The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-30
News and Gossip of Railroads and
Travel On the Northern Pacific
System.
Spoilers Released and Conductors
Salaries Literally In
creased.
Scenic Attractions ON the Butte Gallatin
Embellishments OF the Great
Northern.

n0oAcVuAV ASAVAoA ASuPCAAAVOANOAu DiS1A
inson of the Northern Pacific was in town
yesterday and was in his usual good spir-
its. Abiding to the recent case where q
tramp was reported to have been thrown off
passenger train while crossing trestle,
Mr.. Dickinson said that careful investi-
cation of the case has failed to reveal any
one that saw this tramp and none of the
train hands knew anything of him being
thrown off. II had all the men up before
me-" he said, land they know nothing of
it. The train stopped on the trestle while
the conductor went back after his punch.
! think this tramp thought he was going to
be put off ard saved the train hands the
trouble by jumping off,"
Mr.. Dickinson says that these tranlps are
continual menace to the company. On
the Cascade division recently they held up
men in a cabOose and another gang tried
the same thing in Washington. While get
ting off with their plumber the train men
secured rifles and gave chase to the thieves.
One OF the train men was struck in the eye
with rock, receiving fearful cash, and
throwing down his rifle. he gave the tramp
a terrible beating. The gang was captured
after long struggle, and are now doing
time" in Washington.
Between 1900 and 5000 men are at work
on the Missouri cut of. MIR. Dickinson
says also that the road will be completed
by Thanksgiving day.
It is reported that the Northern Pacific
has adopted new plan among their con.
ductors. All the spoilers have been re-
leased and the salaries of the ticket punch
ers increased $40 per month. It is expected
that this policy will prove the best one yet
in inducing the conductors to make full re-
turns of their earnings.
The Elkhorn branch is now in the hands
of the operating department but no regular
schedule has as yet been adopted. This
branch of twenty six miles is the most cur
ious piece of railroading in Montana. After
making a big circuit of probably fifteen
miles it comes at one point within few
hundred feet of where it branched out in
the loop.
In the Butte Gallatin BRANCH the Northern
Pacific has line that cost $A 600 per mile,
and for picturesque road it has few equals
in the country. From Pipestone Springs to
Butte, distance of twenty five miles, it
travels in a serpentine shape across great
| pOrges and through immense rock cuts
until it reaches Butte. Within that twenty
five miles the train passes over, fifty-six
trestles and through more than 100 rock
cuts. At this time a large force of men is
employed beating down the timber fires,
which have in several cases scorched the
| trestles, but the fires are all under control.
Crossing over the rocky range from
Butte, at a lofty height on the
east side Of the range fS the Jefferson Pna
stone springs is the only object of civiliza-
ton within view and that is ten miles away.
Suddenly this is lost to the eye while the
train plunges between the jaws of another
preoipice on its downward course and soon
again the springs are in full view while.
glance backward presents a scene Of tre n
| looking not unlike stairway. The Pipe
stone springs are to Butte what the Broad
water is to Helena. The waters there have
long been famous for their curative proper
ties, and rheumatism never fails to yield to
its influences. The surroundings are cheer:
full and home-like. An orchard, having al!
kinds of fruit, can be found there and
abundant foliage. big swimming tank
has just been completed. It is stated that
certain Northern Pacific capitalists made
an offer of O,OOO for this property.
! It ison this branch of the Northern Pacific
that the famous Precinct 81 is situated
Relic hunters have devastated the place Of
every semblance of it's former self and Roo
Leggatt, of Butte. has secured the cabin in
which the ballots were counted. He intends
presenting it to the Montana Historical so
ciety. At precinct "a there is a saloon and
two families A trip over the Butte cutoff
is full of interest if nothing more than tc
see what railroad engineering can accom-
plish.
Seattle Special: Vice. President w
r. Clough and Chief Engineer E
H. Becker, of the Great Northern, left herr
tonight for Tacoma, from which point the,
were to leave tomorrow for Helena. Col
onel Clough said last night: "We have let al
the contracts now, and work will go OF
actively all along the line. I hav'
not made a deal for the Seattle Il Northern
but cannot say what we may do. We Nigh
buy great many lines of railroad. We ar
going to build a line to Portland, " hich
you know was part of our plan two year
ago.
A large number of engineering parties ar
locating the line across the mountains, AM
everything has been done to push the work
Men are being hired to clear and grade
Col. ClouRb and Mr.. Becker will let a con
tract for the eighty-6ve miles west fror
! Assinaboine next Monday in Helena. MI
J Becker will return to Seattle in about thre
weeks.
The Helena Union No. 2sO of Carpenters wi
; give another grand ball at the hall in the ele,