, 1923-03-13

West by the Big Horn Mountain
Range. ON the East by the Bluck
Hills. This country originally a stock
raising region is gradually develop.
ing agricuiturally. I nm advised thai
along the line between Montana and
Wyoming that the Immediate region
produced last year over four million
bushels OF wheat, with an average
wagon haul &c market Of more than
thirty-five miles. That the vicinity
OF Sheridan and Buffalo. particularly
along the eastern sloDe Of the Big
Horn Mountains, and In the Path.
finder dam country between the Chi,
cago Northwestern and Union Pacific
Railroads extensive investments have
already been made IN irrigation
plants. That In these REGIONS the
Lost Soldier. The Ferris. The Tea
Pot Dome. Salt Creek. and other oil
n gas pools OF present devoioped
and extensive producing conditions.
that coal. iron. ore. ~plosphate and
ether useful productions are found
in quantity and conditions favorable
to commercial use. he handling Of
these various productions are at
tended with uch greet t%ransporta.
ton cost and Inconvenience MS 10
%seriously delay and hinder develop.
ment and production.
Beginnine ut the Union rnciflc
approximately i05 miles to the Chi.
cago Northwestern lines, thence $50
miles to III northern division of the
Burlington. thence 145 miles to the
Northern Pacific and Chicago, Mil
waukee and st. Paul lines, total dis
lance about 400 mules. with this 400
mile north and south line furnishing
not only local transportation buS the
Lnly connecting cross line for the
We trunk lines mentioned within a
distance eas5 and west of more than
coo miles.
7 illustrate present conditions.
There was no proposal on the part
OF any corporation or person to con-
struct this cross line until we an
nounced Jul willingness to do 30
about three months age. The neces.
sity of this line will be found in any
Investigation for n multitude OF
reasons, a very few OF which would
be supplies to this various oil fields.
7 we'll material and the like has to be
transported from tne trunk line raj
road at an average cost per well OF
moro than 100000 excess cost,
above the cost when our line is oper
ating. out bound transportation for
oil and oil products is SO announcement
and expensive that the producer OF
crude oil in the various fields named
were receiving les than go per cen,
OF tho ready market price for oil OF
similar quality In the -mid.contineni
field; and to illustrate that our cross
line railroad is essential to economic
business conduct and that the keen
est business minds is found in the
fact that since we have begun the
creation OF this line OF railroad. al
ready the price of oil has been actu
ally advanced more than double It.
last November price. and to fully 9C
per cent Of tho mid-continent price.
II believe the authorities of ths
Interior Department and the State
School Land Board OF Wyoming vii
both sustain my statement that pub
lie confidence in the building OF oui
north and south line has more thar
doubled the income to both Natior
and State from their oil royalties o.
this region; also tho natural gas pro
duced now having but a limited mar
lSet will find early and profitable us
in various manufacturing enterprise
when local transportation is provid
ed; also the existing irrigation plant,
and additional irrigation plants avail
only the assurance OF Transportation
facilities. will vastly increase tn,
population. furnish moro homes nnt
increase their agricultural and liv,
stock production.
Now then, If this north and south
connecting line is needed will It suf
flee to build only the intermediate
section OF approximately 100 miles
connecting only the north and south
divisions Of the Burlington without
extending to the Union Pacific on
the south and without extending to
the Northern Pacific. Chicago, NIL
waukee and st. Paul on the north,
In short II you permit the taking OF
a bite out of the middle of this 400
mile stretch nnd that middle part be
ing the portion now ready to furnish
substantial traffic will anybody build
| the 146 miles to the north and the