The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1906-09-06
MILWAUKEE, LINE
DECIDES ON ROUTE
Route Is Favorable for Cheap
Construction
Northern Pacific Is Crossed Three Times Be.
tween Missouri River and Butte-Will
Cost $4,000 Per Mile to Construct

tween Missouri River and Butte-WiII
Cost $4,000 Per Mile to Construct
The conflicting rumors as to the route
which the Milwaukee road will follow
I'd the Pacific cost were settled Satur-
day by an official announcement from the
general Office of that system in Chicago
stating that the general right-of-way
had been purchased from Glenham,
S. D., near Evarts, to Butte, Mont, a
distance Of 73l miles, and that con-
struction work on that portion Of the
line to Seattle is already under way.
From Butte to Seattle the route has
not been definitely laid out, but reports
from engineers now working on several
prospective rights-of-way are expected
to be completed in time to enable the
officials to announce definite plans with
in thirty days.
The cost of extending the road to
the coast is roughly estimated at $780,
600, 900, or $40, 900 mile for the 1,5O0
miles. With the completion Of this pro-
ject and the extension of the Milwaukee
road from Chamberlain to Rapid City,
S. D., the general officers in Chicago
will be operating approximately 5000
miles of road.
The selection Of the Glenham-Butte
route is contrary to the expectations
of several persons who have been
specializing as to the decision. In some
quarters it was thought that the ex-
tension would be pushed west from
Rapid City, S. D., to which point the
Milwaukee is now building an exten-
sion from Chamberlain, southeast of
the Lower Brule Indian reservation,
which is expected to be opened for
settlement early next spring. The Mil
waukee made no effort to correct this
impression and quietly prosecuted the
plans decided upon at the outset by
rushing the Glenham-Butte project to
a conclusion.
The latter route was selected because
of the favorable alignment and grade
condition, which are of some import
ance in reducing to a minimum the cost
Of construction. The country traversed
by the new coast extension is sparsely
settled as compared to the territory
covered by the Chamberlain Rapid City
route, but the Milwaukee officials as
sert that the agricultural conditions
and prospects for heavy immigration to
the northern territory indicate pros
porous future for that section of the
country.
The chosen route begins at Glenham,
S. D., near Evarts, on the Missouri,
and parallels the Northern Pacific sixty
miles to the north and the North West
ern extension to the Black Hills, 100
miles south. Running northwesterly
the route crosses Boreman county in q
diagonal line, passing through Schnasse
county at the extreme northern limit.
and almost parallel to the north line Of
South Dakota, entering North Dakota
at the southeast corner of Hettinger
county, after passing through the lower
end of that county and across Bowman
county, it cuts the lower corner of
Billings county, after crossing the
Little Missouri on the border line.
From the state line the route is direct
across Custer county to Terry, where
is made the first of three crossings of
the Northern Pacific line, that occur
before Butte is reached.
Just beyond Terry the Yellowstone
river is crossed and run parallel to the
Northern Pacific on the other side OF
the river is made to Miles City. The
parallel route is continued to Forsyth
in Rosebud county. From that point q
slight detour is made to Musselshell or
the south shore of the Musselshell river
and in Yellowstone county leaving the
Northern Pacific to cling to the Yellow.
stone route. The course of the Mussel
shell is followed closely through te
Lavinia and on to Harlowton.
From Harlowton to Lombard, where
the Milwaukee will again cross the
Northern Pacific, the old Montana rail
road will be used. This road is in {
dilapidated condition and will neces-
sarily have to be rebuilt before heavy
traffic can be hauled over that portion
Of the line. After a sharp southern
detour and at point just east of tn.
Bolt mountains, the right Of wa,
crosses the Northern Pacific for tn,
third time and enters Butte at al
elevation of $3.50 feet.
II You Are Interested
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