The tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1890, 1890-01-18
WESTERN EXTENSION.
WHAT WILL BE THE ROUTE ACROSS
THE ROCKIES?
Butte People Taking Active Measures to
Score an Advantage-They Want
the Extension to Go Through
the Great Silver Camp.

BUTTE, Jan. 15.-This camp is alive to
the Importance of securing railroad ad-
vantages and is not likely to be left in the
lurch again as in 1852, when Helena in
veigled the N. P. people to adept the
Mullan pass. This mistake will soon be
remedled by the completion of the Gal
latin-Butte branch, which will leave our
temporary capital neighbors on q side
track and put Butte on the main line of
Northern Pacific. But now comes the
Great Northern extension. This road IS
going to the coast at once and the ques-
ton now is, will 1t go through Butte?
We are hopeful thatit will, and propose
to work uniredly to accomplish that end.
Considerable correspondence has already
been had with the Manitoba officials, and
the result is not discouraging. The Board
of Trade will soon take the matter in hand.
The following from the Inter Mountain
shows the interest manifested on this
subject:
SOME PROPOSED ROUTES.
1t can now be stated with certainty
that the Manitoba Montana Central rail-
way intends to build west this year with
a view to getting an outlet to the Pacific
coast. For some time it has been con
sidered certain that the Pacific coast ex-
tension would be built west from ASST
naboine, up the Marias, or else f..om a
point between Great Falls and Helena, up
the Dearborn and out by way of Missoula.
The latter route has been looked upon
with the most favor. Letters have been
received in Butte which emanate from
high official sources, and indicate most
favorable disposition on the part Of; those
in authority to build the westward exten
sion from Butte to Anaconda, and thence
up the valley of Warm Spring creek past
Philipsburg into the Bitter Rod and
thence to Missoula. This route has been
three times surveyed, twice by the Union
Pacific, and once in preliminary man
ner by the Manitoba. 1t can be stated on
good authority that this route offers no
greater engineering difficulties thaneither
the Marias or Dearborn routes. OF
course the through route when completed
would be somewhat longer by WHY OF
Butte than by the other routes, but this
objection is not weighty as the adoption
of the Butte route would render unnec-
essary large amount of construction
through unproductiye territory from
Great Falls to Missoula. The hard part
of the line by way of Butte is already
built, and the company is forced to go to
Anaconda anyhow.
THE ANACONDA REFINERY.
Another reason for the adoption of
this route is the uncertainty which still
exists with regard to the location Of the
Anaconda refinery. The Great Falls peo-
pie are still very hopeful of getting the
fairs would dispose the railroad company
to look on the lower route with still more
favor.
IMPORTANT TO BUTTE.
The advantage to Butte which would
accrue from being on the main line of a
transcontinental railroad are too obvious
to need mention. The plan outlined
above would open up rich mineral
country back of Anaconda and be Of
great advantage in affording cheaper
transportation to the Bitter Root fruits
and ranch produce. The favorable dis
position of the company to this route is
known to a few energetic citizens OF
Butte who will place themselves in com
munication with the railroad officials. II
is not unlikely that a meeting of the
Board of Trade may be called at latel
date to get an expression of opinion from
the business men on the subject. 1t has
never been the policy of the Manitoba te
ask for local aid but the assurance IF {
cordial disposition on the part of Butte
shippers would undoubtedly have weigh
| with the officials of the company,