The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1913-05-16

NoflaciIl dclllc Is preparing 10
build a branch line from Dixon
north but that is will not extend
any farther than Roman for some
time to come, the survey being
now in progress to this town.
There are several good reasons
why this may be true, among
which are:
To build to the lake at any
point would simply put the Nor
thern Pacific in more direct COM
petition with the Great Northern
than at the present time.
The Northern Pacific would
lose some of the business which
it now receives. should it build
to the lake and thereby afford
an opportunity for shippers to
reach the water route and ulti-
mately the Great Northern rail
way.
The Northern Pacific would
get all the trafic by merely build
ing to Roman, as the terminus
would then be within reach of
all the people who have settled
on the homestead lands even as
far north as the lake itself.
With Roman the terminus the
entire territory extending as far
north as the lake would haul all
their freight to this point and
route it over the Northern Pacific
thus securing all that traffic
which now annually goes by way
Of the lake and Great Northern.
1t would be the cause of many
people now living in towns north
OF us moving to Roman, a fact
which many..are now contemplate
ing doing and are lamenting hav-
ing not done sooner, which would
build up a large town situated in
the most favored portion of the
Flathead reservation and which
is to become one of the best
towns in all Montana.
These reasons, coupled with the
fact that Roman is the center of
the largest irrigable area in the
United States, should be induce
ment enough to warrant the
Northern Pacific in building this
branch line of only % miles at
the earliest possible date.
The Pioneer has been informed
that the surveyors now at work
are stating openly that their in
structions do not contain any
reference to extending the sur
vey farther north than Roman,
which lends color to the rumor
that Roman is the objective and .
terminal point of the surveyors.
Not that this statement is made
in any spirit of jealousy or envy
toward our neighbors on the
north, but only to look at matters
as they really are and which nat
ure and natural conditions war;
rant.
The grain and live stock to 90
outand the merchandise and other
freight to come in, is not the only
asset the railroad will have to
furnish traffic over this line.
There is all the timber now stand
ing and growing north, east and
south of Roman, which would be
made into lumber and train loads
transported as soon as the road
was prepared to handle it. This
portion of what is to be the real
big business for a railroad for a
of years has been talked
Of but very little, but it is here
Just the same, and will not only
furnish revenue to the railroad
but will provide employment toa
large number of men as well. 1t
will make a pay roll, something
every prosperous town must have.
No point on the reservation is
so favorably situated as Roman to
be the shipping point of a great
lumber industry. The timber is
at our very door, and with so
many other natural advantages
it is not difficult to reason out
why Roman is to be the terminus
Of the branch line now being sur
veyed.