The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-02-05
MONTANA WATERWAYS.
The Missouri River Offers Commune
cation With Eastern Markets.

In his report to Governor Toole
regarding the Missouri River Navi-
CATION congress at Sioux City, in
which he represented this state, F. f.
Stranahan presents an array of facts
thai show the possibilities of water
way transportation for Montana pro-
ducts. The statement is in part as
follows:
Our people do not seem to fully
realize a, this time what a splendid
way OF securing t o our posterlty an
enormous river transportation that
shall take the place of railroad trans.
portation, the latter of which is al.
ready broken down by reason of its
inability to handle the products of q
country yet in its infancy. If the
railways we now have are impotent at
a time when the commerce of the west
is but a fraction of what it shall ulti-
mately become, what can be expected
10 the future when this great country
shall be put in a state Of its fullest
productive capacity?
While it would have been ill-imed
and improper in the face Of the I'M.
settled spirit prevailing at the con.
vention to have urged apon that body
the selection of any favored stretch OF
the river, rs the subject for immediate
Improvement, Montana did represent
these facts:
That she has within her borders 524
miles of river heretofore successfully
navigated, much of the time, and es.
peciplly during the high water periods,
without congressional aid, and tina,
this estimate does not include the
Yellowstone river, which may also be
fitted for navigation for a long dis.
lance.
That in entering Montana from the
east the two lines Of transcOntinenta
railways, which are the only present
mean, Of transportation, diverge from
the Missouri river: the Great North
ern ascending the Milk river anG
running to the north and parallel with
the Missouri, an average distance o
eighty miles away, and the Northern
Pacific ascending the Upper Yellow
stone, running to the south and par
allel with the Missouri river, leaving
an area intervening through which
600 square miles, wholly unaccom
mOdated by transportation facilities
except by the primitive method o
freight teams.
That within this area 10, GOO, OO
pounds of wool per annum is produc
ed which would be carried by the rive
If navigable, but on the contrary tn
sheep must now be driven grea; dis
tances TO the railroads to be shoru
and only the high price of woo
makes this hazard and expense tolel
able.
That within this area, sixty mile
away from the nearest railroad line
stands the Little Rocky mountains
whose new mining camps cont ain
population of about l,5Oe and whic
bids fair to increase to 10, 600 peopl
within the next FIVE years, and who's
only present means OF transportatio
is by freight teams oves q road tha
becomes impossible at long season
of the year. That the reduction work
at these mines are now being run b
steam power generated by a rapid
decreasing wood supply and by price
only made possible by the richness c
these mines aud that large supplies C.
coal are 10 immediate demaud at tn
points named.
That this neglected area is rapid
being filled with settlers, some
whom keep freight teams steadily o
the road for supplies at great eA
pense, and some Of the more stOu,
hearted of whom 20 up the river I
Fort Benton from 100 to 200 mile.
build their W mackinaw load thei
supplies, and do their own cavigatin
to their homes At grea, risk from tn
perils of the river.
Montana is especially blessed in tn
fact that she is the creates. store
house for the three great cardina
necessities of life, which are to be fed
to be clothed, and to be warmed
This store-house must be opened I
She marts OF the country, and with tn
Missouri river in standard condition
having an estimated carrying capacit
OF sixty railway lines, would ator'
an outlet sufficient to put Montana
supplies into the OF n
world.
County Contracts Awarded.