The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-02-16
WHO WILL BUILD
MILES CITY LINE?
GOVERNOR HASKELL OF OKLA
HOMA SAID TO BE BACK OF
NEW MONTANA ROAD
Would Run from Sheridan, Wyoming
to Miles City, Passing Through
Territory that Has No Railroad and
Afford Outlet for Oil.

While there is little question about
the building of the proposed railroad
from Miles City, or some other east
ern Montana point, to the Salt Creek
Wyoming, oil fields, there appears to
be some confusion as to just who
is to finance the line. Recently the
announcement was made from New
York that former Governor Haskell
of Oklahoma, head of the Middle
States Oil company has returned
from Europe and is now prepared to
go ahead with the project. 1t is also
said that the Haskell interests have
authorized the sale of $11, 100000 of
stock for the initial financing of the
road. The terminals of the road have
not yet definitely, been established,
at least as to the Montana end of the
line. The main object of the road, ac-
cording to statements given out by
the Haskell interests is to tap the
Wyoming coal and oil fields.
Backed by Milwaukee
According to a recent dispatch
from st. Paul, it would appear that
the Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul
is really back of the project. A re-
cent transaction of immense proper
lions in lands along the proposed line
lends color to the Milwaukee's con-
nection with the road. James Veach,
one of the Milwaukee officials, re-
Gently bought thousands of acres of
land along the proposed line Upon
the heels of this transaction, comes
the following from ST. Paul:
Plans for the construction of
500, 100000 railway linking the oil
fields of Montana and Wyoming were
announced in st. Paul. Preliminary
construction work on the project is
expected to start in the early spring,
and the line in the Wyoming terri
tory would be tapped at Sheridan and
have an outlet at Miles City. Incor-
poration papers have already been
filed, it was said in authoritative rail-
way circles.
Contamination of the plans would
make this construction the first rail-
way expansion of major Importance
in the northwest in more than ten
years. Rich territory in both Wyom-
ing and Montana would be served not
only with adequate transportation
for the oil production, but the chan
mel would be opened for development
of other industries and a general en-
largement of the economic structure
of the area.
Connect With Burlington
The line is proposed to connect
with the Burlington railway at Sheri-
dan and with the Northern Pacific /
at Miles City, covering a distance of
approximately 200 miles.
Reports have been persistent that |
capital interests are involved in the |
project through the Chicago, Milwau-
kee and st. Paul road, which they
control.
Confirmation of the rumors could |
not be obtained, however. President
H. e. Byram, of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee and st. Paul, would not commit
himself further than to state that his
has no interest in the
project other than from a traffic and
territorial development standpoint.
This is considered significant, how
sver, as traffic interests" might be
Interpreted as meaning active parti-
;ipation. The project grows from the
proposed pipe line from the Wyoming
fields, which was intended to give
he Middle States Oil company an out
ct into Montana.
This company failed to obtain roy
llty rights on oil produced from gov
rnment owned fields near Sheridan
md the pipe line scheme was aban-
loned and the railway corporation
ormed.