Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-21
THE BURLINGTON
ACTIVE WORK HAS BEGUN ON
THE ToLUCE BRANCH.
MEANS MUCH TO BILLINGS.

MEANS MUCH TO BILLINGS.
Wool Market-Range Outlook Dis
couraging-Alleged Murders
at Columbus.
Billings. July -.
Ever since the news was made public
that the Burlington was to build a
branch line from Toluca, Mont, to Cody,
nWyo., a distance of about 200 miles,
Ih.re has been more or less talk per-
naming to the company building a line
OF its own INTO Billings. Active work
mas begun on the Toluca Lranch, which
II is expected will be completed next
spring. The Burlington road has no
ming in to the city from Huntley over
the Northern Pacific tracks under a
lease, or rather agreement, which gives
the latter a hold on the big end of the
norm. Under the present agreement, the
burlington is held down by the Northern
Pacific to the extent that it must charge
Just such freight rates as the latter shall
dictate. It is a we'll known fact that the
burlington is the most progressive rail-
road in the West and does more than
amy other to Ope n develop new
country. The new branch will open a
rich fertile section of Wyoming n
means much to the Burlington. There
ar no towns of any consequence for
WHICH IL Is uedQeO, Out IL WIFI make
them. The road will reap a big business
by reason of the stock and wool indus
try. At present all the stock and wool
shipments from Wyoming come to Bill
ings over the Northern Pacific and go
east over that road. With the Burling-
ton in Northern Wyoming, that road will
capture nearly all if not all of that
business. 1t is now learned on good au-
thority that the railroad con-
templates the construction of a spur
from this nifyy fo rnnnf thu II, INoIxy
branch, and in this way become the own
ers of it's own line into Billings. In or
der to do this it Will be only necessary
to construct a line about Is miles long.
connecting with the branch nearly di-
rect east of hare before it enters Prior
gap. The frequent visits Of high officials
10 this city, with side overland trips east
Of the city, tend to increase the belief
that something Of this kline is contem-
a plated. Such a move means much to Bill
lings from the fact that it will increase
the city's Importance as a wholesale
town nearly 100 per cent. This would
also put the merchants Of this city in
direct communication with eastern
wholesalers at lower freight rates most
likely. High freight rates is one of the
evils that merchants of Montana have to
, contend with.
Billings as a wool market has increased
in Importance at least 300 per cent. this
year.. Early in the year it was said that
the city would become the leader in the
wool business of the Northwest states,
and only the improvements made by the
Northern Pacific to take care of a big
increase in the business, would set at
rest the minds of a few crOakers, which
every town has. The Northern Pacific
enlarged it's warehouse double its for
; mer size and yet it is not half large
.thenough to accommodate all the wool.
Hundreds OF cars have been standing
, on the tracks for days because it was
utterly impossible to get it in the ware
. house. The Burlington warehouse is
: tasked to Its utmost n many OF the
clips on hand are incomplete. Next year
this road expects to do an increased
: business as it's Toluca-Cody branch will
be completed and it expects to get much
of the Wyoming wool. InOrder to accom-
modate it it will be necessary for them
to enlarge their warehouse to at least
double it's present size. 1t might be in
teresting to note that nearly 5000, GOO
). pounds are on hand n enough is head
: ed this way to make the grand total
reach 10, 600, 900 pounds. Much of this
wool this year has come from the coun-
try contiguous to the Montana railroad.
and which has formerly gone to Great
Falls. There are many new wool grow
ers seen among the number in this city
this season and despite the fact that the
, market is rather dull, all concede that
Billings is equally as good a market as
Great Falls. Besides this city can take
; Just as Soou care VI its SAsitols aS ~
Falls. FH :f
Miss Florence Losekamp, sister OF
Representative John D. Losekamp, re-
: turned to Billings today to reside during
|. the summer and fall. She was accom-
panied by Miss Laura Raehrie of Atch-
ison, Kas. -~.".
= H. S. Davis. manager of the Western
Union Telegraph Office of this city, ac-
: companied by Oliver Whaley of Dickin-
I son, N. D., and brother, Logan Whaley,
of Kansas City, has gone up on the Boul-
der on a fishing trip.
John w Pace, late editor of the White,
: hall tMont.1 Zephyr, is in the city look
ing for a location. -r
John Kaye left the first of tie week fol-
a three months visit to his Ola home in
Nuremberg, Germany. He will take in
y the sights of the Paris exposition while
: across the water.
The range outlook is very ~discouragine
a ITO say the least. The present condition
;. of the range in this section is such thai
!. heavy rains now would do 1t no good
TTfand be of no benefit except to supply the
n streams and coulies with water for the
. stock. The sheep and cattle holdings ir
this county are estimated at about $50,
900 head, but present outlook is that the
owners will be compelled to dispose OF
: at least one-third the number and pos.
tion of this have commenced to arrive
!. here from the east, at least a month ear,
Her than in former years.
i ~ The ranchers up the valley are reap.
ing a big harvest of alfalfa this year-and
Unless all signs fail they will get a big
price for their surplus. 1t is estimated
that this seasons crop will reach Sc. 00t