Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1911-12-12

Dawson county to junction with its present main
line the station of Fallon.
The Milwaukee began late in the summer Of
last year the actual construction of its line east
from Lewistown. The grade is practically com
pleted to point two three miles below Forest
Grove.
During the winter of l909-lO, the Milwaukee
also surveyed line northward from Lewstown
for distance Of nearly thirty miles, and the grade
completed last year for distance of twelve
thirteen miles out of Lewistown.
unfavorable conditions in the world Of finance
it was announced, might delay the construction Of
these lines, but yielding to the urgent pressure
brought to bear by the business men of Lewis
town, the Milwaukee got busy this fall and com
peted the line for distance of 10 miles to the
north, making new town, which named Hill
ger in honor of well-known Judith Basin pio-
ncer, the terminus. Although still in an incom-
plec state, the steel this line has been laid
and freight schedule adopted.
The completion Of the LcwistownIl Ililger limo
has once more demonstrated what i railroad can
10 toward the development Of country Prior
to the announcement Of plans for the building of
this line, Kendall was known almost exclusively as
gold mining camp. 1t experienced the usual
fortunes Of mining camps. For years there were
hundreds Of men employed there, the monthly
pay roll was of sufficient size to make it one Of
the most thriving mining tows il the! west. A
couple Of years ago, however, one Of the larger
mines started to cartal its operations and finally
closed down altogether. Another mine from
which great things were expected became the
a. 1,t; ,I
extent. Today there il one mine being steadily
operated there and the payroll Is Il substantial
one, but Kendall is not the camp il was when at
the height Of its prosperity
'Fhrcc or four years ago, some Of the men work
ING in the mines, forcsccing impending conditions,
took time by the forclock and fled on homcsteads
in the vicinity Of Kendall Operations carried on
on Il small scale demonstrated that this land was
the equal Of any other in the Judith Basin for
agricultural purposes. But with the nearest mar
kct twenty, thirty forty miles away, it was
hopeless task, and these homcsteaders
PEELED 70 wait for the coming Of the railroad.
When the golden spike was driven ut the end
Of the line at lIilger few weeks ago, the farm
9ers along the line had prepared a welcome in the
shape of about 800 tons Of grain, which they are
now delivering to the railroad company to be
hauled to market. This little line Of road will
open up a country greater III extent and Just
fertile as the Rock creek bench. 1t brings within
the zone of Development another big slice Of tho
Judith Basin and will add vastly to the annual
production Of wealth in Fergus county.
. The Tcwistown-IIilger line will also have the
i effect Of rcviving the tagging spirit Of the gold
mining industry in the North Moccasin and Ju-
dth mountains It will enable heavy machihcry
and other necessary supplies to be dcyeredf at
greatly reduced expense and III this manner, en-
courage the opening up Of properties Of known
merit. In the Judith mountains several high
grade propositions. These mines produce the
reduction Of which makes necessary its shipment
to a slncltcr The wagon haul is now not more
than half what it was when IewistoWn was the
nearest railway point. This saving Of hauagc ex-
pcnsc means the difference to the owners between
loss and profit. Plans already foot for the
active development of of these properties,
and the result is going to be material contribu-
ton to the prosperity of this section of the Judith
Basin.
Late in the summer Of the present year party,
comprising William Rockefeller, his son, Percy,
Continued on page five