The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-06-02
Belief That It Has a TranscOnti-
mental Project on
Hand.
SURVEYS BEING MADE
For Use Next SeaSOn-COntirmatiOn
from Denver-Surveying' Crew :.
in Billings This Week.

been published in The Gazette from
time to time, indications point to Bur
lington plans that, when completed, will
give it a transcontinental line of its
own. The belief is becoming quite gen.
raj that before long tie Burlington
will show it's hand in transcontinental
projects. In fact. confidential letters
have been seen by persons who after
ward spoke about them which amply
justify this belief, says a dispatch from
Wall street. This year would be a bad
time to build very much because Of the
high price of material, scarcity of labor
and for other reasons, but the Burling-
ton plans may be sufficiently developed
this year, so that actual construction
can be begun the beginning of next
season. Meantime the Burlington
traffic arrangements with the Northern
Pacific at this city is as satisfactory as
anything Of the kind it could get.
Even the Northern Pacific people are
inclined to believe that the day is draw
ing near when the Burlington will
branch out for itself. In this connec-
ton it is interesting to note the surveys
being made from Toluca, Mont,
through Pryor gap into Big Horn basin,
ostensibly for Butte, and those down
the Columbia in Oregon. Unless the
surveys are being made for speculative
purposes one of the largest western
roads is behind them. and this road is
almost certain to be the Burlington.
With the projected Columbia river val
ley road and a short length between
Billings and Walulla, the Burlington
transcontinental line will be material
lied. It is known that neither the
Northern Pacific nor Great Northern
has anything to do with these projects
and the Burlington is the only other
large road that could have anything
particular to gain by it, and it would
have very much to gain as a transcon-
t%inental proposition. The promoters
merely say that it will be built by east.
e1n capital, and although it cannot be
positively proven it is a reasonable as
sumption that this capital represents OF
is allied with Burlington interests.
Confirmation of the reports of the
intention of the Burlington railroad tc
extend it's road into the heart Of Mon
Jana are received in the following AS
ISOLATED Press dispatch sci out a few
days ago:
"Denver. May 29.-The Times to-
night says: The aggressive western
movements of the big transmissour:
lines has led the Burlington to practi
cally decide on a step for se%lf-p1otec
ton. This is the extending of theil
Montana line from Billings to Butte, {
distance of $50 miles. This move wa
divulged by one of the Montana agents
of the Burlington system now in tht
city. Practically the same news wa:
given on the authority of St. Louis ant
Kansas City parties two weeks ago yes
terday. There seems to be more thai
the usual probability that the Bur
lington means business as far as Mon
tana is concerned.'
Another Burlington surveying crew
is in this part of Montana, havin,
come in from Denver the fore part o
this week. The party consists of tel
surveyors, who came in prepared TO
all kinds of work. After spending
day in this city, during which the.
were reticent and under no condition
would divulge their business and inten
tions, they disappeared during tn
night, ostensibly for the west.