The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-07-03
1.-The wool crop of northern Montana

The wool crop of northern Montana
is estimated to be somewhat larger"
said Mr. Gray, land considerably bet
ter than last year. Because of the fms
winter, the wool Is cleand and of long
staple, and should bring a better price
than in former years, though the pr IS
ent outlook is not as encouraging as 1t
might be. The Idaho and Washington
crops are already in the market, being
somewhat earlier than the Montana
product. but the quality is not so good
as that from this state, and Montana
sheep men hope that they will receive
a slight advance over present prices.
Great Falls handled some over ten
millions of pounds of the wool last year,
and expects to have a little more than
that this year. Fort Benton handled
about two million pounds in 1900 and
will have about the same this season. A
large warehouse is being built at Fort
Benton by the Great Northern, 300x40
feet. to care for the additional shipments
that are expected. There is upwards OF
one million pounds of wool now in the
Great Falls warehouses.
The Great Northern is making rapid
progress on the new cut off at Great
Falls, by which the circutious route now
necessary in entering the city is avoided.
The new line is some ten miles in length.
leaving the main line at Portage. east
of the city and crossing the Missouri
river on a great steel bridge some miles
cast of the present one. AS the line now
1uns trains have to swing into Great
Falls from the north. then go back over
the same line on their way cast, or west.
as the case may be. The new cut of
will save three or four miles in distance
and some heavy grades. The saving III
distance, and the avoidance of the tor
tuous and dangerous line for the new
straight away one will easily justify the
great expense. The line is said to be
one Of the most difficult and expensive
in the state.
1.-THE ranges of northern Montana are
in splendid shape, and the cattle are fat
and sleek. The shipment OF grass fed
steers to the eastern markets will begin
| in earnest about the middle of August,
| a month earlier than usual A great
| many horses will also BE- shipped east,
| among them being one band of more
| than ten thousand. There is good de-
I, mand for Montana horses in the east, at
prices that make them profitable prop
erty
| 1.-The Montana Central shows a graft
! flying increase of business over previous
years. Each weekly report shows a
gain of from to 25 per cent over the
corresponding week OF last year, and
the finances of the road are in the best
of condition. Many improvements are
being made in the track, filling in tres
ties, and Strengthening curves.
Work is to be begun very shortly on
lining the Wickes tunnel, between Butte
and Helena. The great bore is a mile
and a sixth in length, and when 1t was
finished was lined for about one-third
of the way with granite. The remaining
part is to be lined with concrete, the
same as in the great Cascade tunnel
that being considered far better and
afer than even the granite. The work
will take upwards of fifteen months tc
complete. The contractors will be given
twelve hours Of the day to do their
work, leaving the track clear for traffic
during the other twelve. About 300 mer
will be employed. Works are already
being erected for the crushing of the
rock to be used in the concrete"