Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-07-02
(IIelcna Record.)

(HelCna Record.)
Before winter the construction of
the long-projected extension of the
Montana Railroad company, from the
present terminus. Harlowton. to Lew
istown. will be well under way.
Abundant capital has been obtained
by II. A. Harlow. president of the
road, traffic contracts have been
made, materials negotiated for and
arrangements for the construction
forces made. Final surveys will begin
this week and work should commence
about August LIST.
President Harlow cannot. of course.
say when the road will he ready for
business. There are too many posi-.
BILE contingencies. such as delay In
obtaining materials and inability to
obtain a sufficient number OF men to
make such statement possible. But
the work will begin before the sum.
mer is over and will be completed
soon.
Contracts All Made.
I'VE have completed our financial
arrangements to extend the road from
aarlowton 10 Lewistown, distance
of sixty-three miles," said President
Harlow. "and have secured our traf-
ic contracts with connecting lines.
Our arrangements are based on esti.
mates. which we're made as carefully
as possible without actually running
lines.
I'VE propose to put q party in the
field on the LIST of July definitely to
locate our line and verify our esti-
mates. The engineering work will
be in charge of +. T. Robertson. chief
engineer OF the company. can see
no reason why he should not be ready
to begin construction by the lst of
August or the lst of September at
the latest.
I'VE think the Judith Basin presents
an inviting field for railroad, and
believe that II will respond promptly
to the construction OF the extension.
I prophesy that the greatest develop.
ments we will see in Montana in the
next few years will be In Lewistown
and vicinity.
Lewistown Prospers.
1T is today one OF the most flour.
ishing towns in Montana. notwith.
standing Il Is more than fifty miles
from the nearest railroad point. The
volume OF business that is done by
Lewistown merchants is simply amaz
ing. ! think | am safe In saying that
during the last two years Lewistown
has taken greater strides in its growth
than any other town in Montana"
Not only is Lewistown one OF the
thriving cities Of the central part oi
the state. but the country OF which
II Is the metropolis has before II bet
ter prospects, perhaps. than any 9th
er section OF the state. These pros,
poets lie in the great possibilities In
every branch of industry. mining
stock raising and agriculture.
Ever since stock raising became an
industry In Montana the Judith Basin
has been recognized as one of the
most productive sections in this re.
spect. Fergus county is the banner
sheep section OF the state today, the
wool output. quality and quantity con
sidered, being at the head of the list
Fine Mineral Resources.
One has but TO glance at the report
Of B. II. Tatem. assayer in charge OF
the Helena office, published in Ths
Record this morning, to realize the
important position Fergus county has
taken as a mining district. This is
due in large measure to the open
ing of the great mines at Kendall
ir. Tatem says that Fergus county
will probably maintain the gold rec,
Ur1 of the state.
To develop these mines machinery
was hauled in wagons from Harlow
ton. through the mountains more thar
seyenty.fvc miles. The terminus OF
the line when extended will be but
a few miles from these great mines
which are surrounded by a rich and
extensive mineral region.
In the construction of the Montana