The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-02-19
CHANGE OF ROUTE.
It Is Supposed That the Great North
ern Contemplates STRENGTHENING
Its Line to Falls.


are progressing rapidly in the di-
rection of Riceville. While it is
not possible to learn anything def
mite, everything seems to indicate
this survey is really being made
with view of changing the present
roadbed and doing away with the
heavy grade out of Belt. At the
present time, coal trains must all
have helper to the top of the hill,
a distance of five miles, 30 cars max
ing full train for the two engines.
The Neihart train on her trip down
from Neihart is compelled to set out
12 or / 5 loads at Belt, not being
able to handle her full train up the
hill. The extra that is now making
special trips to Barker must also re-
duce her train at Belt. In order to
keep the business moving an extra
train crew must be sent from Great
Falls to Belt to pick up these loads.
All this is very expensive and it is
believed the railroad officials are 60
ing to try to do away with it.
1t is said the new survey will
strike the present roadbed at Rice
VILE AT that point there is natu-
raj and easy grade from the creek
bottom up on to the bench and a
single engine could haul the heavi-
est train withou, help. There would
be but little grading on the propos-
ed new route and another advantage
is that all danger from high water
and unsound bridges between Rice
vile and Belt would then be remov-
ed.
The Sand Coulee Coal company,
which is owned by the Great North
ern, now have diamond drills pros
pecting on their coal lands about
one mile west of Arlington. The
parties in charge are very reticent
regarding2the results they are secur'
ing, It's believed, however, they
are entirely satisfactory. They are
falso driving two tunnels on Me.
creek, which is about half way be-
tween Kennedy's addition to Belt
and Arlington.
Through the courtesy of the mer
in charge, Standard correspondent
was allowed to enter the tunnel:
and proceed to the face of the drift
In the first, which is in, perhaps, ION
feet, they have four feet of coal of
very fair quality. In the othe'
which is in distance of 60 or Il
feet, was found five and half fee
of good, clean coal which, it is said
improves as. they get farther from
the surface. Fifteen men are nov
employed at the drills and in thu
tunnels, and it is said if the pros
pecting now going on proves th'
J coal to be as good as it is believed
to be, the property will at once b'
opened up and worked extensively.
In all probabilities the work of tn
Anaconda company will at SOM
I time extend so far into the hill tha
it will be paying proposition TO
them to sink shaft and hoist tn
coal to the surface. This woul
probably be mile and half or tw
miles west of their present tippl
and upon the bench land. Th'
railroad company, in addition t
saving the great expense occasione
by the present heavy haul out c
Belt, would be enabled to name
much lower freight rate on cos
from these points to Butte and Ana
conda.
Everything seems to indicate tha
the Arlington mine will soon b
!, working and that some radics
changes will be made on the Ne
hart branch of the Great Northern
Some of the old residents have bee
heard to remark that they believe j
t J. Hill is exercising his wonderfr
: gift of being able to look into tn
future; that alrady he sees coming
the fulfillment of the prophesy
the Neihart HERALD, which ws
n copied in recent number OF tn
! Standard, and that he is preparin
for rush of business from this pa
of the world in the not very distar
: future Standard.