The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-12-24
RAILROAD TALK REVIVED


which does not blow good. to some
body" applies to this country is evi'
denced by revived talk of a railroad
The war abruptly terminated All rail-
road rumors, but now with denation
Of prices in progress all along the
line, there comes again the raalroao
talk for this county. at the present
time against its wishes enjoying the
reputation of not having single
miles Of railroad within Its confines.
Had high prices for labor and ma.
terial continued the chances are GOOD
that railroad never would be built
into this county because OF the great
expense involved.
A railroad will come to us sooner
or later, sooner now because OF re-
duction in costs. This term soon
err may be construed to mean nve
or ten years. Or perhaps less time
than we imagine.
With material prices, cost OF labor
and other expenses at their apex, II
is stated that railroad protected
from Belle Fourche, S. d., to Miles
City, Mont, via Broadus, a distance
of approximately 220 miles. would
cost in the neighborhood OF five mil
lion dollars, but with these prices re-
duced one-third, the cost would stand
at q more reasonably figure.
Our coal fields alone should be
sufficient inducement to entice a
railroad into this country. Aside
from q big interest return on its In
vestmept. we believe the earnings
would pay the, railf0ad promoters
within a. comparatively few years:
But coal IL not the sole resource OF
the country. Its primal export IN
the past has been cattle and sheep,
and the prospects are good that this
in a great measure WILL always re-
main a cattle country because Of the
success and profit incident to the IN
dustry.
The country too is fast settling up
and undergoing development era,
hut this development can only reach
a certain stage without encourage
ment from rail and steam.
There are the prospects OF Oil in
this country, as yet. an uncertain
quantity.
The greatest tonnage o; exports
TO be expected from this country is
in it's coal deposits. Of superior quail
ity and an inexhaustible supply, un-
DERIVING the surface nearly the width
and length Of the county. and reach
ed at variable depths down to 200
feet.
The Black Hills country is depend
-ent upon coal fields which have been
worked for many years in the past.
and in case they become exhausted
rs is sometimes the case, the people
the industries and the railroads
would be hard fixed for coal. This
is matter which is probably being
investigated and If such condition
prevails then the advent OF rail-
road to tap our immense coal fields
mere will be quickened.
The Northwestern railroad is con-
verting its engines back to coal
burners, having enough of the oil
burners after fair trial.
The city of Lead, S. D., alone uses
200 tons of coal daily, deriving its
supply from the Wyoming field.
About half of this supply is taken
by the Homestake Mining company.
From source of authority it is
stated that the coal MINES near
Broadus could easily be made to
yield many thousands OF tons of coal
day Transportation charges of
this coal would soon pay for rail-
road, and besides the consumers
would reap great benefit by re-
duced price because OF a shorter
haul.