Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-13
A LITTLE LOCAL HISTORY.

A LITTLE LOCAL HISTORY.
The @Inter Mountain" had the assur.
ance to come out in a double-leaded ed
~itorial, last evening, claiming the glory
of the Northern Pacific locating a road
via the Homestake pass. This is in har-
mony with its other Inconsistencies. The
Homestake pass, as THE MINER has all
along claimed, is the most feasible of the
| two routes. it being shorter by six miles
and necessitating a less expense in ROAD
building.
THE MINER also contsnded that the
Homestake pass was lower, and the ap-
proaches to it from both sides were much
easier than those Of the P~ipestone. For
offering this opinion, ~invectives
were hurled at THE MINER by
the "Inter Mountain" without
regard to the truth or untruth
in the matter. The fact is, inAbrief, that
THE MINER desired to see the Northern
Pacific enter this city, no matter whether
by the Pipestone or the Homestake. A
road by either route would accomplish
the object to be attained by the building
Of the short line. viz: cheaper fuel for
our smelters and q closer connection with
the rich and fertile valleys Of the Gala
tin, Madison and jefferson. The farmers
of those valleys, by such a road. can send
into Butte and Anaconda their products,
thus enhancing the value Of their farms.
Western Montana being put into closer
connection with Eastern Montana, our
people need not send to Utah territory,
as is done at present, money for -four,
hay. grain and produce; while the nu-
merous mines on the east side can have
their pres treated in Butte cheaply, thus
enhancing the value of u city prop
erty. OF necessity all this will inure to
the profit Of our merchants by the trade
that naturally will come to Butte.
THE MINER had no rights of way to
sell and nothing to unload on the rail-
road, but only the good Of u city at
heart. 1t does not desire tn see any OBJ
stacles laid in the way Of that company
entering this city. Other cities offer In
ducements such as the right Of way, de-
pot grounds, ETC., but Butte a offer
plenty Of freight tonnage.
However, our citizens should not for
get that the Montana Central and Utah
Northern have done much to bring Butte
to the front during the past year.
Butte City, when the Northern Pacific
was located, did not have one-tenth Of
the vast tonnage to give that it now
gives to railroads. When the line was
projected the object was to 90 through
the most populous part Of the Territory.
A gentleman conyersant with the situa-
tion, some time ago, when the Homestake
and Pipestone passes were under discus
sion, said to a MINER reporter:
"The Inter Mountains talk of the cor.
ruptionFd OF the Helenaites in locating the
line by Helena and having fixed the chief
engineer OF the Northern Pacific at that
time, is all bosh. The true history was
that when the line was located, no one OF
the projectors OF the Northern Pacific ever
dreamed that Butte would become the
greatest mining camp in the world. The
projectors desired freight traffic. ! was in
structed to be present at a consultation Of
the consulting engineer and the projectors,
and explain to them the most feasible
route. I refused, but sent word to them to
stretch a line through the centre Of Mon
tana and to get the freight tonnage that
was taken in by Fort Benton for Eastern
Montana, and what freight tonnage came
via Corinne, Utah, the then distributing
point to the dividing line. On examination,
and when the report was laid before
the projectors the rates stood rs per cent.
Tor northern and eastern Montana, and %
per cent. for southern Montana. The order
was then given to cross by the lowest pass
attainable, which is the Mullen pass, it
being $3.50, to the Pipestone's 6.4O2 and
the Homestake's 6,8O2. II the Northern
Pacific had built via either OF the latter it
would have lost the entire northeastern
trade and would have had to 60 over a
higher pass, besides building q number OF
high trestles."
The above statement explains a good
deal. 1t shows why the Northern Pacific
went to Helena. Now, however, things
are changed. It is now found desirable
to come to Butte. And Butte gives the
road a hearty welcome.