Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-04-17
President Harlow Of the Montana
Road Talks Of Coming Rail-
road Possibilities
fHE COppEROpOLIS PROSPECTS.
Combination Of Transcontinental
Lines May Result in Bringing
in New Roads.

"If the combination Of the Burling-
ton with the Northern Pacific and
Great Northern roads should be
effected, it looks TO me as though the
Northwestern and Milwaukee would
be forced To come out here" said X,
\. Harlow, president Of the Montana
railroad last week In talking ri the
railroad situation to a reporter OF
the Helena Record. Mr.. Harlow has
just returned from n three months
visit to New York, where he has been
looking after the financial affairs of
his road.
"This particularly applies to the
Milwaukee" he continued, "as it has
no western outlet, and, II 1t comes, it
Is almost bound to come to Mon
tanH. The only available route
would he along the Musselshell river
and over the route nov occupied by
the Montana railroad. A glance at
the map OF the state will show that
there Is no other route open from
EAST to west and we nave the only
pass in the mouDtains that is open
south Of the boundary line"
But is not the Montana railroad
controlled by the Northern PGcifc?!'
''No. the Northern Pacific does not
control a share oi stock in the Mon
tana railroad, for every share of
stock is held by Is. The Northern
Pacific holds some of thcbonds to Sc
cure Il small loan. When It Is paid
the bonds will be released. We have
a ninety-nine year contract with the
Northern Pacific for the interchange
Of business and our relations are cx-
tremcly friendly.
"Ilaye you planned any extension
OF your road for this year,
"None at present, though do not
know what viii be done in the near
future. Copprropolisl0oks rs though
it might justify our buildingabranch
ut any time, but we could do that
withou. any special preparation.
"Thc business Of the roul is deyel-
opiug very rapidly, mining particu-
larry, ana C~opperopolis is going to
be Il great camp. Castle Is alsolook-
ing up, for the Great Eas .crn mine il
working aud shipping, and William
Shakespeare Is going up To look after
the Yellowstone.
1--WE are now shipping wheat from
Maudlow station on our line to Du.
luth, right through the DakOtas, the
greatest wheat country in the world.
This shows what Montana can do as
an agricultural state. The wheat is
of good grade and Is raised 50 cheap
~ that the farmers can stand the
long transportation into the eastern
market and still make money. 1t Is
winter wheat, raised on the ground
where the snow lies late in the
spring, and without irrigation. IN
the upper Gallatin valley they raise
on yergin soil as much az eighty-fve
bushels Of wheat to the acre, and
think the average crop is between
thirty and forty bushels.
There has also been n wonderful
development OF the gold mines
around Lewistown. At Kendall's
mine In the Moccasin mountains the
ore Is literally Quarried OFF the top oil
the ground.
"Our passenger business Is increas.
ing so much that we can scarcely
handle ii with Jul present facilities.
This Is brought about by hauling
neople into the country and not
bringing anybody out. Many OF
them are homcseekers who have
come out on the excursions from the
east, or miners going to the various
camps"
GLOW is Montana regarded In New
York;"
1.-The people there are so much ex,
cited about their own business that
they 10 not talk much Of Montana
said Mr.. Harlow. But our output
of metals is attracting n good dea.
Of attention and everything copper
Icolore1 can be sold almost Mt one,
own price. Montana Is in better
condition than we cvcr dreamed %
being. The production uf Montana
is about SEA, 900, 900 In metals anC
$4,000, 900 in cattle, sheep and wool
making It total of $50, 900 900. all 81
which IL shipped out OF the state. tC
say nothing Of the oats, hay uno
fruit, which IL mostly consumed al
home. That Is $3.50 for every MAJ
woman and child In the state. 1
greater ratio than believe any stat
cHn show"
Caught d Dreadful Cold.