The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-13
TO CHANGE THE ROAD.
The Survey Rapidly Progressing in the
Direction of Notwithstanding
Around Arlington.

Belt, Feb. PA party of Great
Northern surveyors are still working
on the bench land west of Belt creek
and are progressing rapidly in the di-
rections of Riceville. While it is not
possible to learn anything definite,
everything seems to indicate this sur
vey is really being made with a 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,
80 cars making a full train for the two
engines. The Neihart train on her trip
down from Neihart is compelled to set
out Il or Is 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 reduce her train
here. In order to keep the business
moving an extra train crew must be
sent out from Great Falls to Belt to
pick up these loads. All this is very
expensive and it is believed the rail-
road officials are going to try to do
away with it.
1t is said the new survey will strike
the present roadbed at Riceville. At
that point there is a natural and easy
grade from the creek bottom up on to
the bench and a single engine could
haul the heaviest train without help.
There would be but little grading on
the proposed new route and another
advantage is that all danger from high
water and unsound bridges between
Riceville and Belt would then be re-
moved.
The Sand Coulee Coal company,
which is owned by the Great North
ern, now have diamond drills prospect
ing on their coal lands about one mile
west of Arlington. The parties in
charge are very reticent regarding the
Wi fG hD-
lieved, however, they are entirely sat
isfactory. They are also driving two
tunnels on Mel creek, which is about
half way between Kennedy's addition
to Belt and Arlington.
Through the courtesy of the men in
charge, Standard correspondent was
allowed to enter the tunnels and pro-
coed to the face of the drift. In the
first, which is in, perhaps, 100 feet, they
have four feet of coal of a very fair
quality. In the other. which is in
distance of go or 20 feet. was found
five and a half feet of good, clean coal
which it is said, improves as they get
farther from the surface. Fifteen men
are now employed at the drills and in
the tunnels, and it is said If the pros
pecting now going on proves the coal
to be as good as it is believed to be, the
property will at once be opened up and
worked extensively.
In all probabilities the NOIk VI TIE
Anaconda company will at some time
extend so far into the hill that it VIII
be a paying proposition for them to
sink a shaft and hoist the coal to the
surface This would probably be mile
and half or two miles west of their
present tipple and upon the bench land.
The railroad company in addition to
saving the great expense occasioned by
the present heavy haul out of Belt,
would be enabled to name a much low
er freight rate on coal from these
points TO Butte and Anaconda.
Everything seems to indicate that the
Arlington mine will soon be working
and that some radical changes will be
made on the Neihart branch of the
Great Northern. Some of the old resi-
dents have been heard to remark that
they believe J. J. Hill is exercising his
wonderful gift of being able to look
into ths future. that already he sees
coming the fulfllment of the prophesy
Of the Neihart Herald, which was
copied I'm a recent number of the Stand
ard. and that he is preparing for rush
Of business from this part of the world
in the not very distant future.