The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-11-28
ITS ROUTE IN MONTANA.
Some New Facts Concerning the
Northwest Extension OF the
Burlington.
Surveyor Gillette Found and REQ
commended a Route n Every
Way Feasible.
The Way to Bring Burlington Trains INTO
Heiena-The Route of the
Proposed Line.

The Burlington is hurrying on toward
Montana. and the officers of that road ex-
meet to have track laid and trains running
both into Helena and Great Falls BY THIS
time next year. Some new facts relating
TO the Montana extension of this great rail-
way lined are learned from q gentleman In
~position to speak with authority. A special
dispatch to lHE INDEPENDENT from Sher'-
dan. Wvo., dated Sept. 4. traced IN a gen
eral way several preliminary SURVEYS that
had been run by Mr.. Gillette and other
surveyors in the employ of the Burlington.
In that article it was stated that: "A me
has been run from Sheridan III anorthwest-
erly direction to old Fort Q. +. Smith, on
the Big Horn in the Crow reservatlon' n
feasible route being found by skirsing the
Big Horn mountains, following the Ola
stage line pretty closely. From Fort smith
an easy way is open TO Fort Custer. where
a heavy business in freightinG could be So
cured. 1t is an open secret that the Bur
lineton people have made overtures to the
government for contracts for that BUSINESS
incidentally urging that Fort Custer Do not
abandoned nor the force reduced when the
new DOHt Az I1ol6uh Il icdoy koA
From Fort Custer a line was iun to rom
pev's Pillar, GU the Northern Pacific, thence
northwest to the foot of Ball mountain
around those mountains to the west ana
north to the Musselshell river, following
that stream we'll up toward the Little Belt
and Snow mountains, thence west to Castle
and White Sulphur Springs, and on TO
Townsend or Toston.
From old Fort c. i. Smith a line has
been run nearly due northwest to Bllllngs
and on to the Musselshell a few miles west
of Bull mountain, thence along the line
indicated above. Also from Fort Smith a
line has been run south along the Big Horn
river and Sinking Water creek. thence
along snake river, over the Teton noun
tains, south of Yellowstone park. toward
Blackfoot, Idaho. This line has been run
a good part of the distance only on paper.
From Billings a line has been run nearly
due south to meet this projected line at a
noint near where the Sinking Water emp
ties into the Big Horn.
"Ano.ber line. which has been more or
less suryeyed, winds through the mountains
west of Sheridan to Pryor gap, near the
Montana line. thence In n general nortn-
westerly direction of the Bear creek mines,
near Red Lodge. north to Big Timber, par
allsling the Northern Paclhc from big
Timber to Twenty-Five Mile creek, near
Livingston, and thence north over a line
once surveyed and CROSS -~sectioned. SO re-
ported. by the Northern Pacific, to old
Camp Baker, near Neihart, reaching the
latter place and making friendly arrange
ments with the G eat Northern Tor the ex-
change of business at Great Fails.
Some work has been don't in the country
north of the Musselshell, making lines
tending toward Great Falls, leaving the
river probably at Lavina or Copperopolls. ~
Mr.. Gillette, the chief surveyor. was In the
field at that time, and was running a line
over a route altogether different until 1T
should reach the Yellowstone river at a
pojnt near Billings. rhe gentleman men
toned at the opening of this article said
that this last line run by Gillette hao proved
to be by far the most feasible route, and IN
addition would have the advantage of Sc
curing a large freight business aS soon as
trains were put on.
II was expected that all construction
work would stop for the winter at sheridan,
about forty miles south of the Montana
line. but it is learned that considerable
work has been lone beyond that point
From Sheridan the line OF the ~Burlineton,
when built. will in all probability extend
westward II and a little to the north I'M
til Pass creek is reached in Wyoming. The
course of that stream will be followed IN a
northeasteriy direction until 1T emptles
into the Little Big Horn. The valley of that
stream will be followed past the Crow
agency, to Fort Custer. From there the
road will make a short turn to the west,
going through an easy pass some miles
south of Pine Ridge mountains, to Fly
creek, following the course OF that creek to
the Yellowstone at Pompey's Pillar. The
river will be followed westward to a creek
about fifteen miles east of Billings, proba-
liz, hl1-ali ornak xyhHTa the line Will take 81
generally nc. Invest direction, making to-
ward White Sulphur Springs and Castle.
where the Burlington officials expect to
meet the Helena, White Sulphur Springs d
Castle railroad, and by the best route avail
able on TO Neihart, where it will meet the
branch of the Great Northern. Arrange
ments for the use of that track to Great
Falls could then be made and from Great
Falls the Burlington will take across the
Teton and Marias countries, striking the
Pacific extension of the Great Northern
near the mountains.
Mr.. Giliete's report on this route Is thai
it can be built for a million and a quartz
less thar any of the others and that fewel
engineering obstacles Will be encountered
From careful study of the subject of con
Btruction by Indian labor he IL convinced
that the line can be built very cheapll
across the Crow reservation and think
there will he no trouble whatever In getting
the right of way by conceding to the INDIAN
the privilege of doing all the work they can
MIR. Gillette studied this phase of the subjeo
for several weeks by actual observation o
the progress of ditch building on the reser'
walton, only Indian labor employed.
If Mr.. Gillete's recommendations ar
adopted by the Burlington 1t would seen
that the one way to have Burlington train
running into Helena within one year vii
be to hasten the construction of the Helena
White Sulphur Springs ~ Castle road.
Aspecial line of trimmed bonnets and hats fo
sale cheap, also untrimmed wool and fur felta a
cost for this week only. Mrs. +. kempsey, War
"a Etraat