Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-01-26
GATHERING
STATISTICS
Local Committee is Now at Work
Making Arrangements for a Full
and Complete Report.
HEAD OF MILWAUKEE ARRIVES
President SeweiI Making a Tour Over
Montana-Stops at Miles City
for Some Time.

Wontdnd-StopS AT Mles Guy
for Some Time.
While the general committee ap-
pointed to take any necessary steps
to induce the railroads to build to this
city has not yet found occasion to
are getting in as close touch with the
general situation as possible, and will
be called together in a few days. The
subcommittee on statistics is hard
at work arranging for the prepara-
ton of a report that will show all the
facts most important to the railroads
The report, when completed, will give
full official statistics as to the agricul-
tural. wool, livestock and mineral pro-
duction of this section. 1t will also
give reliable figures showing the in
crease in the area of land placed un-
der cultivation in Fergus county in
1905, and will give comparisons on
ali these matters with other years.
II will also show the present amount
of freight hauled in and out. and spec
ial attention will be given to the won
derful coal measures of this county
a matter of vital interest to the rail
ways. Attention will also be paid to
the opportunities for developing elec-
trical power at small cost, with some
reference to the efforts that have been
and are being made to increase the
population, through inducing desirable
farmers to settle in this county The
report will contain no fancy pictures,
and everything stated will be based
on bedrock facts. This report. when
completed. will be turned over to the
whole committee.
There is really nothing new in the
situation. although the usual reports
are being printed and the usual spec
ulations INDUCED in by the news
papers of the various parts of the
state. The local committee is await
ing the return of S. S. HObson from
st. Paul, and after a conference with
that gentleman. the members will
have a clearer view of the matter
President SewelI in Montana.
Miles City, Jan. 25.-President
Sewell, of the Milwaukee extension
spent yesterday in Miles City and
this morning started for the west. NJ.
d. Rhame, division engineer, started
east. Mr.. Sewell would make no de-
finite statement as to the intended
route Of the road. He and Mr..
Rhame and Construction Engineer A.
G. Baker spent the day in driving
about the town gathering information
as to possible means of entrance and
exit for the road and locations for de-
pot, yards, etc, in case the surveys
should show Miles City to be on the
route ultimately selected.
The road was assured cordial well
come into Montana by the president
and secretary, S. Gordon and J. B.
Collins of the local chamber of CON-
merce and the visitors spent the ev-
ening at the home of l.. w. Stacy,
where they were entertained and Civ.
en- much information as to water, coal
deposits, irrigation, stock growing,
farming possibilities, etc, of this To-
cality and the state. Montana wealth
er has completely captured President
various departments represented here.
Anaconda Standards Dope.
The dope sheet furnished by the
Anaconda Standard doesn't give Lew
istown a look in on the Milwaukee
proposition, while it scratches Miles
City and allows Billings just a
chance. The Standard says:
According to positive and semi-of
fetal information obtained there new
er should have been any doubt that
Butte will be on the main line of the
Milwaukee railroad when it is bull
through to the coast. 1t has been sur
missed that the main line might bt
run to the south of Butte, but it has
been positively asserted that the line
will come into Butte, because the Mil
waukee wants share of Butte's big
business and could not expect it il
but branch line were to be run in
to the city. II has not yet been de
cided by what route the road viii
come into the city. One route has
been surveyed along the Great Nor
thern to Boulder and eastward
| through Townsend. Another route i:
now being surveyed through the Pipe
stone pass, and the better route will
of course, be adopted. The road viii
probably come into the state south
of Miles City and will not go into
Lewistown, as had originally beer
predicted, but it will pass westward
to the south of the range of hills in
] that part of the state. The people oi
I Billings are active in working for the
road and may be- successful in getting
at least a branch line.
After leaving Butte the westward
route is still uncertain, bue will prob
ably be through Anaconda and Ham
! ilton and likely the main line vii
make a slight detour in order to gel
into Missoula and then back through
the Lolo pass.
THE road will go through the Pa
| louise country of Idaho and the bust
ness mems association of Lewiston
is exerting every effort to have the
road go through that city. It lay.
particular stress on the fact that b!
going through Lewiston the road viii
have to traverse but one county il
order to get through the state of Ida
no.
The hope of the Milwaukee is Il
have the entire main line complete'
within three years from the first o
the present year. Surveying partie
are scattered all along the line and
dozen preliminary surveys have beel