The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-06-22
Subscriber Writes
About Railroad

IN the interest OF getClng TAI
road built into our enterprising an
thriving little village of Circle an
at the same time providing tn
federal government with create
store house from which to draw
the necessary food supplies, / TAX
this means to draw the attention
of all those interested, toward tina
noble end.
It is the writer's belief that WI
might accomplish our desire by
appealing to the federal govern
ment at Washington, D. c., ex
planning our lack of rail facilities
and the thousands of acres of fer
tile virgin soil awaiting the pillow
To be effective our petition
should specify about what the in
crease in acreage and bushels
would be. 1t is well known fact
that Washington is highly interest
ed in increasing the National food
supply, and at the present time has
unlimited influence with the rail
roads. At the present writing the
government is standing by the N.
P. Ry., in bridge building and in
furnishing labor in doing the work
near Livingston. Iwould suggest
as starter that the Commercial
Club take up the subject at an
early date and if thought practic-
able place petitions at certain con-
venient places throughout this
locality, to be signed and forward
ed to Washington. If a fund is
raised to send a committee along
with same, so much the better.
If we wait for the Great Nor
them to do the building on their
own initiative, 1t will, or may be
a term of years, before anything is
done, war or no war.
The end of the war will not see
the finish of government war con-
tracts which will take procedure
over all others. 100000 tons of
iron ore were shipped from the
state of Minnesota last year and
consumed with less railroad build
ing, with the exception of one or
two years, since the Civil war.
100000 tons and possibly more,
are to be shipped this year. Yet
we are told by eminent writers that
it may be necessary to stop all
building construction throughout
the whole United States, save that
of the most vital and immediate
nature, to conserve for war pur-
poses.
1t will be necessary that we
show the government that it would
be to their interest and will mater
tally add to the Nations food sup
ply. by the extension of the Great
Northern into the heart of this
great and productive country
thereby enabling those that are
here to increase their acreage and
encouraging others to come into
the country and help farm this n
rich soil that is practically stand MI
ing idle, except for the native VII
grasses.
The N. P. and Great Northern :
will expend about $10,000,0O0.00 :
in Montana this year in double
charging yards, etc. I
The Great Northern figures on {
100000 expenditure according !
% a statement by ]. B. Cook, gen'l {
agent of the company, to the Bill
ngs Gazette. Improvements in =
he Billings yards, including addi-
ion to roundhouse $4,000; side q
racks and Improvements at Moss 4
main $4,000, outside of this the (
money will be spent on the main 4
ne. A large hump" or gravity q
ard is to be built at Greal Falls, Il
7 miles of double track is to be Z
Eyed over the Rocky mountains Z
nd the company is planning on =
lectrifying it's system over the
If we wish to consider this an
pportune time to act and try and u
lduce the aid of the Federal Gov
we cannot be too quick \
bout it.