The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1927-04-22
SHERIDAN COUNTY RAILROADS AND TRANSFORMATIONS
en- for the Sodbusers Edition By J. J. Gibbons of Reserve

gotten over as quickly as possible in
the rush to the Pacific. But at last
a different sort Of prospector made
his appearance, the hOmeseeker. He
was one who thought that where buff
falo, antelope and deer had found
sustenance, livestock would prosper
and grow fat. An impetus was CIV
en- by a better and surer means Of
transportation.
Coming of the Railroad.
The growth of the west was de-
pendent upon railroads. AS soon as
California was admitted to the Union
two transcontinental lines were au-
thorized by Congress. Later four
lines were built, the Northern Pa
cific passing through the southern
part of Montana. 1t was not until
the sixth was built that the terri
tory embracing Sheridan county was
brought in contact with the iron
bands that at length united East and
West and heralded the advent of cit
les, farms and commemorative. It
was the great Empire Builder, James
J. Hill who conceived the idea of
building a northern line, extending
from Duluth on Lake Superior to
Puget Sound. Mr.. Hill proposed to
blaze a new trail to the Pacific, but
it was to advance scarcely more rap
idly than the settlements could sup
port it..
Railroad Reaches CulbertsOn.
Slowly rails were laid towards the
West. For while st. Cloud was the
terminal, then Minot, then Williston.
Westward from Williston, the rail
road was built approximately on the
route taken by Lewis and Clark for
900 miles westward as far as Butte,
the southern terminal of the Great
Northern in Montana. Culbertson
was reached in 1885. This opened up
new possibilities for trading and set
Element. The cattle business flour
ished, for no longer was it necessary
to drive stock south to Dubuque.
Cattle could be loaded at Culbertson
and sent to Chicago, then becoming
one of the markets for cattle. A few
cattle raisers came into the country
and located permanent ranches.
Land Open to HOmesteaders.
Not until the beginning of the
twentieth century did the real pros
perity of Northeastern Montana be-
gin. The land in Minnesota, Iowa
and the Dakotas was becoming ex.
pensive. The land in Montana was
free, open for homesteading. Soon
an influx of settlers came in. Get
ting off the train at Culbertson very
little was to be seen, a box car for 9
railroad station; few stores of gen
eral merchandise; a post office; and
a road house where one could spend
the night. In the morning seeking
some conveyance to the north and
west, the traveller would see a mai
carrier starting out with a few mai
bags destined for the new post office
located at Plentywood; an OK team
drawing a wagon loaded with fooC
stuffs and household goods, the
Lares and Penates of some new
household; a few cowboys in theil
colorful regalia riding their broncos
a few Indians in blankets and shawls
packing a few provisions on theil
skinny cayuses or on a travels. Sc
curing a horse, or accepting lifts
from anyone offering, sometimes
walking, the homeseeker started
north, sometimes his destination wa
the recently located Danish settle
ment at Dagmar, if of German de
scent he probably directed his way
towards Westby.
Stage Line Started
Later a stage line was started
consisting of a four passenger coach
with room for some baggage, draw