Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1912-07-26
RUMOR THAT 500
LINE IS COMING

One OF the most extraordinary ln-
cidents in the history of western rail
roading maneuvers occurred few
days ago in All isolated region of
Dawson county, Just across the Mus
selshell river from Fergus county,
when by the merest chance President
Gray Of the Great Northern Railway
company met President Pennington
Of the 500 line. Pennington and
party were OH Il still cruise through
that vast and fertile region of Monta-
ma, doubtless looking up a new route
for the 500, which is an adjunct of
the Canadian Pacific, and always u
keen rival of the Great Northern.
President Gray had just visited Lew
istOwn and in autos was making Il
trip over the proposed new main line
from this city to New Rockford. n.
ID. President Pennington was going
westward over the same general route,
arriving in LewistOwn on the follow
ing day and remaining here over
night and for some time the next day.
Ills party travelled incognito. and no
one knew that they had been here un-
til the incident quietly leaked out the
past few days.
With Pennington were Engineer
Lloyd, II noted American engineer,
and Engineer Robbins of the United
States reclamation service. Chief
Engineer Hogeland. who was with
Gray's party, recognized all three
men and acted as spokesman at the
meeting, Robbins doing the talking
for the other fellows.
Pennington and Gray did not know
each other and 10 conversation pas.
sed between them. After few mo-
ments' chat about inconsequenta
matters, Gray and party continued
eastward and the other prominent
party continued westward.
The meeting took place by chance,
near Sand Springs, about thirty miles
east of the Musselshell, in a region
far remote from rail traffic. The
meeting was on Tuesday. July 9th.
On Wednesday the Pennington party
reached ,d.ewistown and spent the
night and the next day III this city.
This party travelled in a Packard Six,
and such car was seen here on that
day, although it was not known
whose car it was. The Gray party
made the trip in two autos.
The significance of the Pennington
cruise through this region, which was
very quietly engineered and which
but for the strange meeting would
not now be given to the public rs it
would have been practically un-
known. is great. 1t indicates that
the oft-talked of extension of the 500
to the west coast is again being given
active consideration.
The objective point it is believed,
is Great Falls. Several years ago one
of the head engineers of the 500 pas
sed over the same general route and
mapped out tentative line through
the Cadotte pass and on westward,
which met with high approval. 1t is
believed that the 500 is now getting
ready to take advantage of this stra-
getic route.
That another transcontinental line
the SOO-will soon be passing
through Lewistown is the natural
conclusion to reach as evidenced by
the plans that this road now has un-
der consideration. The 500 would
be extended from Il point in western
North Dakota, where it stops at the
present time. apparently without any
purpose, except that the present road
is to be but link in a new main line.
From LewistOwn the Pennington
party went to Great Falls. This in
formation was given to the News by
an absolutely reliable source. Rum
Ors to this effect had been heard by
the News during the entire past week
but not until today was direct con-
tirmatiOn obtained.
Watch I.ewistown-the coming rail
road center.-LewistOwn Daily News.