Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1906-01-16
lFWISTOWN CITIZENS MEET TO
DISCUSS THE RAILROAD PROBLEM
LARGE NUMBER ASSEMBLE AT The CITY HALL and THE MATTER
THOROUGHLY GONE INTO. STEERING COMMITTEE OF Fifteen
WILL Be APPOINTED Be CHAIRMAN FRANK {. SMITH,

If it is at all possible, Lewistown is
going to get in touch with one of the
half dozen or so railroads which re-
port has it, are to build through this
state during the next several months.
At one of the best meetings ever held
in this city, held in the town hall last
evening, the matter was thoroughly
threshed out and Chairman Frank E.
Smith will appoint a committee of Is
public spirited citizens to take the
matter up and do everything that is
possible to get the ear Of one Of the
railroad magnates who are going to
build through the west.
The meeting was called to order at 8
o'clock by F. E. Smith, who explained
that he was acting at the request Of
Mayor Pinkley, who was confined to
his bed with an attack of rheumatism.
He outlined the object Ct the meeting,
viz: To make an effort to secure a
transcontinental line of railroad.
1T is high time that the citizens Of
Lewistown come to a realization Of
the vital Importance Of taking some
steps in this natter said Mr.. Smith
"Our interests are in grave jeopardy
and we must do something to protect
them. If one of those roads at least
does not come here it will result in a
grave disadvantage to every property
owner in the city,"
Mr.. Smith was nominated as chair
man of the meeting by Tom Stout and
was unanimously chosen. w. j. Edge
combe was chosen secretary. The
chairman requested Mr.. Edgecombe to
give his views on the railroad question
and Mr.. Edgecombe responded with an
enthusiastic talk as to the advantages
which will accrue to the community
from an aggressive campaign of ad-
vertising.
Bert d'Autremont spoke briefly con-
cerning the excellent opinion in which
Fergus county and Lewistown is held
by people on the outside. He said that
during a recent trip to Helena and
Butte, he heard that the Milwaukee
will probably come this way.
o. w. Belden made a rattling good
talk on the necessity of hustling up in
this matter and said that from the in
formation which he received during a
recent trip to Helena, it is barely pos
sible that the Milwaukee can be in
duced to come this way but that the
chances Of getting the Great Northern
to deviate from it's present survey are
extremely slim. c. w. Morton said
that it is of the utmost Importance to
get that road in here and hought that
something might be accomplished by
united action.
H. r. Watson thought that there is
no chance of securing the Great
Northern but that the Milwaukee
might be induced to head this way.
Manager Symmes of the Power Mer-
camille company said that from the
best of his information, our only hope
lies with the Milwaukee road. The
question was raised by Mr.. Busenburg
whether the Great Northern branch
through this county is a local road or
a portion of the transcOntinental line.
If the former he believed that it might
be diverted into this city. Mr.. Harry
Yaeger said that to his positive knowl-
edge, 1t will be used as a transconti-
mental line, being the extension of the
Burlington from Billings to the Great
Northern at Great Falls.
j. M. Vrooman expressed it as his
opinion that the G. N. Will hardly
come in here but that as the final sur
veys of the Milwaukee have not been
made, something might be done to-
ward getting them to come up east of
the Snowy mountains into this town.
Manager Wiedeman said that the big
roads do not, as a rule, deviate one
mile from the most feasible route
when building across the continent.
He said that if the Milwaukee goes to
Great Falls, we might get it also but
that if it goes to Butte, we will not
get closer than fifty or seventy-five
miles.
Tom Stout, in summing up the ex-
pressed opinions, said that it appears
that our only hope for a road is in be-
ing lucky enough to be on the most
practicable right-of-way and in order
to get the matter before the house,
moved that the chairman appoint a
committee of fifteen who are to have
large discretionary powers in gather
ing data and making full arrange
ments looking toward interesting the
Milwaukee officials to consider this
city when making up their final route
through Montana. This motion was
unanimously passed and Mr.. Smith
announced that he will give out the
names of the committee within a few
days.
Altogether, the meeting was a most
enthusiastic one and the earnest spir-
it of all present would indicate that
the citizens are fully aroused to the
necessity of prompt and vigorous ac-
ton.
TO LEWISTOWN AND KENDALL
Yesterdays Tribune has the follow
ing:
That the surveys preliminary to the
beginning of construction of tfsN Great
Northern's line from this city to Bill