The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-01-01

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Marysytiie JUNCTION to Marysviiie
Great Falls to Sand C0ulee. e...............l8 Is
Total. ............ .....................2l .2l2
There is probably no railway line on
the continent of similar length that pres
ents more attractive landscape or more
varied Or enchanting scenery than that of
the Montana Central connecting Helena
and Great Falls. Skirting for about sixty
miles along the banks Of the beautiful
Missouri, it finds an easy, almost natural
grade, nowhere to exceed more than
fifty-two feet to the mile So gentle
are its inclines that, without observation,
one feels as though he was rolling over
prairie land instead of through defile of
4, ragged spur in the Rocky mountain
range.
There are five tunnels between this
city and Helena, distance of 90 miles.
Tunnel No. is 813 feet in length; No. 2,
172 feet: No. 3, $40 feet; No. 4, 1862 feet;
No. 5, 572 feet. Between Helena and
Butte there are five more, the longest of
which, the Wickes, is 6,112 feet, or nearly
! one and a quarter miles. The first train
passed through this great tunnel on the
25th day of October, 1888.
Without indulging in any exuberances
of thought, we may say that better bal
lasted, smoother new road cannot be
found in the country. Indeed its run
ming reminds the traveller of that sliding
movement peculiar to the Michigan Cen
trail, Lake Shore and other eastern lines,
where, by the science OF the engineer
and the skill of the roadmaster, the jar
and roll Of the newly laid track have
been almost wholly overcome.
The average speed Of the train was
thirty miles an hour; but when the
through trains over the Manitoba COM
mence, which, as already announced, was
on the 18th day Of November, this was
increaeed to a1,nnt forty miles per hour.
The fleet skimnling along Of these fine
trains affords release from the sluggish
movements of some Of the more preten-
tious western roads. The stationary tanks
1
on the line are very substantially built,
and most of them are fed from springs so
pure that the engineers run from seventy
to eighty miles on single tank of water.
The hills and mountain sides along the
route, adorned with luxuriant growths of
pine, spruce and fir, and covered with
nutritious bunch and other grasses to
their snmmits, are pleasant sights to gaze
upon, especially after trip over the far
famed Denver d RioGrandc, the so-styIed
sScenic route of America" where the
mountains though grandly prccipitous,
are awfully void Of verdure, foliage, or
anything to relieve the dull, cold grey of
the towering granite, lime and sand stone
masses, standing as they were left after
the tremendous earththroes and up
heavals through which was brought forth
the backbone of the continent
| About six miles above Great Falls, on a
trip over the road last week. were OBJ
served q fine bunch Of deer, and in the
bayous Of the Missouri thousands OF NAL
lard and other ducks were sporting them
selves. obliyious Of the fact that the
peripatetic hunter might suddenly sport
himself at their expense.
OF the officers and employees on tho
road the unvarying testimony OF its pat
rons is that their courtesy is unbounded;
and truly Col. Broadwater may be con
graduated upon having under his presi
dcncy and wise supervision one OF the
most elegant lines Of railway and most
efficient and gentlemanly subordinates
within the regime of the mighty railway
systems of the country.
Between Helena and Butte, the road
bed, il possible, is even smoother and
better laid, the large quota of heavy oak
ties on that end Of tn" line giving increas-
ed solidity and less spring from the rail,
making it both safe a'ld pleasnrablc i'll
the very highest degree.
The great H'ickcs tunnel, nearly mile
and Il quarter in lrn"ti,, was completed
ir November last. Tine first through train
from st. Paul to Butte passed through
this tunnel on he lall day OF November,
which was day Of triumph and exulta-
ton. that was shared by all the people
OF the Territory.
Between Helena and Butte there are
also some five tunnels, the dimensions
and cost Of which we append. rs cour-
teot1sIy furnished Us by Chief Engineer
f. II. Becklel, to wit:
Tunnel No Il is 'i,ll3 feet i'll length:
No. 7, Su3 feet: No. :, POO feet: No. g.
G5S feet; 10. IH. l.2so feet. III" total
cost of the Wickes tunnel was ::1SO, 900
The cost Of the other four was $40 per
foot Of length. The maA:un grade be
tween Stuart and Anaconda on th. Mon
tana Union is sixty feet l',..' .,.;i...
An extension Of this popular and we'll
managed road is urgently demanded and
will probably soon he b'lii from Butte
to Anaconda. A line r,ll!.'i.'- directly
from the mouth OF Silver W." canon te
Anaconda would not require u grade te
exceed forty fee! per nlilt, ;.u. would bs
nearly five miles shorter t.i:,n ...r present
route of tn" Montana Union.