Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1906-01-23

held week before last to discuss the
railroad business, last Wednesday an
nounced the committee Of fifteen up
on whom will devolve the active work
of getting transcontinental railroad
into Lewistown or at least making
strenuous effort in that laudible d1-
rection, The committee as announced
by Mr.. Smith is IN. J. LittleJohn' ;.
S. Hobson, E. o. ,Busenburg, w. D.
Symmes, Louis Lehman, J. M. Vroo-
man, Tom Stout, G. J. Wiedeman, l.
Hobensack, G. ]. Bach, w. J. Edge
combe, Bert d'Autremont, ]. E. Pink
ley, John Laux, Otto Wasmansdorff.
II may be seen that the committee
is a thoroughly representative one. It's
members are all hustlers and if any
thing can be accomplished, the COM
mittee chosen by Chairman Smith,
and Of which he, at the earnest re-
quest of the members has been chosen
to act as chairman, will certainly see
that something tangible is done.
The first meeting of the committee
was held Friday evening at O'Clock
in the Judith Club. All members OF
the committee We're present with the
exception of w. D. Symmes, who was
indisposed. and Messrs. Pinkley, Hob
son and Bach, who We're out OF the
city. Mr. Littlejohn was named as
chairman of the committee but at his
earnest request Mr.. Smith consented
to act in that position.
E. o. Busenburg was chosen secre-
tary and S. S. Hobson treasurer Of the
committee.
The railroad situation was discussed
at length, every member present hav-
ing something of interest to contrib
ute. While the general plans and in
tentions Of the two great railroad COM
panies which are going to bulio
through this section, the Great North
ern and the Milwaukee, are more or
less a mystery to all by comparing
able to arrive at some definite con-
clusions as to the most probable
course which will be pursued.
While some have entirely given up
hope of getting the Great Northern
to deviate from it's present course sc
as to come through here, they did not
consider the case as hopeless. 1t all
depends upon whether or not 1t is the
intention of James J. Hill to make the
contemplated branch a link in grea'
transcontinental route, extending IRON
the gulf states by way of the M. X. 8
T., in which he recently acquired
controlling interest, and the Burning
ton. which he entirely controls, ano
the Great Northern, of which ne II
almost sole owner. 1t would appear
that such is the intention of the grea
railroad builder. The south is looking
for an oriental outlet for her cottor
and grain and the orient is looking Z
the south for these necessities. james
J. Hill has or will have so soon as this
link is completed, the direct rout'
from the south to the orient. Grant
ing that such is the plans of the Grea
Northern, it will be an extremely dlr
ficult matter to get the route changed
from the route as mapped out in an
other section of this article. But !
was realized by all members of tn
committee that we will, at the worst
get a good branch line from som
place on the Judith and some hel
that it was more advantageous to
the terminus of a good branch than t
be on the main line. That. however, !
matter of opinion.
One member of the committee, MI
S. S. Hobson, was in the east at tn
and it is surmised that he will knoN
something definite as to the plans c
the various companies when he re
turns which will be some time thi
week. 1t was thought best to wait ur
til he can be present before taking an
positive steps.
Several members of the committe
expressed it as their opinion that tf
surest way to get railroad throug
this section of the county is to get
comprehensive statement as to OF
resources, developed and undevelope'
and place it before the men who wi
have most to do with deciding upo
the routes.
1t was also thought that if Mr.. Wa:
mansdorff, the well known surveyt
and civil engineer who is a member