The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-21
MISsOCLA.
The Railroad Question Is the Absorbing
- Topic at Present.

The Railroad Question Is the Absorbing
- Topic at Present.
M1ssouLA, Feb. o. Special. The rail-
road question seems to BE- the principal one
agitating the community at present. That
the surveys that have recently been made
down the Scolkaho AVE progressed farther
than ordinary preliminary work is known.
The Scolkaho is the stream down the valley
of which the route from Anaconda to Ham
ilton must enter the Bitter R~ootscountry.
During tho past week Cory Bros, who
have recently completed Il large contract
ON the Great Northern west OF Kallspsll,
have moved 4 large portion of their stock
and tools up into the Bitter Root. r. is
rumorsd that they have a contract for con
struction work on the new line connecting
Anaconda directly with Hamilton. Tbs
correctness of these rumors have not vet
been verified, but the fact of their moving
their outfit to this locality is generally
looked upon as confirmation of the report.
The corporation back of the enterprise has
been unusually successful in concealing it's
identity. Although the surveys have
progressed 80 far that the contractors
can put their men TO work az soon a.
the snow melts and in places the right Of
way has been partially cleared, it does not
yet appear to be known whether it il the
Great Northern, the Union Pacific or some
AASoDoAuCA1 yAA406b0 tudb Will Uullu INC
road. There appears, however, to be few
doubts entertained, az to its being CON
structed IN the near future As far al least
as Hamilton.
This connection will place the forests of
the Bitter Root valley from fifty to eighty
miles neurer by rail to the mines of Butte
than at present. The farmers of the yailey
will also be largely benefited in the ship
ping Of small fruits and vegetables. It ID
generally 1Ssumeds that the road will in
some way connect with the Occur d'Alenes,
1t seems improbable that the heavy freight
traffic OF that section can much longer be
held exclusively by the lines now running
one of which passes up the Lo Lo, and, ii
il claimed. gets in to the mines by "A very
low rass.
The Oregon Railway & Navigation, which
,asses down the north side of tho Nissoula
iver, ia another. Either of these routes ia
fully practicable and do not include any
unusually difficult or expensive engineering
feats.
The K. of T. ball. given on Friday even
ng, the 18th, was decidedly the social
svsnt of the week. 1t was largely attended,
not only by the members of the order, but
by other6. At IL midnight the doors of the
large dining hall Of the Hotel Florence
were thrown open to the dancers. The
liable decorations were on a scale seldom, if
ever before, equaled in Missou!a,
The trustees of the Missoula Racing asso-
cation have elected the old officers, viz: f.
u. higgins, president; G. H. Mcleod, vice
president; A. b. Cook, secretary; John Al,
Keith. treasurer. There is considerable
dissatisfaction expressed by stockholders
OF the association and by local horsenlen
regarding the dates given Missoulu. An
endeavor will he made to get more satja-
FACTORY dates either with Spokane or with
the Montana circuit, and if this fails tho
annual meetlng may be abandoned.
Mrs. May Dawson was granted a divorco
from her husband. Samuel Dawson.
Ihe board of appraisers, CONSISTING Of
Marion, Berry and Mcconnell. hsld n Sos
sion Thursday afternoon. Tho basis fo,
assessment for all lands was fixed The
various lands of tho county are Divided
into four classes for the purpose OF assess.
msnt. The only changes nude in last
years schedule was in lands of the seconH
class. The 81 and $40 grades of last vear
were raised to $40 and Sl5 respectiyelv
Tie assessment of tho lots in the townsitss
of the Bitter Root valley remains the same
except as to Hamilton. which has been con
siderably raised. Lots in kalisuell ware
assessed at from 500 to $500. On lots in
Frenchtown and Demersville the nxsess-
lnent was considerably reduced.