The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-18
IN RAILROAD CIRCLES
A Few Prospectors Only Tackle
the Blackfoot Reservation.
THERE WAS NO RUSH MADE
Nothing New in the Affairs of the Union
-Pacinc-Russia After People to Set
tie Along the Line OF the Trans-
Siberian Railroad.

The Great Northern officials report
that Notwithstanding the boom and re-
ports Of mineral riches of the Blackfoot
reservation the number of prospectors
who nave gone in there since the OPEN
ing has been very small. The Great
Northern is the only road that runs
through the reservation. and less than
half a dozen people have gone from
Butte. A few more have gone from
Helena and other parts of the state. but
altogether the number is only a small
fraction of the number that was ex-
pected to rush in.
f. v. Maze, general agent of the
Union Pacific, has returned from Salt
Lake, where he went to meet General
Traffic Manager Munroe. Mr.. Maze
says there In nothing new in the affairs
OF the company. The following from
the Salt Lake Tribune indicates that
there was nothing significant or inn
portant In the meeting of the officials:
Freight Traffic Manager ]. A. Num-
roe OF the Union Pacific is in the city
with his wife. stopping over to talk
with Messs. Choate and Maz on his
return from the transcontinental meet
ing at Del Monte. Mr.. Munroe states
that he has been away so long from
Omaha that he cannot say what has
happened or may happen OF interest to
the public. but that the new company is
moving along in the smoothest way pos
sible."
The trans-Siberian railway, says the
Russian minister of roads and communi-
cations In a eport dated Feb. "a, is
open to traffic to krasnoiarsk. and the
general progress for the three years,
lSS5-91, Is as follows: Earthwork exc
cuted. 100. 600, 900 cubic yard; rails laid.
1852 miles; ballast deposited, 2,O44
miles. On the transbaikal line PAL
bridges have been built and 6s5 miles Of
main line and sidings have been laid.
The Northern ussuri line approaches
completion; n on Sept. 1. 1897. the first
through train arrived at khabarovsk
from V~ladlvostok For the crossing Of
Lake Baikal, the parts OF an ice-cutting
~ferryboat and the engines for a floating
dock are now at krasnoiarsk; and an
ice-cutting ferryboat is being put to-
gether on the east bank OF lake Baikal.
Arrangements are being made to i'm
prove The navigation of the rivers An
CARA. Schilka, Amur and Ussuri. and
two uredgers and two steamer with
barges are now in use.
To make the Siberian railroad sue
cessful II is necessary that the country
through which II runs should have not
only natural resources. but people-and
1t has very few now. To the
emigration of peasants from European
Russia. the government has established
a scale Of emigrant rates which are
probably the lowest regular railroad
rates ever made. Beginning with a
fare OF $l.5O for a distance Of 200 miles, |
which is a reduction of 26 per cent. from
the previous emigrant third-class fare,
for 1000 miles the fare is 81. 10 and for
1000 miles $3.50. The percentage OF re-
duction from previous rates grows
greater with the distances. and for 1000
miles Is so per cent. AS yet. however.
there Is probably no 4,000-mile journey
There Is also a reduction on
freights. but these are not
so considerable, and they are strictly in
proportion to the distance. amounting
to 20 cents per 100 pounds for 1000
miles, Al 2-3 cents for 1000 miles and
SO 1-3 cents for 1000 miles. As a Russian
peasant has difficulty i'm accommodating
a few dollars. the removal Of a family
and the necessary goods and stock to
armin in a new country would
be beyond the means of the most of
them at anything like ordinary rates;
and If they can be Induced to emigrate
by the new fares, 1t is very likely wise
to make them; for II is solely from this
class thai Siberia can be peopled and de-
veloped.
A st. Paul firm has undertaken a rom
Of some magnitude for the Great
The work lies between Lari-
more, n. D., n Havre. Mont.-600
II consists In widening grades.
illing in bridges INC making snow cuts
The contract calls for the removal Of
about a million cubic yards of dirt.
Large umbers of men and teams have
been sent on the scene of operations,
md the work, which will be begun at
,nce. will continue all summer.
The -four new trains which the Bur-
ington will put into service between
Chicago and Denver are ready TO be run
Tut of the shops. They will not be put
nto service. however, until May 1. Each
consists Of Pullman standard sleeping
,ars, compartment cars. a composite car.
,aving smoking room, bath and barber
'hop. reclining chair cars and a diner.
They are said to be among the finest
rains in the country.
The Western roads are making prepa-
'ations to care for the travel to and
rom the Omaha exposition. On May
the Burlington will put into service a
lew equipment throughout on its fast
rain No. /. which leaves Chicago at 10
''clock in the morning and arrives in
)enver at leo p. m. the next day, pass
through Omaha 1t l1:50 ID. m, the
Law of leaving Chicago.