The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-22
WANT THE CASTLE ROAD.
Livingston, Bozeman, Butte and Bill
lings Anxious for a Branch
to the Camp,
President Colby and the Park
County People Come to a
Final Agreement
" Combination Between the "Beautiful'
ana tho "Rig Camp"-Billings Wants
Unwilling to Pay.

The Castle railroad problem is being agi-
tated in eastern Montana towns just now a
great deal more than it ever has in Helena.
Three towns are in the race in that section
as the starting point for the proposed
branch to the great silver-lead camp of
Montana, and each town ia ready to give a
handsome bonus in case it is selected.
Northern Pacific surveyors, it is under
stood, have reported in favor of the line
from Livingston as being the most econom-
ical to build. Now The decision depends
upon the Northern Pacific directory, and it
will take other matters in consideration be-
side the cost Of construction.
President Colby, of the Wisconsin Cen
trail, recently sent Messrs. Dickerman and
Davis over the proposed route from Living
ston to Castle. These gentlemen spent sew
eral days in Castle, examining the mines and
figuring on what amount of traffic the
branch could depend upon. Their
mission accomplished, they met Colby
in Livingston the first of the week and re-
ported to him. Then a meeting of the
railroad people and Livingston citizens
was held, at which an agreement was ar
rived at. put in black and white and
signed by all interested. This contract is
to the effect that a construction COMPANY
represented by Colby will give toward the
building Of the road three and a quarter
sections of Northern Pacific land adjoin-
ing the Park addition to Livingston. The
citizens of the city, on their part, are to
give all the inside lots in the Park addi-
ton and a section and a quarter of lane
beside. Then the company is to be stocked
for the present estimated value of all the
land, the construction company to receive
one-half of the stock and the Livingston
contributors the other half. Colby and his
party have gone east with the proposition
to submit to the company he is represent
ing, supposed to be the North
American. The Livingston people
feel they have done all they
can to secure the Castle branch, and as they
will nave to buy all the unsold lots in the
Park addition. as we'll as the section and
quarter of land, in order to meet their en-
gagements, it will be seen that a pretty
good-sized amount of cash must be forth
coming.
But Livingston has not got the field to
herself. The Butte and Bozeman offensive
and defensive alliance is still in running
order and a combination has been arranged
which, if successful, will result to the ad-
offer to give, if the Castle branch is built
from Bozeman, 100000 in cash and land.
Butte giving the cash and Bozeman the
ground. This is with the understanding
that Butte is to ave the ore for her smelt-
ers, and the Bozeman people must not en-
courage the building of reduction works.
This combination Livingston, it is said,
does not fear.
Billings, also, wants the branch to run
her borders, and is willing to do as
much to secure it as any of her COMPETE
tors. Advocates of this latter route argue
that while the distance from Billings to
Castle is only about onerthird longer than
the route from Livingston, this is more
h overcome by the fact that Billings is
120 miles farther east than Livingston; and
as the finished product has to go that way
Billings offers the best inducements. And
that is not all, say the Billings people. We
have all the things which go to make a
natural smelling point. The Red Lodge
coal fields lie at our doors. while the Elijah
Smith coal fields on Clarks Fork. have been
pronounced by experts the best In the state.
Already a charter has been issued to the
Montana d Wyoming railroad to build
from Billings to these coal fields, and then
N down into Wyoming. When these coal
measures are opened, there will be no ques-
ton about cheap fuel for smelters at Billings.
Another thing about this branch from Bill
ings which but few take into consideration
is the fact that the Northern Pacific by
building from Billings to Castle, would
have an almost air line from eastern Mon
tana to the capital, which would not only
open up Z rich mining section. but also a
magnificent agricultural and stockgrowing
country.
In the meantime, while Livingston is
signing agreements, Bozeman and Butte
making offers and Billings getting ready to
do something. what is Helena doing? The
route from Helena to Castle, while it might
be a more expensive one to build than
others proposed, yet SO great are the other
advantages which 1t has hat a presentation
of them, backed up by as good offers as
other places make, would, according to
those who are acquainted with the situa-
ton, have a very telling effect on the North
ern Pacific directory when the matter comes
up for final decision. Whichever city gets
the railroad to Castle is assured of a good
trade from that camp, while the crude ores
which will be sent from the mines will ne
cessitate large smelter facilities and the
employment of thousands of men. Accord
ing to experts the Castle ore is just what is
needed to work with rock from other por-
tons of the state in order to smelt them
economically,