The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-19
DEPOT GROUNDS
The Burlington Pays Twenty-S Sew en-
Thousand Dollars for Termi-
nal Facilities.
The Route of the Montana Nxten-
sion From Helena to the
Musselshell.
Notable ouickenina of The Real Estate
Market the Last Week-Huild-
ing Notes.

lnk ANoNSSs
Helena is going to have another railroad
to the east, and it will be carrying freigh!
and passengers before this time next year.
1t may have two more. but there certainly
will be one. Helena capitalists have real
lied for some time that in order to reap all
the advantages which naturally should come
to this city, it was necessary to draw the
trade of different sections which are with
out railway facilities, the building of the
roads having the effect of making them
tributary to the capital and ut the same
time developing their resources. For over
a year various projects have been canvassed,
and within the past few days one of them
has assumed definite shape. 1t will be re-
membered that some time ago a franchise
was secured from the city council
for a railway from Davis street
and Ninth avenue to the city
boundary. At the time the franchise
was secured it was announced that the
plan was to build a railroad from a connec-
ton with this railway down the valley to
Stubs Ferry, the line being sometimes
called the Harlow road and at others the
Valley road, the latter being the correct
name. The gentlemen having the matter
IN charge have been working very quietly,
and yesterday the final move in the matter,
SO far as securing depot facilities in Helena
are concerned, was made. This was the
purchase of $11 900 worth of property from
Hoback d Cannon. $4,000 worth having
been purchased previously, making $4,000
altogether. The purchase was made
through VIM. Muth "fos eastern parties"
as one of the men concerned puts it.
The ground bought is all connected, and is
on Dry gulch, or Davis street, extending
from Ninth to Fourteenth avenue. That
it is for the Valley road and its eastern
connection there is no doubt.
Now as to the Valley road. II has al
ready, as shown, a franchise from the city
authorities to run to. the. city boundaries,
and it also has a charter from the county
commissioners to Build to Stubbs' ferry.
At this point the Missouri River Power
company will build its dam. and as this en-
terprise is almost sure to be pushed through
this season, il will be seen that the Valley
ing their line this year. AS to the route
from Stubbs' ferry, there is scarcely any
question. w. A. Haven, one of the most
prominent railway engineers in the coun-
try, n who was the engineer in charge of
all the branch lines built in the interest of
tana up to 1880, has been over
the country to the Musselshell,
and has mapped out the most practi-
cable line. The design of the Helena pro-
motors is to open up the best coun-
try possible, and this viii be done
to Canyon Ferry, over the most practicable
route. via Confederate Gulch and Diamond
City to the Smith River valley and Fort
Logan, thence to White Sulphur Springs,
thence to the headwaters OF the Mussel-
she'll, with a branch to Castle. and on down
known as the Montana Valley road.
All along it has been the popular belief
that the Valley road franchises were in the
interest of the Chicago, Burlington
g. Quincy. While this might have
been the first intention of the promoters,
seem to indicate that the Valley people.
not having tied themselves4u up with the 20"
folks, nave made another deal, and that
with the Northwestern. The latter road is
completed to Casper, Wyoming, and is as
we'll fixed financially to extend its line
try. Vanderbilt is back of it, and
his journey to Denver is III connection with
the extension of that road. Another thing
which gives color to the idea that the
Northwestern may have become Interested
in the Valley road, is that Mr.. S. L.. Perrin,
assistant general counsel of the Northwest
ern, was in Helera Thursday and Friday,
going east the latter evening.
Those supposed to be on the inside, how
ever, say that the purchase of the Hoback
d Cannon property is for the Burlington
account, and that while the Northwestern
is figuring on a route through Montana to
Helena, the former road has had its sur
veyors in the field all winter, and 100 miles
of the definite location of the line east of
Helena has been accepted by the general
land office. The Burlington has played it
very fine on the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern in this mat
name of the Montana 4 wy
oming Eastern, composed of Helena men,
has been. operating outside of Lewis and
Clarke county. another corporation, with
Il. A. Harlow, of Helena, as the tigurehead.
but backed by Boston capitalists, who are
closely allied with the Burlington, has been
at work in Helena and in this county So
curing depot grounds and franchises which
give it a clear right of way to the Missouri. |
Thus, when the Burlington is ready to com
mence building, it will have no contests
with rival lines over right of way in this
city.
The country which the road will open up
to Helena is one of the richest in Montana. |
as regards mineral production, agricultural
resources and range area. With a railroad.
many of the claims which have been
abandoned will be worked with profit:
the rich Smith River valley will
be brought to Helena's doors, the ores of
Castle can be transported to our smelters. !
and a country which is now but sparsely
populated will in Il few years be filled with
prosperous people. By the route outlined
the distance from Helena to White SULPHUR
will be 3D. miles, while to Castle it Is ten
miles shorter than the Sixteen-Mil creek
route, and far more practicable. The build
ing of a branch FROM the Musselshell to
Neihart Is also In the plans. and then two
of the most promising mining sections in
the state will be made tributary to Helena.
The past week has been an active one in