The tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1890, 1890-01-22
PACIFIC EXTENSION.
WHAT THE HELENA INDEPENDENT
SAYS.
Surveyors Busy Preparing For the Rail-
road From Great Falls to the
Coast-wolf Creek Pass
Spoken Or

There is no doubt of the intention
of the Manitoba railway company Il
push westward during the present year
and from review of the situation as
stands today, 1t appears that the company
has not concluded which route it vii
adopt in attaining its final object-tt
have an outlet to the Pacific coast. The
principal outlet from the Rocky noun
tains thus far mentioned seems to be tht
Marias pass which would take the line
through magnificent stretch Of country
north Of Flathead lake. There Is ne
doubt that the business Of that country
will in the future demand railroad, bu
1t .is the company'a intention and desire
to reach the coast with the least possible
delay.
MIssOULA MENTIONED.
To build along the north would require
three years Of work before line could
be reached, which might BE- connected
with the Manitoba to give seaboard out
let. To speedily attain this outlet the
company realizes that by building from
the Montana Central across the range to
Missoula, affords at present the quickest
and least expensive means OF reaching
the coast, as an arrangement can be made
and is said to have been completed, where
by the Manitoba and the Washington s.
Idaho, which is pushing eastward, can
link arms and in the course Of 18 months
another transcontinental railroad will be
completed. That the latter project will
be carried out there seems to be no doubt
and neither Is there any reason to believe
that in doing this the Manitoba will cast
aside the route through and across the
Marlas pass and north Of Flathead lake.
That will come In due time, but not right
away. The route through Missoula, how
ever, is assured, and even in this bleak,
cold weather, locating engineers are in
the mountains locating line from the
Cabot pass and down the Little Blackfoot
to Missoula.
THE WOLF CREEK PASS.
The principal difficulty in locating this
line is the selection OF a mountain pass.
A party Of men who were recently in
that vicinity discovered the Wolf creek
pssA which is said 10 be the best and
easiest grade for railrnad yet discover.
ed In the mountains north OF Helena.
Its advantages over the Cadot pass are
many, not the least of which is that it af-
fords shorter and more direct line to
Missoula. Wolf creek is the name of a
station ON the Montana Central. A river
of the same name passes along the town,
having its source In the mountains about
20 miles west of the town. This stream
flows over the pass on an easy plane.
Leaving the pass on the west and just
short distance from Wolf creek are the
headwaters of the Big Blackfoot river,
which flows nearly in direct westward
course to Missoula, thus giving natural
watercourse for the line, and 1t is more
direct than the Cadot pass and Little
Blackfoot route.
A MINERAL REGION.
On Wolf creek there is mineral reg
ion which is attracting considerable at.
tention on account of its large veins of
silver-bearing ores, and particularly the
copper deposits that have been opened
there. While the Manitoba surveyors
are looking for the most practical and
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