The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-04
news The RAILROADS.
Railway Construction for the Year
In the Rocky Mountain and
Pacific States.
Montana Leads Them All In the
Amount Of Track Actual,
~ Laid.
Outlook for the Ensuing Year-The New
Train Service ON the Northern
PaGi1cs sgsa

The Railway and Engineering News is
out with its annual review of railway con-
struction in the Rocky Mountain states.
active during the year. For the year end
ing Nov. q, in the states west Of the 10th
meridian 1.404 milss IT track wers laid. as
against 69S the previous year; while under
construction, there are 2.6i7 miles, against
1909 in 1859.
During the present year in Montana 1856
miles of track were laid a. against 1898 the
year before, and there are now 8l8 miles
under construction or contract. The sur
veyed lines upon which work begin early
next year aggregate 275 miles, and other
proiects Of promise are computed at 730
miles. -lnthe matter of track laid during
the year Montana exceeds all the states,
with Warrington next. The latter has Coz
miles surveyed or under contract for next
year.
OF the railway construction work the
News thus reviews the situation: The most
active construction is confined to a COM
paratively small section of the territory
shown on the map. and it is being done BY
few great companies. In other words the
Northern Pacific. the Great Northern, the
Union Pacific. and to less extent the
Southern Pacific companies are struggling
for supremacy. in the rich agricultural,
timber and mineral lands of Washington
and Montana. OF the total mileage now
under construction and of that on which
track has been laid this year, in the three
states OF Montana, Idaho and Washington,
q per cent. and GO per cent. respectively is
the work Of the Northern Pacific, Great
Northern and Union Pacific companies; and
OF the total mileage coming under these
nasaa IN the ten states and territories in
years tracklayinR and 40 per cent. Of the
mileage under construction is the work of
the same companies. 4
Taking up the work Of these companies
somewhat in detail, it is seen that the long
est ana IN some respects the most. import
conpany to the Pacific ooast al Puget
sound. This extension starts from the
main line at Assinaboine, Mont. and runs
west to a connection in Washington with
the Fairhaven and Southern railroad,
nranch OF the same company's lines, dis
ton and survey is in progress all along the
me ana barring some exceptional delay it
will probably be rapidly pushed to compile
tlon.. In connection with this extension
the company is also building line from
foftla M. Ore, to New Westminster, B. G.,
wv
Fairhaven and Southern and Seattle and
montana railway companies.
The work of the Northern Pacific COM
pany ls confined largely to branch lines in
to the mineral fields of Montana and Idaho,
ana penetrating the timber and agricul-
tributary to the cities Of Seattle and Taco
ma. The Seattle. Lake Shore u Eastern
4. r.. recently purchased by the Northern
facihc company, 10 being rapidly extended
to connection with the Canadian Pacific
branch south from Mission Station at the
boundary: It is also probable that the ex-
tension OF the same road east to a connec- |
ton with the Central Washington railroad |
Will be constructed in the course of few |
years.
The extensions being built by the Union |
Pacific are more widely scattered. They |
comprise short stretches Of track laid in
wyoming, Utah and Oregon. and extern
sions, in process of construction. from Mil
ford. Utah, to Phoebe, New, l45 miles. and |
from Portland. Ore, to Seattle, WASH, 1876
miles; The grading has been nearly COM
is now stopped for the winter. on the lat
ter, grading is now in progress, and A
small amount of track will probably be laid
this season.
VI the other enterprises in progress the
MOI Montana "a and Washington, the most impor-
Townsend Southern, and the various pro.
jected lines of the Oregon and Washington
Territory railroad.
Considering finally the work in this Sec
ton az whole, it is certainly more active
shan ever before. The prospects for future
construction are certainly favorable. The
areas are indeed such as to prevent them
from ever supporting heavy population or
railway mileage. But on the other hand
there are sections which present ss promis-
ing fields for the profitable investments of
capital IN railway construction as any in
our country.
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