Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-04-25
MONTANA RY.
TO
Contract Let for Continuation Tween
ty Miles Down the Mus
selshell.
WILL RUN ALMOST DUE EAST
Connecting With the Northern Pa
cifc at Some Point East
Of Billings.
WILL RUN ALMOST DUE EAST

are not hard to keep, but every lcW
months something leaks outby which
the public are enabled to learn their
plans and notwithstanding repeated
official denials the news hasfrequent-
~ proved true or exceedingly close
To the mark.
At the opening of thenew yearit was
announced in these columns that ms
soon IA the road was completed to
Merino a further extension would he
made To provide an eastern connec-
ton, Then it appeared that Billings
would be the objective point. This
statement was absolutely denied at
that time, but now it il well nigh adj
mittcd that the road is going To push
on from Meriuo and the objective
point appears to be east Of Billings,
the reason for this being that ii the
road went to Billings the Northern
Pacific would he compelled to divide
this new business with the Burlington
while il they make the junction east
OF Billings the Burlington will beshut
out. That the Montana road Is a
Northern Pacific proposition-backed
by Northern Pacific assets ana quietly
controlled by Northern Pacific OIL
cials-is no longer denied, though OF
course not admitted.
Last week the news rcache ] Lew
istown from an unquestioned source
that the Montana road hadcOntritct-
ell Cor the extension twenty miles fur
ther down the Musselshell from Mer-
inc, to which the grading has been
done, the contractors being the same
as those now ut work on the Merino
extension, Messrs. Cook & Woolson.
The Great Falls Tribune Of Sunday
morning contained similar news, 50
that the same announcement from
two different ources IL almost con-
elusive of its reliability.
By reference to the map it will be
noted that the Musselshsll river runs
almost due east from Merino TO a
little below Lavina. from where il
takes n northcrly direction. The
river will probably be followed to
some point beyond LaviDn where II
good grade can be obtained and then
turning from the river continue east
To the main line Of the Northern Pa
ciic. The Tribune advices gave the
junction as bet ween Forsyth and
Miles City, but our informant under
stood that the junction would be
further west-possibly near thecOrner
of Yellowstone county.
Az stated In our announcement OF
January LIST the Montana railroBd
will eventually become n part of the
Northern Pacific and the line used for
heavy freights and possibly all
through trains. thereby avoiding
the tunnels and heavy grades between
Billings and BOzeman.
We're the road an independent @
ture doubtless Billings would he the
objective point for then connection
with the Burlington as well as the
Northern Pacific would be an advan-
tnge, but az IA Northern Pacific prop
osition the Burlington road il rather
to be avoided.
While a good town may be started
and maintained at MIerino. another
town will also he made at Two Dot,
and Martinsdale will by no means he
effaced from the map, this division
of support preventing n large town
at any Of the points.
tYBy the people of Lewlstown the
actual official announcement will he
awaited with interest, for it will
definitely determine Lewistown's fu-
ture. The railroad coming III nearer
than MerinO or t~hereahouts will fur
nish n good receiving and shipping
point and n convenient passenger
station, while in no way interfering
with the future OF the county scat as
the center Of the business oi the great
Judith Basin.
Eastern connections will work such
II reduction in freight rates that com
petition by the northern route will
be well nigh impossible and ninety
per cent of the business, both deed
I. aud live freight, will Guw through
the Judith gap to Merlno, while the
road will have an absolutcmonopoly
OF the business south OF the Snowies
To the farmers and stockmen Of
the entire portion o~fcentral Montana
, the road will prove n boon, while Ia
those within Il short distance of the
! road the completion OF an eastern
connection will enable them to not
only come in immediate touch with
eastern markets but To permit mon
to rely In n greater degree upon out
side help Than they do at present.
Representative Sheldon Of the road
who makes his headquarters in Lew
|; istown, when seen concerning the an
, nouncement said he knew nothing a
it, although 1t might be 80.
The company Is now quoting ar
attractive rate tn wool shippers, but
the particulars OF which are doubt
less not intended for publication.
Mr.. Sheldon said that when down
Mt Martinsdale last week he learned
that three miles Of track had already
been laid ON the Merino extension.