The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-07
1T is A DREAM.
But There Is Talk of Stage Line to
Helena and Butte.

Helena and Butte.
Great Falls, Jan. 6-Ever since the
Great Northern put its new schedule
into operation there has been more or
less discussion of the inconvenience to
which it puts the people of this city.
So far no solution of the problem has
been attempted, and possibly no at
tempt Will be made, but last night 1t
was reported that Frank Lewis of Belt
was scheming on an overland stage
line between this city and Butte. Ac-
cording to the report the attempt
would be to perform an almost mpos-
sble feat, for It is said that the dis
lance, 176 miles, would be made in IL
hours. The stages would be drawn by
six or eight horses with relay stations
but short distance apart, and the
stage would move on the jump from
the time it left Great Falls until it
pulled into Butte The schedule is
practically impossible for the reason
that it would require a uniform speed,
including stops, of Is miles an hour
which is beyond the endurance of
horse flesh. In the palmy days of
staging in Montana. between the years
of 1876 and 1884. the Overland Stage
company was able to maintain a speed
for its coaches of II miles per hour,
including stops, from Fort Benton to
iiSiSii1, Iii odSh LIE ulu anu well lldN-
eled road in the Prickly Pear canyon
The coaches were huge affairs, very
broad guage. so that tipover was
almost impossible, and carried % pas
sengers and their baggage. They were
drawn by six horses and the rule Of
driving was to never permit the tam
to slacken to a trot. Down the hills
the horses flew, as anxious to keep
out of the way of the following coach
hn Iy+irr 4
the momentum thus gained usually
carried them to the top of the succeed
ing hill before the traces frightened.
If horse went down he was down
for good, since the others were unable
to- check up until he had been dragged
to death. In the winter time the front
wheels Of the stage We're armed with
dogs" ,two-inch spikes to prevent
any slipping or Slowing on the ice,
and the roads were kept in first-class
condition or as nearly so as the nat
ural soil of the country permitted.
To-day the neglect of the country
roads would initiate against fast time
and any talk of a 12-hour drive be-
tween this city and Butte is a dream
not to be realized.
There seems but one, possible meth
cd of conveyance between these two
points in anything like the time sug-
SGSteu, anu LllaL is lHG IIlOLOr carriage.
All reports from the East point to tile
success of these wagons, and il is
possible that with the improvement of
the roads a series of these vehicles,
with a proper supply of power, would
form a mode of travel from the me-
tropolis of Northern Montana to rhe
big camp of the state, which, in the
summer time at least. would be very
acceptable to the travelling public.
There is some question as to their sic
cess in mud time, when the 'dobe
sticketh like a brother and holdeth
fast like a porous plaster, but at other
seasons they would make very good
time.
Meanwhile the people of this city
will endure trains which come in the
middle of the night and ever pray
that the stub train service be renewed
or schedule arranged which will not
murder sleep coming and going.