Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-01-19

ing through Lewistown, particularly
the Chicago. Milwaukee & ST. Paul.
The different views expressed at
the meeting were only another evil
dence of the uncertainty under which
citizens in various parts of the state
are laboring as to the route the ST.
Paul road will take.
Another thing that is something of
fifteen puzzle, but which will soon
be worked out in all probability, is
the action of the Montana road in sur
veying down the Musselshell with. as
it is stated, Forsyth on the North
ern Pacific. as the objective point
Whether this line is seeking an east
ern outlet to protect itself is backed
by the Northern Pacific. or Hill in
terests, or whether it is surveying the
most feasible route through the Mus.
selshell country with the view to sell
inS out to the Chicago, Milwaukee e
ST. Paul. is something for the future
to determine.
Some hold that the Montana is very
closely allied with the Hill system
and is antagonistic to the Milwaukee
read and that it is hurrying it's sur
vey in order to mead off the Milwau-
kee and secure a good eastern outlet
which it needs and which would prove
an excellent feeder for the Northern
Pacific. 1t is evident that it became
necessary for the owners to make a
move of some kind to get into the
king row. With an extension from
Harlowton to Forsyth, the Montana
would still command the business from
Fergus county unless the Milwaukee
road entered the Judith Basin.
However, there are those who be-
lieve, and who may be fortified with
inside information, that the Milwaukee
will absorb the Montana road and
thereby gain a much desired pass
through the Castle mountains to the
Missouri river at Lombard, from which
point it would take the most direct
route to Butte. Those who hold to
this view say the Northern Pacific
has no strings on the Montana which
the latter could not easily break and
that turning over it's line to the Mil
waukee would let them out of hole
of no small dimensions.
So it will be seen that there is
chance for a good deal of speculation
and guessing. However, if the latter
guess proves true, then the only con-
nection Lewistown will have with the
Chicago Milwaukee & st. Paul is
through the present Montana line to
Harlowton which would doubtless be
made an up-to-date branch road
The Milwaukee road will take the
most direct route to Butte and the
coast and unless it should find it to
be to its advantage to pass east Of the
I-ewistown is not likely to be touch
ed by it's main line.
1t is almost certain, too. that the
Great Northern extension from Great
Falls to Billings will seek the lowest
! grade and the most direct route in
passing through the county, but Mr.
! Louis Hill has given the people of
! LoWistown some assurance that spur
would be built to this city from some
point on the road
With two good branches, one from
the Milwaukee, provided it takes ov-
er the Montana, and another from the
Great Northern, LewistOwn would still
be in the swim, and we believe, get
more benefit from the railroads than
it would if located on the main lines,
where only ten minute stops are made
by passing trains.
But We will all watch developments
and hope for the best