The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-30
THE WORLD ON WHEELS.
President Perkins and His Party Un-
able to Make a Long Stay
in Helena
Director Paine's Idea Of the Policy
Of the Roads Elk
tension.
Mr.. Merri1l's Report to President Perkfn
Automatic Couplers-Long Sleeping
Ca Kuns-General News.

The Burlington party arrived in Helen a
yesterday morning at eight o'clock, but only
remained in the city about thirty minutes.
They travel by special train and came over
the Montana Central from Butte. The
party consisted of G. L. Perkins, president
of the Chicago, Burlington d Quincy; Gen.
G.. j. Paine, a director; HI. L. Higginson,
w. j, Jarvis and DIR. G. w. West, of Boston;
Howard Elliott, st. Louis; Col. II. b. Scott
and G. B. Squires, of Burlington. Iowa.
The design was up to yesterday to spend a
day in Helena, but one of the party re-
ceived an imperative request to return
home as soon as possible, and this prevented
the contemplated stay in Helena. Presi-
dent Perkins met MIR. Merrill and the traffic
officials, who were i'll Helena last week, at
Ogden, Sunday, and from them learned a
great deal about the outlook in Helena and
Montana generally.
"Mr. Merrin's visit to Montana" said
one of the party, was for the purpose of
getting acquainted with Montana shippers
and acquiring suoh information about the
conditions and outlook for traffic as to en-
able them to figure IN Montana business.
The Chicago, Burlington u Quincy had ex-
tended its B. d NJ. line several hundred
miles west of Deadwood and had an eye on
the great northwest for business. Mr.. Mer-
rill reported to President Perkins and Di-
rector Paine that the outlook in Montana
was unusually good, as the ranges were
never better. He said that one stockmen
alone had shipped recently 1880 head, and
there were many other large shippers"
Gen. Paine is a strong advocate of the
policy of the Burlington tapping the cattle
rrrcyripr SoofiouSo f Wvnminp and Montana
and by a system of close connections max
ing a short and convenient lirAof rail from
the Texas cattle raising section to tho
ranges of the northwest. He contends that
this policy, if followed out, will insure a
great business for the road which inaugu-
rates it. Texas cattle can thus be quickly
placed on the Montana ranges, if necessary
the corn to feed them can be brought by
the Burlington from Nebraska and Iowa,
n then the same road can haul the fat
cattle direct to the Chicago market.
This is not President Perkins first visit
to the state, and he is pretty thoroughly in
formed of Che amount of traffic the railroads
now operating in Montana control, and also
as to the amount of traffic that could be ex-
pected from sections now without rail COM
munication.
Mr.. Perkins regretted very mach that
himself and frisnds could not avail them
selves oflthe proffered hospitality of the Hell
ena Commercial club, and expressed the
hope that before the summer was over he
would be able to paw Helena an extended
visit and see the Broadwater natitorium.
As to the Montana plans of the Burlington,
all of the party were non-committal. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Perkins the trip is purely
one for pleasure, looking over the country
for the benefit of a number of those in the
party who have never been out in this way
before.
All of the party are heavy capitalists, and
If the Burlington has an idea of getting
backing for a Montana extension, it would
seem that some of the members of the party
are interested in it.
The route from Helena is by the Great
Northern, direct to st. Paul.