The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-12-29

Great Northern will push on east
ward, while the Milwaukee will run
a line southwark to connect with it's
transcontinental line at Milestone.
From Fairview the construction has
proceeded simultaneously eastward
and westward. It is under operation
as far east as Watford City, McKen-
zie county, North Dakota, and as far
west as Lambert, Richland county,
Montana. The tracks have been laid
as far west, however, as Richey, Daw-
son county, Montana.
Musselshell- Circle Stretch
To BE Built in 1913.
The line into North Dakota was
built south from a junction with the
Great Northern main line at Snow
den, 1913 miles to Fairview, and
thence east, a total of sos miles.
From Fairview the line was built west
to Lambert, giving a total east and
west line of 72.7 miles. To this should
be added rs miles, the distance from
Lambert to Richey, to which point
the line is being operated to a degree
under construction forces. 1t is ex-
pected that the line will be complet-
ed next a to Circle, SO miles far
ther west. AS the line from Winnett
is expected to be completed to the
Musselshell by the end of next year,
this will leave between ITO and 100
miles to be constructed in 1915 for
the linking of the east and west lines.
The Great Northern intends ultim-
ately to make additional cut-offs in
the western part of the state between
Great Falls and Libby that will put
Lewistown and other towns on the
New Rockford line on a new trans
continental route. One of these cut
offs would extend from the western
terminus of the Great Falls-Gilman
line, northwestward past Swan Lake
to Kalispell, shortening considerably
the present roundabout route via
Shelby. Another cutoff would run
a little north of west from Kalispell
to Jennings, Is miles east of Libby,
shortening by more than half the
present route by way of Columbia
Falls, Eureka and Rexford.
New Agricultural Empire
To BE Opened by Cutoff.
The New NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. cut
off is expected to double, triple and
q%uadruple within a few years the
population of a vast territory once re-
garded as worthless for the growing
, of crops, but now recognized as an
agricultural empire hat soon will
be among the worlds foremost wheat
, producing and flax-growing districts.
!, The cut-offs west of Great Falls
will make possible greater develop
ment of the lumber industry, the
opening of new mines and the settle
ment of the mountain valleys by Or
:, chardists.
} Milwaukee to Shorten Line
: From Missoula to Great Falls.
) Still another transcontinental road,
the Milwaukee, through it's proposed
Missoula-Great Falls cutoff, yet to
be constructed from Clearwater to
Manchester through Ovando, Glenn
ons and Riebeling, together with the
projected line from Grass Range east
ward and from Weede south, contem-
plates an alternative routing in the
overland journey. With the COM
pletion of these lines the tr%ansconti-
mental traveller could pass through
Roundup, Butte and Deer Lodge GO
ing one way, and IN his return, by
leaving the present main line at Bon
ner, a few miles east of Missoula, tc
rejoin it at Milestone, could visit
Great Falls and Lewistown, travelling
continuously the meanwhile on Mil.
waukee lines.
The intention of the road to builG
this cutoff became clearly evident
when, in the construction of the Aga.
wan line, heavy main line rails were
laid from Great Falls to Manchester
whence the survey runs Southwestern.
ly to Clearwater, to which point con-
e struction was completed last yeal
from Blackfoot junction, a distance
of 25 miles, working n~ortheasterly
from Bonner.
Just at present Boyes and Piniele
in the southern part of Fallon coun.
ty are the center of homestead excite.
ment, largely due to rumors in thai
q section that construction work is
n soon to start OF the proposed Belle,
e fourche-Northwestern branch of the
Chicago & Northwestern, which
would bring another big railroad in.
S to the state. The line would enter
d Montana near the southeast corner
and u northwesterly to Miles City
p where is located the worlds greatest
horse market-the center also of the
cattle-raising industry in that par
of the state.
Relations With Alberta
Will Be Made Closer.
+ The proposed railroad construction
l, will make closer the relations be
O tween Montana and her Canadian
n neighbor, Alberta. Besides the ex
e tension of the 500 lines with thu
j. building of feeders, the Milwaukee il
h considering al extension of it's Cho
teau-Agawam line, completed a few
T. days ago, northward to the coal fields
1t that the line possesses in Alberta
If Freight, including coal, is already be
G. ing transported over this line, blu
n passenger service will not be startet
a until the spring or early summer aft
Is err the ballasting has been finished
le The roadbed of this line was com
n pleted last year, but all the rails