The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1916-03-10
PERTINENT FACTS
ABOUT A RAILROAD

just at the present time, any thing
about railroad attracts unusual atten-
ton. This is absolutely true for the
reason that it is the one thing the peo-
pie of the Flathead desire above all
others. 1t is the one thing which
would be of greatest value to the COM
mercial prosperity of this section.
That is the reason why any meeting
called to discuss the building of road
always attracts so large an attendance.
1t is not only those who live in the
towns who are interested, but the
farmers show~a greater interest than
those who live and do business in the
towns. This is especially true for the
reason that the farmers are the ones
who are injured the most by lack of
transportation facilities. 1t costs the
farmers double what it should to mar
ket their crops after it is harvested,
and threshed than it would with a rail
road close to their homes. Thefarmer
is compelled to pay for this disregard
of this situation in two ways, first in
the added cost to him in getting his
products to market, and second,
by having to pay increased costs of
wagon freight from the railroad to his
local merchant for the goods he buys.
1t cuts both ways with the farmer.
That is the great big reason why so
many, if not all of them, are showing
such deep interest in the present ag-
citation looking toward building an
electric line from Poison to Mssoula by
way of Roman and St. Ignatius.
Those not acquainted with the con-
dition and the drawbacks connected
with farming operations on the Flat
head cannot conceive how vital it is to
our people. 1t is even so important
that not only one but numerous farm
ers have signified their willingness to
put on teams to do the grading and
teke their pay in stock of a company
should one be started Others have
said that they would take stock in the
company for right of way across their
lands, should it be located so as to
cross the same. This shows that they
are in earnest and they will help in
every way possible to get the road
under way and finally built.
1t has been stated and there is no
doubt about the truth of the statement
that the added cost to every farmer
who now hauls his grain to the railroad,
would in seven years pay for the build
ing of the road from Poison to Dixon.
To this cost must be added the ad-
ditional it would take to build to Mis-
soula, but it is thought that the COM
petion two railroads at Missoula would
afford would amply repay for the cost
of extending the line on to Missoula.
To merely build to Dixon would still
give the Northern Pacific a cinch on all
the traffic of the Flathead, as that
road now enjoys much to our detriment
and discomfort. and with it built to
Missoula would be a strong competitor
for the tonnage.
But even so badly as railroad is
needed at the present time, to accom-
plish this result, will require much
capital, and that capital must come in
the main from outside sources. That
is why the meeting to be held tonight
at Missoula has been called, to endeav-
or to enlist the aid Of men with money
to join with the people here and start
the construction. 1t is thought that a
start will surely spell success in the
end. A little money subscribed by To-
cal men, to provide for a survey and
estimate of cost, to secure right of
way, and other incidentals would at
tract the attention of eastern men
with money to invest and result in ac-
complishing the desired end.
The effort is worth striving for and
with everyone interested wholeheartedly
working for the success of the project
it may result in something being ac-
complished.
Two Resign