The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1892-02-20
COOKE CITY RAILROAD.
Inter esIlng Statement of the Status of the
Proposed Measure for Relief Of the
Cooke City Miners.

The following excerpts from a letter
received by J. c. Villas from Alvin 2.
Vinnedge, the accredited representative
of the Cooke City mine owners, who is
now in Washington, will be of interest
to the readers of the ENTERPRISE as
showing the prospects for securing con-
gressional action that will permit rail
road construction to the New World
mineral district:
"Our matter has assumed a new form
and been assigned to a new committee
since my arrival. Both of these changes
I believe to be favorable. Senator Vest
had formulated a bill, senate bill 428,
providing for the better government OF
the Park and better definition of its
boundaries This was referred to the
committee on territories He had agreed
with Senator Sanders before my arrival
and has since agreed in the presence of
the entire committee of commerce of the
senate, that if we would eliminate that
section providing for the crossing and re-
crossing of the Yellowstone river, he
would consent to having our matter en-
bodied IN his bill not as an amendment,
but as a part of it. This bill in it's new
form will soon be printed and will mail
copies to you. Dixon will introduce it
in the house today, February 9th.
81 have met both Major Powell and
Arnold Hague of the geological survey,
and each favor the proposed changes in
the Park boundaries. Have also met
personally several prominent senators,
including Allison, Vest, Morrill,, Frye,
Carey and Warren, as we'll as several
congressman, who each and all express
no antagonism to our measure. Vest
did say to me that he would vote to re-
peal the act which created the Park be-
fore he would vote for a right of way
franchise. Stockbridge of Mississippi
has introduced right of way bill in the
house. How much of a following he has
in this effort to revive the old lobby l
cannot say. Congressman Dixon does
not think it will take much of an effort
to overcome their influence. I am not
disposed to take such robustly san
guine view of it, however. think I can
see how, with the numerous and malig
nant forms of human greed that breed
and spread like contagion pestilential,
and that, barnacle- like attach themselves
to all legitimate ventures of human in
dustry, complications may yet arise that
will yet greatly retard and possibly de-
feat our cause in the house. I do not
say this is imminently probable; simply
say it is dangerously possible.
"The committee on public lands of the
house and the committee on territories
of the senate will have charge of our
measure. Our first and greatest effort
must, of course, be to secure favorable
reports from each of these. AS to the
plan that has been chosen for our great
est effort, viz: the segregation, l give it
as my opinion, from all that have been
able to see and hear, that it is the only
one that can be successfully exploited
through this congress. Of course you
will understand that at best / can only
give you an epitomized statement of
progress and prospects. 1t is not Rum,
Romanism and Rebellion that is the
matter with this congress, but politics,
policy and pandemonium. Will write
you again soon.'