Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1907-11-05
laying OF Steel
Will Be DELAYED
NO CAUSE FOR WORRY OVER
RAILWAY MATTER-GRAD-
ING GOES AHEAD.

A report which created more or
less uneasiness in this city was re-
ceived yesterday to the effect that
the Great Northern Railway COM
pany has sent out orders to discon-
tinue the laying of rails on the Bill
lings & Northern line which is be-
ing constructed from Billings to
Great Falls and passing through Fer
gus county.
What It Means.
There has been great deal of
speculation as to the meaning Of this
order but those in the best position
to judge say that it has no particular
significance and will not greatly de-
lay the completion Of the road, if in
deed it stops things at all.
The Democrat was in telephone
communication with one of the big
contractors yesterday and he says
that those who have grading contracts
have not received any orders which
might show disposition to even
temporarily abandon the speedy con-
struction of the line. In fact, he says
that it would not be possible for the
company to put an end to the grad
ing work as contracts for this part
of the roads construction are all
signed and probably at least eighty
per cent of the contracts have been
completed.
Steel On the Ground.
Practically all of the steel which
will be required in the construction
of the line is on the ground There
is enough steel at Arlington to put
the road up to the Gap in this coun-
ty and there are also thousands of
tons in the vicinity of Billings
The temporary suspension of steel
laying will have little effect on Fer
gus county. It is the grading con
tractors to whom the people Of this
county have been looking for a mar
ket for their surplus oats and hay
and they will be at work for the en-
tire winter.
Taking all things into considera-
ton, there is little if any cause for
apprehension among the people of
this county as the chances are 100
to that Pullman palace cars will
be running over the new road across
the plains and valleys of Fergus
county before the first of next June.
Work On Milwaukee.
Work on the Milwaukee extension
through Montana is being pushed
with all possible speed. Steel has
been laid to within thirty miles of
Miles City and large per cent of
the grade from Miles City to the
Missouri river has been completed
There is an immense quantity of
steel piled up few miles the other
side of Harlowton and daily work
trains are now run from Harlowton
Q Lavina. The heavy work down
Sixteen Mile canyon is progressing in
l satisfactory manner and several of
he cement piers for the bridge
across the Missouri at Lombard have
'een completed.
Miles City, No. 1.-The latest re-
'ume of the amount of track of the
road laid up to the pres
mt time made by D. A. Mcintosh,
lead of the contracting firm, who is
It present in Miles City, is as fol-
ows:
At Butte, 7 IL miles; at Whitehall,
miles; from Harlowton east, rs
niles; at Miles City. 2 miles; from
~ato siding, on the Northern Pacific,
ast, IS miles; from the MISSOURI riv-
r west, $50 miles.
A matter of 90 miles or so between
he present terminals is all that re-
Mains between Cato, As miles east of
Niles City and the Missouri river,
nd Mr.. Mcintosh thinks that the
inc will be complete to Harlowton
n January or February and to Butte
y May.