The Helena independent., 1892-10-18
Local Capitalists Will Build 1t II
Outside Men Do Not
Care to.
Well Known Men Who Give Rea-
sons Why 1t Should Be
Done.
It Would Open to Helena Merchants n
Productive Territory and Add to tho
Taxable Wealth.

The interest in the construction OF
railroad from Dillon to Helena, instead Of
tagging, Ia growing all the time, Al least SO
far az Helena capitalists and business men
generally are concerned. All of the gentle
men interested In the Helena 81 Castle rail-
road say that proisct has now reached the
point whore construction il assured, and
the only regret they express in regard to it
10 that instead OF losing az much time AZ
thsy have In inducing eastern capital to
take hold of II, they did not build a por-
tion Of 1t before they tried to interest
outside capital. Bat the delays in
the Castle road have not been
without their good effect, because the
same people who are interested in it, are
also prepared to go into the Dillon enter
prise. Several of the gentlemen talking
about the latter enterprise yesterday, had
very decided views upon ii. A. M. Hotter,
asked if he favored the construction by To-
| cal capitalists, in case neither the Union
nor Northern Pacific railroads would do 80,
said he certainly did. '"Twelye years ago."
| said Mr.. Hotter, when | was a member of
the territorial legislature introduced a
bill providing that Lewis and Clarke county
give e subsidy of 100000 to the Union
Pacific railroad if ii would build that road.
I do not az a rule believe in subsidies. but
that / regarded as a business proposition.
l would not favor giving million
dollar subsidy, but thought, and still be-
| lieve, that a railroad from Dillon to Helena
would be worth $500, 900 to this county. II
| is not the business such road would bring
here. but it would add that much more to
the taxable wealth of the county. and SO
would reduce the taxes of all the residents
| nf tha IT, has aIUaya haan a nv g.
| terry to me why the Union Pacific did NOT
| construct the line from Dillon to Helena,
or at least portion of it. l know there
would be good business for such line"
Another Helena merchant who has been
quietly at work on she Dillon & Helena
project is D. A. Cory. Of Bach, Cory q Co.
Talking of it yesterday he said: "a year
and half ago Judge Blake, Mr.. SeliRman
aud myself went to Boston especially to
see Chas. Francis Adams, the president Of
the Union Pacific railroad i'll regard to
such line. We did not see him, and from
what learned afterwards do not think we
would have accomplished anything had wa
done SO. | believe in going right ahead
with that road, if neither the Union Pacific
or Northern PaciIic will agree TO build it.
Az understand 1t will not be an expensive
line to grade, and if the people will give the
right of way, and | believe they WILL We in
Helena can push it ahead. IL will open up
for the merchants.a .anohteri iobbinR territory
because there "i!l be sctne new t0wna
springing up, and then the valleys it will
pass tn ough and the mining camps it will
tap, will add good many thousand dollars
annually to the business of the city,"
Another gentleman who has had good
deal of experience in the construction of
branch roads from Helena is Henry nj
Parchen. II am most assuredly in favor
of local capitalists taking hold of and
building road from Helena to Dillon in
case neither the Union nor Northern Pa
cifc will do So" said Mr.. Parohen yester-
day. II believe such road would be a
good investment and not only open up a
rich and productive country, but would add
greatly to the business of Helena. There
have been some vexatious delays in the
Castle matter, but l believe these are over
now. and that in q day or two we will be in
shape to take hold of the Dillon enter
prise"
A. J. Seligman also is greatly interested
in the Dillon d Helena road. II have no
kept track of the recent Developments ir
that matter" said Mr.. Seligman yesterday
'as have been away, but l became inter
ested in the ente prise over year ago.
am heartily in favor of local people takins
hold of it, in case neither the Union o.
Northern Pacific will build it. think thu
right OF way will be given. and it will brini
q big business to Helena"
Messrs. G. w. Cannon, II. G. Wallace
Gen. Ha ris and half dozen other gentle
men were also of the opinion that loca
people could not do better than to build tha
road if such course was found necessary