The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1894-07-27
IT SHOULD BE BUILT
COMMISSIONERS DELAY ACTION ON
THE PROPOSED ROYAL ROAD

COMMISSIONERS DELAY ACTION ON
THE PROPOSED ROYAL ROAD
Californlans Pull the British Leg-Ex-
emptng Mining Claims-N1ineral Land
Classification--Tlle Mill on the Sunrise
Started Up-NIining Notes.
Before rendering their report to the
county commissioners, James B. Nc
Master, Charles Williams and Tom Stark,
the viewers appointed to look out road
from Deer Lodge to the Royal mine,
made another trip last week over the
proposed route, accompanied by Civil
Engineer Mcdonald, who took careful
and detailed observations Of the grades,
elevations, etc. They returned last
Thursday and early this week submitted
their report a carefully detailed docu-
ment, together with Prof. McDonald's
plat and profile. The report recites that
the distance to the county line is about
seventeen miles. The line OF road as
viewed out by Surveyor Davis last season
Of Watterson's ranch to the head Of the
| creek, thence along the side of the noun
tain on the south side of Rock Creek
Lake to the crossing above the falls.
This portion OF the road is the most ex-
| pensive part Of the entire line to build,
about two miles being overa steep noun
tain side and through formation almost
entirely of granite ledges, necessitating
blasting almost the entire distance. An
other serious objection to the line up La
M!rche is the unnecessary elevation re-
quired to be made For instance, Wat
terson's ranch lies at an altitude of $500
feet; the divide to be crossed at the head
| Of La Marche creek, in order to take the
south side Of the lake. is 6,700 feet, while
the point to be gained at the Rock creek
crossing above the falls is only 6,200 feet
| BY taking the route on the south side Of
| the lake an elevation Of 500 feet is made
in excess Of what is needed to gain the
level Of the crossing above the falls. In
order to avoid, if possible, this unneces-
sary elevation and also to save distance,
the right from point on La Marche
creek near Watterson's ranch; thence
across the head of Mullan creek to the
divide separating Mullan and Rock creek;
thence up the left bank Of Rock creek to.
the dam at the lower end of the lake,
which has an altitude of 5,925 feet; thence
across the dam and along the north side
Of the lake to the crossing, which has an
altitude of G,2OO feet. Therefore, by
taking the route on the north side of the
lake there is no point on the entire route
where the road gains q greater elevation
than the crossing. This also saves some
thing ever q mile in distance as we'll as
a considerable item in the expense of
building.
1t is understood the viewers recom-
mended that the road be built to the
crossing Of Rock creek, which they esti-
mate can be done at an expense not eX-
ceeding $500. They also recommend
the swapping out Of that portion lying
west of the crossing up to the county
line They deem this advisable for the
reason that there is so much down tim
Der on this portion of the road it is im
possible to accurately estimate the cost
OF building; but, i'll their opinion, the cost
should not exceed $500 per mile from
the crossing to the county line, a distance
OF about seven miles.
1t is stated that the only objection of
the commissioners to undertaking the
construction OF the road is 4 lack Of funds
in the treasury for road purposes. 1t
appears, however, that there is no lack
Of money in the general fund, and, ii SO,
what is to hinder them transferring from
one fund to another?
The commissioners have given the
viewers report some consideration, but
have laid it over for final action until
their September meeting. The delay. it
is feared, kills the enterprise for this
year, for by the time final action can be
reached the lateness Of the season will
preclude the completion of the work be-
fore winter sets in, even if it should be
determined to go ahead with it. That
the road is Il public necessity is unques-
toned, and the commissioners, if they
regard the public welfare, will take as
early action looking to its construction
rs the magnitude and Importance Of the
enterprise warrants.
They Pulled the British Leg.
A San Francisco dispatch of recent
date recites that A. G. Rensaw, British
capitalist, has commenced suit in the
toI C+nt, ~