The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-07-13
IcoNTRAcT FOR LoLo CUTOFF
MAY BE AWARDED WITHIN
@e A SHORT TIME.
ON GROUND ONLY ONE PER CENT NOW
Men Formerly Connected With North
ern Pacific Work Have Been Over
Route Of the Proposed Line and In
dications all Point to Actual Con-
struction Work Very Soon.

| % The last few days have brought re-
neWed activity in railway construction
| circles and there are indications that
/ there will be some definite announce
Ement made within a few days, per
v haps within few hours It seems
certain that contract will be let be-
/ Isfore the end of this week for the con.
fsstruction of tho Northern Pacific's
surveyed line up Lolo pass to the
|Ehot springs. Whether the first con-
tract will cover more mileage than
| that, is a matter of conjecture, but
Tit is the report in the engineering
$circles concerned that the early con-
IStract will be only for the line as far
as the springs, which will be neces-
ssary for the transportation OF equip
Sment and material for the heavy work
that is to be done in getting to the
|5Idaho side of the range.
Il 1t is known that members of the
Y Winston Brothers company have,
fswithin three or four days, made u
"Trip up the Lolo pass and back along
|#the line of the Northern Pacific
|Sstakes. Other prominent contractors
|shave been on the ground since the
middle OF last week. Pat Welsh of
IgSpokane has been here several days
sand has made the trip up the Lolo.
lid. r. Porter of the firm of Porter
IsBrothers has been over the ground
IIHEsasllso. A representative OF the firm Of
[#simms, Cooper & Co. Is in the city
Land it was stated last night that Mr..
|#Simms, himself, will be here today.
These are men who have been prom
inent in the important Hill construc-
'zton work in recent years and their
|spresence at this time lends strength
to the report that a contract is to be
| let soon. 4
In further confirmation of the report
| lis a telegram received last night
from Seattle, which stated that it was
| rumored in coast railway circles that
the Northern Pacific contract would
sbe awarded in Missoula before the
lend of the week. Concerning the
|sconstruction of the Hartman line
|sthere was nothing that could be
IEearned here yesterday. Represent
|Eatives of the engineering department
[8professed absolute Ignorance. The
lMissoulian found ono man, Indirectly
identified with the work, who said
that his personal opinion is that con-
tracts for both roads will be awarded
lin q short time
II Some of tho contractors arc as
|Bsembling machinery and this has re-
kNived the interest in the rumors.
Semi -official confirmation of the
Northern Pacific award was obtained
last night, but no contractor or en-
|sgineer WgWould permit himself to be
|aquoted in the matter.
Up the Blackfoot there is excite
ment amongst tho ranchmen on ac-
count of offers that have been made
for their land. Pat Griffin, George
.Hammond and Ed Morris who We're
Din town yesterday from the upper
Blackfoot brought word that each Of
Ithem has received an offer for his
|land, either for direct purchase or
Flor an option. AS far as they know,
Ethe offers did not come from rail-
Eway people but they believed a
EknoWledge of the railway plans
prompted the effort to buy
II There is great energy displayed in
lAtne construction Oh tn0 MllWaukee
Ibridge across the Missoula river at
fBonner; the bridge men say they are
Building to the Bonner mills and that
bis all they know. 1t is believed,
Ehowever, that the haste is connected
with the construction of the line up
the river.
N When shown a dispatch from Sc
Ahttle last night to the effect that bids
|Shad been opened on the construction
1 of the Lolo cutoff, Superintendent
FRapelje of the Northern Pacific
branded the story as absurd. ''fhe
Survey has not yet been completed,
|said he, land no bids have been sub
omitted as yet. so far as l know, and
|I certainly would know il anything
Eof the sort We're DONE