The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-22
ENGINEER DARLING's REPORT.
The Arguments OF tho Opponents of til,
Dam Ably Kefuted.

The report of w. T.. Darling, the consult
ing engineer. another strong document,
was presented. 1t was concurred in by
Mayor Kleinschmidt, City Attorney Craven
and John w. Thompson, the city council
committee, and VIM. Muth. H. M. Par
chen and Barnard Brown, the Board Of
Trade committee. The report is addressed
to Capt. Powell, and says:
An examination OF your reportA OF March
IS, 1891. and Feb. %, 1892, shows a belief
that with certain expenditures the Missouri
river can be made navigablo for boats Of
light draft between Three Forks and
Great Falls. II is a we'll known fact. and
tacitly admitted as such in you reports,
that tho upr or river should be considered
as nnvlaable only between Three Forks and
Great Falls, the dams, bridges and natural
obstructions in the vicinity of Great Falls
making it necessary that the portion below
above, and rendering an interchange of
business imp acticable; first on account of
expensive transfer, and second. on account
Of cheaper Transportation to eastern maj
kets by rail than by water.
The project of building a dam near
Stubbs' Ferry has caused more Of less criti-
cism from p titles interested in Great Falls
property. 1t is necessary, therefore. to
consider the apparent evils. as we'll as the
advantages resulting therefrom. The only
criticisms that have been raised are: FL st,
That it will divide the commerce of the
upper Missouri, 80 that there can practi-
cally be no connection of the business
above the lam with that below ii. Second,
That it will overflow vnluable land, and
perhaps render sapphire fields useless.
This second criticism ia not worthy Of be-
ing considered. as practically the entire
tract that would be ovarfi owed is owned by
the same syndicate that proposes to build
the dam.
The only seeming disadvantage is. there
fore. the fact that navigation would be di-
vided. An examination of the map will
show that there is il stretch of about 200
miles Of river included in this district. The
question then arises as to tho present and
future business that may be expected along
this portion. that would naturally require
transportation, and whether that transport
tation should be by water or by rail. This
business can be divided into -four Glasses:
minerals. agricultural products, timber n
passenger business. Since the only COM
On the river is down river business, only
that portion OF country lying above the
dam should be considered.
The Great Falls people have endenyorcd
to show that they should have unrestricted
navigation from the head of the river. at
for the surrounding country and afford
cheaper transportation for timber, ore,
coal, agricultural products, etc., to their
so-called proper market at Great Falls. It
is evident to anyone that has been at all
observant that transportation on the upper
pioneer business. 1t has been shown to be
an impossibility to compete with the rail
roads. The lowest average rates ever
charged for transporting supplies or pas-
sengers via river were, more than double
that charged by railroads at tho present
time.
At the present time all that portion of the
river above Stubbs' Ferry that needs a
market has the best of facilities for trans.
rortntion and has connections by rail with
Great Falls, Helena, Butte and all points
east and west. The citizens Of Helena are
at present constructing a railroad to
Stubbs' Ferry. This will give this country
still better facilities. with which. even with
unobstructed navigation, steamboats, could
not compete. The proper markets for all
products above Stubs Ferry is ut Helena,
Butte aud surrounding camps. which in
cludes q population of $4,000 as against
5000 or G.0O0 Of Great Falls.
1t is we'll known that the timber in the
vicinity OF Helena and Butte ID fast disap-
pearing. 80 much Of it being used in the
mines and smelters. Even now The Ana
conda company are shipping all their tim
Der for q distance of 1G5 miles. In fact,
unless the enormous consuml ttion OF wood
III AtCEGAStu lftliN nav GG OliGls i u l. q
matter of Il short while when the fuel gues-
tion will be a very serious one, md right
here we assert that tho proposed works will
effect a saving of $50, 600 cords of wood an
nuully or it's equivalent in coal. 1t seems
to US that this item alone outweighs any
seeming OWL that the dam might calse.
As for mineral traffic, there is not now a
single mine producer that is accessible to
the river, or that could ship u pound Of
freight to Great Falls. provided navigation
was unobstt Noted. Neither liz there any
coal accessible. River competition for pas
senger traffic, unless for pleasure, is out OF
the question, AS for market for small
grains: 1t ia claimed that with open navi-
cation the farmers of the Gallatin and Mis-
souri, valleys would ship their wheat to
Great Falls to be ground, whore the mar
ket would be bette. The present market
for them il at BnXeman, where there are
ample facilities for grinding, and Bozemun
has the advantage of just as good lates to
the sea-board and eastern cities that Great
Falls has. Tho m!lls of BoZeman are run
by water power and should grind as chenply
as at Great Falls. When mills are erected
at StubbH' Forty a new competition, much
moro active than at G. cat Falls, will spring
up for them.
II will be seen from the above that any
evils credited to tho proposed structure are
only seeming, and aro not worth consider
ing in comparison to tho immense advan-
tageB to DO derived from it. Lot us look
at II few OF these advantages. This main
idea of the dam il primarily, by tho pro-
duction Of power. to mako better markets
for products in the valley Immediately
above; TO create new industries, causing a
demand for skilled and unHkilled labor. to
give employment to labor already hore, and
ssa.Q N . 49,. $500 ks@n 49, 49,.