The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1901-1901, 1901-03-08
North Into The Elk River
Coal Fields From
THE CITYOF KALISPELL
A Committee Of Business Men, With Full
Power To Act, Will Confer
With MIR. Stevens,

who are to meet Mr.. John w. Stevens,
chief engineer Of the Great Northern
for the purpose of discussing the most
feasible route for the construction OF
the branch line into the Crows Nest
coal field.
the meeting was called to order
by Secretary Conner. owing to the alb
sence from the city of President Con-
lon. He explained the object for
which the meeting was called: ITO
provide ways and means to project
some scneme to prevail upon the
Great Northern to build the proposed
road to the Crows Nest coal field,
north, from this city, instead of Jen-
nlngs.' Mr.. Burns was selected pres
ident In opening he said: THE time
for action has come. Mr.. Stevens
chief engineer of the Great Northern
is now on the Cascade division, and ar
rangements should be made to have
him stop off here Oh his way east. If
he cannot do SO, committee should
be appointed to go on and meet him.
The road to the Crows Nest coal field
will be one of the most important
pieces of railroad construction which
has been commenced in the northwest
The railroad company has contracted
to use 5000 tons of coal daily. This
means that 200 cars of coal alone viii
be handled every "a hours. A prelimin
airy survey is being made from Jen-
nings. The road, owing to the fact
that the east shore of the kOotenal
river is not feasible, must follow the
| west side of the river. This will neces-
state crossing the river at Jennings
where draw bridge must be con-
structed. The road must cross again
about three miles north, taking anoth-
er draw bridge and then. there will be
over Is miles of heavy rock work.
which will cost an enormous sum
When the engineers who are now run
ming the survey have gone north, they
may survey line south to Kalispell
What we want to do is to get them to
make the survey. Then we can meet
the company, knowing what must be
zone. The survey will be of great
value to the city,
Mr.. Charles Therriault said that he
had made the trip north through the
| country in company with Mr.. Jaqueth
some years ago, and had been over
| every foot of the route. THE proper
grade can be had" he said. THE sur
vey should follow the route at the foot
of the mountains, instead of following
the stage road clear through. This
route is much shorter and has hardly
any grade. | will go through with
a surveying party and show them the
route"
Mr.. Noffsinger said: Action should
be taken at once. Contracts might be
let in a week. The people of Kalispell
should be willing to do anything to
secure the road. 1t means much to
the city. We should act and act al
once.
A committee of five which was af
forwards increased to nine was Their
appointed to see what can be done ir
securing a survey and to guarantee
the expenses of such survey. The
committee appointed are J. H. Ed
wards, William N. Noffsinger. w. H
Griffin, J. R. Listle, M. D. Baldwin
H. c.. Keith, r. E. Webster, A. l.
Jaqueth and A. J. Burns. All of whom
are of kalispell's most influential bus
mess men.
Mr.. Aitken said that good pla1
!" would be to appoint committee tt
D prepare resolutions setting forth thu
. power given the committee. He mad,
. a motion to that effect, which wal
carried and Judges Pomeroy, Smith
! Noffsinger and Mr. Aitken were ap
E pointed.
During the time they were prepar
ing the resolutions there was gener
Y al discussion on the subjct before tn
Y meeting. Mr.. Peeler said that he ha,
a conversation with a gentleman VIII
was in position to speak with au
thority concerning Great Northern al
fairs This gentleman had intimate'
that the Great Northern had been "hel
; up" on the right of way to the lake
/ and that the company had no desir
to incur a repetition of that expert
ence. The Helena Hog" was il
1 danger of being superseded by tn
"Kalispell hog" and if the southern
branch were to start from here. tn
move in the matter and see that tn
e railway company is treated right.
1t was also said that Mr.. JaQuet
was authority for the statement tina
y the road along the east side of tn
Y KOotenai river was impracticable, an
n the route along the west side not niue
D. better.
n The committee on resolutions n
ported the following:
Whereas. 1t is a matter of genera
knowledge that the Great Norther
Is railway company is contemplating tn
b. construction of railway north frol
Ie it's present line to Crows Nest co;
it fields. and is making preliminary SUI
t. vey from the vicinity of Jennings, #
:. that purpose, and
wi Whereas. 1t is known that there
e better and more practicable rout
y from Kalispell north, to said co;
il fields, and
h Whereas. At largely attended ma.
ts meeting of representative citizens an
n. tax payers of the city of Kalispel
~ held at the court house. March
BIT 1901. at o'clock p. m, a committt
of nine was appointed to bring sa
r. matters to the attention of the prop
es officials of the said Great Northel
Railway and endeavor to induce 1