The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-09-11
MONTANA CANADA
Contracts Let for the Construction Of
This Line From Lsthbridge TO
Fort Benton.
Also to Build From Fort Benton to
Great Falls, There Meeting the
Montana Central.
The Union PACido 10 Band az Once Int
the NAtioazl Park-Ths ORC
Fino Branch.

IL can now be announced authOritatively
that the Montana x Canada railway will
be built and work will begin this fall A
dispatch was received in this city yesteT-
DAY from New York stating that Sir Alex
andeT Gait. owner of the Gait railroad In
Canada. Ex Gov. 5. T. Hauser and w. G.
Conrad have contracted Tor the building Of
a railroad from Lethoridge. the terminus
Of the GAIT railroad to Fort Benton, 70 con-
meet at that point with the Northern Pa
eite contemplated Billings 4 Benton road,
and thence 10 Great Falls where il will
meet with the Montana Central The
agreement was made with the understand
ing that the road will be extended TO Hell
eua as soon as practicable. This agree
meut is the outcome OF the formation OF the
Fort Benton Construction company and
Montana & Canada railway company,
each Of which corporations dled articles
last March.
While the whole work cannot be CON-
pleted this wear that portion extending
from Lethbrld ge TO Fort Benton, a dis
rance o. about, 100 miles can be finished.
Lethbridge is northwest OF Fort
Benton. The route will be sOutheasterly,
passing on the western slope OF the Sweet
Grass Hills. The line Of the proposed
Montana & Canada has been somewhat
changed from the route contemplated when
the articles were FLED. The originally
proposed route left Fort Benton aud Great
Falls on the line, but now the route is a.
follows. Commencing in Montana at the
northern boundary about ten miles west Of
the west butte OF the Sweet Grass hills
and running thence along the MariAs
river, which it will cross near Fort Con-
rad and continuing south eastward to Fort
Benton. n will then parallel the Manitoba
TO Great Falls and 20 westward along
sun River esOssing near Fort Shaw into
Cascade county again, through the north
west section along sims creek, continuing
southwark 70 the Dearborn river 20 Dog
creek near the Helena and Benton stage
road, and thence along Dog creek to the
Missouri river, crossing the line OF the
NOntane Central between the mouth of
Dog creek aud the Little PriekIy Pear
creek; thence through Prickly Pear valley
to point near Helena
Crossing. as Il will, the MarIas valley.
this new road will penetrate one OF the
most fertile agricultural Iss ions of Mon
tara, OF which but little is known. IL
will also be the means Of developing the
mountains OF mineral Ia the Sweet Grass
hills, which have been but slightly ex-
plored bur are known to be valuable
IL was intended 70 have this railroad
well under way by this time, bat owing 70
the depression OF business among the east
ern railway companies capitalists were not
eager 70 advance money on bonds for this
enterprise, but undoubtedly The enormous
business done by the Northern Pacific this
year has opened their eyes 10 the fact that
western railroads pas. IL IS understood
that Sir Alexander Gait, who recently
went % London succeeded ia placing All
the bonds necessary and decided 10 imme-
uiately begin the work. This new enter
prise Is ot great Importance 20 the future
OF Montana IL gives another outlet 10 the
east VIA the Canadian Facihc as The Gait
road meets that traDscOntnental line al
Medicine Hat The extensive coal beds OF
Lethbridge will supply fuel 10 the vast
northern Montana region, and the enter
prise leaves no rWum Tor doubt that lt Is the
Intention Of The Northern Pacific company
10 build the Billings * Fort Benton branch.
thus carry ing cut re policy Oi that com
pany IN bullding feeders Tor Us main line,
which has done so much % make that rail-
road success and built Up large portion
VI western Montana.
The advantages tD Helena from the con-
summation u this wmE aTe apparent
Helena Ia the nhl-cilVt point 0f all rail-
ruGds pent trrutlnE Montana. IN is the rail-
way centsr Of The state ana will be the
commercial mart nf tlis inter mountain
region. The Montana N Canada b. nPces-
sty and along felt want" aud will do
uIuch towards Increasing the wealth and
population of the coming state.
The principal movers IN this enterprise
are Alexander T. Galt, X W Cameron, 5.
I. Hau-eT, w. N. Ramsey, w. G. Conrad,
and o. II Allen