Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-16
May Build From Billing:
Westward
UL T1MATELY TO THE COAST
Its Engineers Are Said to be Run.
ming a Line in the Direction
Of This City

Associated Press dispatches sent out
from Sheridan, Wyoming, recently, an
nouncing the arrival of a second Burling-
ton surveying party at that place, and
stating that it was the general belief
that the Burlington was making prepara-
tons for the extension Of it's line to
Butte and westward, We're published in
the Inter Mountain sevral days ago.
Speaking Of the possibilities of the eX-
tension the Helena Independent of yes
terday says:
1.-The citizens of Helena in 1889 raised
a fund and surveyed and located a rail-
way line from Helena to Castle by way
Of Whites gulch, at a cost of about
$4,000. About the same time, after sew
eral years of careful surveying investi-
eating the entire country for a distance
of 800 miles north and south of the ma
tional park, the Burlington filed it's maps
of definite location with the interior de-
partment. The Burlington had COM
pleted It's line to the Black Hills and was
looking for the most feasible route to the
mines, with an ultimate view to a low
grade line to the coast.
$50 the located lines We're filed with
the interior department and can be seen
on any maps issued by the department.
They include a line from Billings to the
Missouri river at sLombard-or Painted
Rock-and a line to Great Falls. From
Painted Rock several lines We're run to
Butte II dow the river to Helena.
The cost Of these locations was about
$500 per mile and ave the right of way
over public lands for three years. 1t was
the evident intention to reach the mining
traffic at Butte, Helena and Great Falls,
but the Barring failure came, earnings
began to fall off, and there was so much
talk about sage brush bonds hat the
Burlington decided to abandon tempo
rarily it's comprehensive plans of extern
sions n only complete it's line to a con-
nection with the Northern Pacific at
! Billings.
1.-THE line was completed to Billings in
1894. The Castle railway surveys We're
turned over to r. A. Harlow, and in 1898
he started to grade from Helena to the
Missouri. intending to build to Castle
after he had completed 20 miles of grade,
the location of the Burlington having
lapsed. although it could easily nave been
renewed. Evidently by some understand
ing Mr.. Harlow located his line on the
old Burlington survey and commenced to
build from Painted Rock to Castle. The
line was completed two years ago.
THE distance from Billings to Helena
by this route is somewhat less than by
the Northern Pacific, and is about 2A5
miles.
"The IS miles already built and the %
mile section for which Cook & Woldson
have the contract. together with the 20
miles graded from Helena to the Missouri
river, make an aggregate of 10 miles.
There remains only rs miles of line to
grade to bring the Burlington into Hell
ena.
The portion constructed is the most
difficult and expensive to build, being
through the mountains. The line from
Billings to Martinsdale is along the Mus
selshell, with no large streams to cross;
in short, about the cheapest line in Mon
tana to build. The section from LON
bard to Helena is down the river and
equally easy of construction. The Bur-
lington could fill these gaps in 80 days.
"The line from Painted Rock to Butte
is about the same distance as to Helena,
and. while entirely feasible, would re-
Qulre more time to construct. The mag
net that attracts railways is heavy
freight traffic, and passenger traffic is a
minor consideration. There is no place
in the United States where more initial
freight originates than at Butte, and the
large traffic and high rates make Butte
the Mecca of all railway lines anywhere
within reaching distance of it. The ru-
mors have been circulated that the Bur-
llngton intended to build via the National
park to Butte. Any one al all familiar
with the country north and south of the
knows that such a line would cost
a prohibitive figure and must have heavy
grades; actual knowledge of the country
is not necessary. A glance at a large !
scale map Of Montana and Wyoming is
sufficient to convince the average man
of the extreme difficulty Of such a line. |
The line surveyed and located by the Bur- !
lington from Billings to Butte is not only
the shortest, cheapest, and would nave
the lowest grades Of any line in Montana,
but it can be built in the shortest possible
time. Why should the Burlington build
a line to the National park for a three
months passenger business when it can,
by building less road and a cheaper line,
the Butte and Helena business? The I
freight business out of Butte alone for
a month contributes more money to rail-
roads thar the entire park travel for a
year.
THE Burlington lines now On the map
are the ones it will follow on its Mon
tana extensions. If it is true, as report
cd, the material is being collected at
Billings and survey parties are in the
field the whistle of the Burlington en-
gines will be heard in Helena in the near
future. Thu Burlington has recently sold
SIS, 100000 Of bonds and has plenty of
for extension; it's officers made no
secret of their intention to build into
and Helena. The recent contract
the Montana railway for it's 25-mile
on the old Burlington located
line is significant"
.tesE