The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-28
rom the Rocky Mountain Husband

From the Rocky Mountain Husband
man.
During the past few months there has
been no little speculation INDUCED in
by the several newspapers of the state
in regard to the extension of the Bur
lington railroad from Billings. Mont,
or Sheridan, Wyo., towards the PACING
coast. But so far as we are able to
learn it is all guesswork and is wholly
unauthoritatve. Now we do not claim
to be on the inside with this company,
and yet we are we'll satisfied that the
Pacific coast extension has not yet
been decided upon, nor has the route
yet been selected At least no intorma-
ton in regard to its selection has been
given to the general public. 1t is true
right of way has been filed over the
public domain along, certain surveys.
but this does not seem to mean a great
deal, since a portion of the route IN
this vicinity about which the company
was once very anxious is now occupied
and that, too, without any resistance
whatever on the part of the Burling-
ton line. There are many stories atioat
about this company being engaged IN
piling up supplies at various points
preparatory to building. but we doubt
if this means the long talked OF extern
sion. 1t does seem probable that this
great company will build a few feed
ers this year, and that one of them
will go west from the vicinity of Sher-
idan. Wyo., but we cannot be persuad-
ed that the line will cross the main
range of the Rockies by that route.
The topography of the country by that
route is not sufficiently inviting. Then
after reaching the western slope the
road would enter into direct competi-
ton with the Oregon Short Line, ex
cept upon about so miles of the upper
Snake river region, and there is no
great commercial center along this
route to the coast. 1t is more than
likely that the western extension when
made will be from Billings via Butte
and there is no probability of its paral
telling the Northern Pacific since there
is far more promising route and one
that will command more traffic, be
more direct and be more easily con-
structed and less expensive to operate
1t is not likely either that the Bur-
lington Will be content with building to
Butte, but when it breaks with the
Northern Pacific will endeavOr to pos
sess Montana with one single swoop
and touch Helena. Bozeman and Great
Falls the same season it advances to
Butte and Anaconda. 1t is generally
ing constructed by r. A. Harlow is to
become a part of this great thorough
fare, but there is nothing to indica te
it. The Montana railroad people. it is
true, have the advantage of the field
notes made by the Burlington survey
ing party. but there is no probability
of its being built at the instance of the
Burlington. We would be less sur
prised to see it absorbed by the North
Do ha1 + is in
dependent line and will remain as such
permanently. In fact we are very sure
of this. Its destination is undoubtedly
Lewistown, and there is much strong
er probability of it's touching the Great
Northern near Malta than the Northern
Pacific at Billings. But just how the
Burlington will reach Butte we vii
not attempt to say, and still We be.
lieve we could name the route. The
western extension from Butte vii
probably be over the proposed line Of
the Anaconda & Pacific via Lewiston
Idaho with a branch from Hamilton
Mont into the Flathead lake country
extending possibly into the Dominion
of Canada. But there is no probabilit,
of this great road assuming the ag
gressve very soon. The relations be
tween this road and the Northern Pa
cific are more amicable just now thai
they have been for several years, sine
the Northern Pacific is actually haul
ing Burlington sleepers westward AM
there is little probability of these rela
tions being broken very soon. The frs
thing that is liable to precipitate
westward movement of the Burlington
is activity on the part of the North
western. The Northwestern has bee
hating for a long time in the midst @
the great interior country about 10
miles south of Miles City. Should thi
road push its line up to the Norther
Pacific at Miles City it will probabl
cross the Yellowstone into the PENN
sular region between the Yellowston
and Missouri rivers and move wes
ward up the Musseshell The Burlins
ton would in this event no doubt Sc
it's danger and endeavor to occupy tn
promising field first. But for this yea
it is more than proba Bile that the Bun