The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-03-14
TWO CREWS LEAVE MlSSOULA
FOR BIG BLAckFoOT COUNTRY
WITH SEALED ORDERS.
OFFICIALS ARE RET|CENT
Understanding Is That Gangs Will
Stake Out Line Through Clearwater
Toward leWistoWn by Way of Great
FaIIs-Two Other Parties Already in
Coveted District.

Two Chicago, Milwaukee & Puget
Sound railroad surveying parties were
dispatched from Missoula yesterday
afternoon in the direction of the Big
Blackfoot country, with sealed orders
There We're Is men in each outfit and
each was equipped for a long stay. One
of the parties was in charge of James
A. Chamberlain, district engineer for
the company between Missoula and
Nimrod, and the other took it's orders
from j. C. Baxter, who has had charge
of the Deer Lodge district for the past
season.
Officials 'Reticent.
While no authoritative statement
could be obtained from Chief Engineer
Dauchy or any other of the Puget
Sound officials, it is understood that
the parties are headed for the Big
Blackfoot country to stake out line
which will run through the Clearwater
territory and on toward Lewistown by
way Of Great Falls. 1t is also under
stood that two other outfits are al
ready making preliminary surveys
through that section of the country,
along the Blackfoot river in the past
two days.
With what line these parties are
identified cannot be learned, as those
in charge of the forces maintained a
reticent attitude toward questioners
1t is learned, however, that the lines
are being surveyed toward Missoula
and that this town and the Flathead
reservation are the objective points
In addition to the two gangs of sur
veyors sent from here yesterday after
noon, the Puget Sound officials are
said to be assembling another party
of Is men which, 1t is understood, will
stake out lines through the reservation
to connect with lines which are now
being surveyed through that territory
by roads entering from the north
Assembled on Street.
The assembling of the two forces
yesterday occurred on Main street
near the Puget Sound local offices.
under the direction of attaches of the
railroad engineering department, and
consumed the greater portion of the
afternoon. Along the edge of the side
walk were piled bundle after bundle
of tents, blankets and bedding. while
force of stalwart- looking young men
Kept guard over levels, transits, rods,
plckets, chains and other instruments
and tools.
AT about $50 o'clock yesterday aft
ernoon this paraphernalia was loaded
INTO wagons for transportat ton to
points where the surveying parties will
start operations. Each party was
composed of transit and level men. two
tlagmen, two chainmen, one rodman
topograp pher, draughtsman. axemen
and teamster, and will be conducted to
the base of operations by the district
engineer in charge
A rumor was current in railroad cir
cles last night that the Northern Pa
cific engineering department had
beaten the Puget Sound to the terri
tory through the Clearwater country.
and that the surveyors seen in that
vicinity during the past few days be-
long to the engineering department Of
the Northern Pacific. Another theory.
however, is that the corps started ont
of Great Falls and is entering the COW
eted country by way of the Cadotte
pass and north of the continental di-
vide In the interest of an electric line
to be operated from Great Falls to
Missoula.