fall, l. the rich grazing
and faruaiii. country OF TIE judith
! Basin. This populou, region derived
/ its supplies either 10y way OF Bismarck
! and benton or Billings and Helena.
In either c.isc The Nor; hern Pacific had
the long haul. Now the goods for the
Judith the Shonkin anl other dis
tricts ''east oi Great Falls" come here
and are forwarded hence by wagons.
I'm like manner the cattle. sheep ami
wool which found their way to the
Northern Pacific at Bismarck or
Helena now come here for shipment
I'm both eases the ordinary laws OF
trade and traffic settle the matter.
The wool traffic alone of that region
was nearly l.ooO.OoW pounds last
season. The river traffic. which was
largely for the service OF this region
also employed II ileet of steamers
Throughout the summer. Hence VI
conclude il cannot he regarded as
"yery little
We do not sce how the Missouri
river can serve as barrier TO tht
Manitoba's invasion of the N. p,
cattle country in mort hern Montana
The Mauisoba agents went right int.
tn. Judith Basin last fall and secures
all the cattle business despite thai
..harrier." The two bridges at Great
Falls will also serve to break dow
he 'l,a,rier." No cattlemen willdriv'
their herds to the Northern Paciii'
when they can ship them, as theabov'
distances show. more readily at Grea'
Falls. Nor will they any longer drive
cattle to Maple Creek on thctanadlai
} Pacific when they can ship them a
Great Falls or big sandy. The eat II
traffic of northern Montana belong
to the Manitoba because that roa'
can render he best service. The y. l.
Nigh, ~ we'll regard the field as los
The Manitoba line ha- only been opei
since October Last. II has alread,
compelled the y. p to reduce heavily
its rates ior cattle and merchandl-
to all points in Montana. Ii has ac
anirrl control of all the trade a
northern Montana ami with the Mon
. t;na central will effect the dcliveranc
of Butte next summer. " feacfI''
Helena by II better roit'" th1n IN
Nor heril ptrii:r ani meat -rrns at
make h. rrr ;.u. tp p.tf rllA l.s-
are : uuI.,l ,. ....f- 4it'rt. f' N.r He,
. Pacific ilr-. sarui.'.-- - ~ ..-
T. ha-. "a H~ Ia -a#f = !t-sa.r =
ren,irI',,t -.+s. -.tt... au a.i-' ta
. claim .f' rH"tH