Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-08
FlGaT FOR BIG HORN BASIN
Burlington and Northwestern Engaged in
Contest to Tap it First
HILL SURVEYORS WILL SOON REPORT
Upon Engineers Work on Norwood
May Depend Northwestern's En-
trance and the Future
of ThermOpOlia.
HILL SURVEYORS WILL SOON REPORT

An effort by the Burlington TO prevent
the Northwestern railroad from tapping the
rich Big Horn basin field will, Il Is re-
ported, come to a head within the next few
days, as soon as the result Of the survey
ing party now on the Norwood divide can
make its report to the officials OF the Bur-
lington. Upon this survey not only the en-
trance Of the Northwestern into the Big
Horn basin depends, but at least the inn
mediate future Of Thermopols, as the adop-
ton OF the Norwood route would leave that
town without a railroad.
The Burlington surveying corps is now
seeking a route down the south slope OF
the Big Horn mountains, and II It can be
found the Thermopolis canyon route will
be given UP. The surveyors have found
practical and easy route UP Kirby creek
20 a point directly east OF Thermopolis,
from where the survey follows east TO Mo-
wood and following that stream TO the top
Of the divide. The difficulty is in getting
a practical grade down onto Clear creek to
Badwater, which would afford clear sailing
from there on.
The tremendous cost Of the Thermopolis
canyon route. together with the agreement
with the Northwestern to allow It to use
the canyon right-of-way, makes It advan-
tageous to the Burlington to find another
way out II possible. Should the Nowood
route be adopted II is thought the North
western would hesitate many years be-
fore attempting to build a line alone
through more than twenty-five miles OF
solid granite canyon and the Burlington
would thus have the Big Horn basin field to
itself.
n present grading contract let by the
Burlington for it's Worland extension
reaches 10 the mouth OF Kirby creek and
lends color to the theory that this road Is
not prepared to announce its Intention to
build through the canyon until II has ex-
hausted every other resource.
Cheap Rates to Black Hills.
Conrad +. Spens, general freight agent
Of the Burlington, returned from Chicago
Friday and brought the good news that the
probabilities are for largely reduced rates
from the east to Black Hill points, with
relatively reduced rates from the Missouri
liver.
When the western roads announced re-
duced rates to Utah common points there
was general clamor for reduced rates Ia
other sections Of the country and now
comes the Burlington in conjunction with
the other Blacks Hills lines and gives the
information that these rates will be most
materially reduced.
Grain on the Move.
Grain Is starting to move in abundance on
the lines west Of the river and the roads
viii soon have all the business they can
handle and more, and all are again expect
ing a car shortage, for Nebraska has an
enormous crop to be moved The most
noticeable movement at present is from
Nebraska TO Minnesota on wheat This is
a taken by the railroads and dealers as a
Strong argument for mills at Omaha, for II
the Nebraska wheat is good enough to be
used in the manufacture Of the renowned
Minneapolis -four It surely would be good
enough for Nebraska flour.
Railway Notes and Personals.
J.. A. Eyler, live stock agent OF the Bur
lngton, has returned from Chicago.
d. T.. Cain, general manager of the Rock
Island at Topeka, has resigned and F. o.
Melcher, general manager Of the eastern
lines of the Rock Island, viii be given
jurisdiction over the lines west Of the Mis-
souri, river.
General Manager Holdrege ]. d. Kelby
attorney for the Burlington, and c. r
Spens, general freight agent, will appear
before the South Dakota Railway commits
sion next Tuesday at Sioux Falls In tn,
hearing Of the matter of reducing railroad
rates In South Dakota