Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-11-21
NEW ROAD FOR
FERGUS COUNTY
Plan Of the Great Northern to Build
From Great Falls to Billings
by Way Of Arlington.
BRANCH LINE TO LEWIsToWN
Vice President Louis w. Hill Spends
Some Hours In This City
No OfffficiaI Statement,

| ern, accompanied by his younger
brother, Walter j. Hill, and M. j.
Costello, immigration agent of the
road, dashed into Lewistown just
at noon yesterday in Mr.. Hills 40
horse power electric Pierce Arrow
touring automobile. having made the
run from Kendall to this city in exact
ly 43 minutes, which is likely to re-
main record for quite while. The
visitors halted in front of the Bank
| Of Fergus County, where they were
Joined by S. S. Hobson, who escorted
them to his home for dinner. Through
out their brief stay in Lewistown, Mr.
Hobson was with them, and it is safe
to say that they learned as much
about this section of the country
through him as could possibly have
been obtained through any other
source
Means New Road.
The Hill party arrived at Kendall
Sunday night, and remained at the
camp overnight owing to the fact that
the machinery of their big car got out
| of order. The slight accident enabled
| them, however, to get thoroughly ac-
quainted with the most promising
camp in Montana, and none of the
visitors expressed any regret over the
| less of time at Kendall. They are
all trained to see the possibilities of
| any place quickly, and all expressed
! the opinion that Kendall was all
right.
The gentlemen left the camp in a
heavy storm, and although the roads
| were muddy, their auto sped along
without the least trouble, and with
all the conditions against fast running,
| made the trip in nearly a mile in two
minutes.
AS is we'll known, the object of
this trip by Vice President Hill is to
look over the country through which
| surveys have been made for a branch
line from Great Falls to Billings, via
Armington. From Armington, the
road will run to Stanford and cross
the Judith about five miles below
Philbrook. It will run across the
Hauck place, and up Ross fork for
miles and down the west grade to the
Musselshell, striking that river above
Lavina. From Lavina, the road will
run out across the Bull Mountain
country into Billings.
OF course men like Mr.. Hill would
not be making trip of this character
through a country of this nature in
O. snow storm at this season of the
year merely as a pleasure trip, and
while Mr.. Hill would not say for pub
lication that his tour has any spec
ial significance whatever with regard
to the building of the road, it can
be stated most positively that it does
have bearing, and a most important
one, upon that project.
| Naturally, Great Falls is intensely
interested in this project, and just be-
fore Mr.. Hills arrival there, the usu-
ally we'll informed Tribune, acting ap.
parently upon excellent authority,
said:
announce, while in the city, that the
Great Northern has determined to be-
gin construction, within 80 days, of a
line of railway from Arlington to
Billings. The Tribune has been in.
formed, on the highest authority next
TO Mr.. Hill himself, that he is prepared
to make this announcement; in fact
that he is desirous of making it at
|
announcement when he left st. Paul
but deferred it until he could confer
with General Manager Ward, whom
he met en- route. and it is believed
he is no ready to make it.
"It is known that contractors who
nave constructed many of the Great
Northern lines have been notified to
be in readiness to begin work On the
line from Armington at short notice
at is planned to build the line from
Armington only, not working from the
Billings end, and it is the expecta
tion that about 700 men will be EN-
ployed in the work, which will be
rushed with all possible speed, the
purpose being to complete the linz
before November l. next"
Viewed in Great Falls.
But as matter of fact, Mr.. Hill
did not announce anything of the
kind, nor is he likely to. Yet there
is almost as good reason to believe
that the plans are now being formed
for the immediate construction of th'
road as though he had confidmed wha
has been printed. The reasons for of
fetal secrecy are many, and those who
are waiting for Mr.. Hill to give ou
a public statement will wait some
time.
, Is Seeking Information.
AS a matter of fact, Mr.. Hill il
seeking information at first hand, an,
while it will be seen that he is no
following the survey very closely, h.
, is still picking up much data that will
be useful. He is studying the genel
: al section of the country through whicl
l.. the line will pass. and it is know
that he is most favorably impresse
; with it. Kendall. as it is now, an
/ especially its future, proved somewha
+ OF a surprise. Mr.. Hill did not e,
: pect TO find city of the substantia
: character of Lewistown. These thing
| are as much as Mr.. Hill cares to Civ
| cut. In other conversations. howev
er. he left no doubt in the minds {
those with whom he talked that it
the purpose of the company to bull
y this road without delay. and in a
S probability, spur will be built /
e from the nearest point along the lin
l. to this city, with chance for col
Iections with Kendall.
l. No paper in the state has been abb
to secure from Mr.. Hill any definit