Glacier County chief., 1940-07-05
By ERIC THANE

Say the two ends of the North
Pacific railway, built east from
sound and west from Du-
we're Joined near Gold Creek,
4 miles west of Garrison. The
[rony was the elimination Of
Z wears of work. The idea Of q
k.ontinental railway had re-
d attention since the Oregon
6tion and the California gold
4 but not until 1858 was sur
made of a northern route to
Oast. From Fort Union on the
s.uri in the extreme eastern
4 Of present Montana to Hell
{this route comedies with that
n Great Northern railway, and
1 Helena to the Idaho boundary
[,omes almost exactly the road
!, Northern Pacific.
Iyorthern Pacific began to build
! from Puget sound and Duluth:
[npany was aided by large land
1 which gave 1t 20 alternate sec
lyr mile of non-mineral public
Il each side Of the right-of-way.
construction reached Montana.
Fric Of 1873 bankrupted the com.
IThe Territorial legislature tried
bill authorizing counties along
Ia 10 borrow construction funds
| railroad, arguing that Montana
I-eady paying at least 81 500, 900
4 for freighting by wagon and
Ioat. and that a railroad would
IN, but when the bill was sub
/ TO the people it was defeated
kvntpS
lyer, adequately reorganized and
81 in 1877, the Northern Pacific
Al construction, and track-lay-
rs crossed the eastern boundary
f.9na and reached Glendive, July
/ Winter halted construction al
Icty but the following summer
Ii proceeded rapidly up the yell
e valley to meet the crews WORK
'tvard. The last 300-mile sec
IN In the mountains. and the
construction OF the
In pass tunnel. 1854 feet long,
q Mullan pass tunnel. 1915 feet
tth.
overcome Many Obstacles
faulted section OF the Mullan
I-usual pressure demanded con-
|utention to timbering: expert
mining men were called IN 70
|he lob. At Weeksville, northwest
|Nula. a shoulder Of the Caoinet
Ers iutted across the way and
|Toyed by extensive blasting. at
/, Of life to many Chinese on the
| the day of the joining cere-
mIny notable persons were
S. veral trains arrived from
d. bringing many guests OF the
En- Pacific company. Many OF
[ye-e from foreign lands-Hol-
GERMANY and other countries.
ye-e representatives OF the
lenders In foreign lands who
s3ned money TO complete tne
d and were now Speclaliy-n-
Tne>Ls of the president OF the
d Henry Willard. General U, ..
vas among the guests from the
Z we'll as the governors OF WIS,
| Minnesota and Dakota, ana
'nhn- officers of the company.
mans came from the west,
-7 ne governors of washington
'rsg71 There was also "Colonei
one time head Of the Columbia
snor company, and pioneer
4 NJ Oregon. There was also Johh
builder of the Mullen military
tween Fort Benton on the Mis-
md Fort Walla Walla IN WASH
territory. started in 1893 ana
led in 1862. Mullen was espsctai-
.lant for the new iron iran Iol-
his rough military road IN many
r. were many people from St.
present.. From Montana came n
rrat C S. Mcclure. John Noyes,
MINIS and many others,
exercises commenced by the
n of a six-gun battery. planted
done and manned by a contln,,
n about 100 men. officers ana
1 The soldiers policed the meet
large grandstand had been pro,
for the distinguished guests ana
! and some smooth platliks ~
Of laymen. An officer with aooue
\ marched down TO guara LS
~ between the grandstano anu
ats to prevent intrusion on tne
preserved grounds. But tne
/ Of whom there were many
/ saw no reason for thus being
led: they crowded forward,
through the guards, and went
the front.
Miners Disregard Rope
imnortant men on the grand
reristered extreme displeasure.
tly Henry Willard came down
ked the officer II he coulo ny
hose men back. He spoke WIN
niger. Up on the grandstano a
with a big gun In his belt. sea-
nself Alongside a dandy from
Ioreien country and lighted ms
Ie blew smoke in the directlon
!. dandy, and that Individual
shebang we're havin.' amt it?'
ner wanted to know.
e is no record OF the dandy's
, hut whatever it was, 1t was
ed by sight OF that big gun IN
ler's belt. Meanwhile Willard was
|, with the officer in charge OF
Hers who were policing the place.
I you stop those miners lFoii'
up here?" he demandeo: m1,
Ell" returned the officer; IN
ne way-by bayonettlng them.
don't aim to do that"
pc was then stretched, but the
continued to come forward,
J under 1t or stepping over II.
yer was most convenient. More
ore Of them crowded upon the
and to the evident dissatisfac-
everybody important there. ex,,,
eneral Grant. who considered all
men his personal friends.
to the event, George
ffey. SAYS in the story Of his
4 the west: IT will never forget
lial smile Of General Grant as
ed these intrepid miners of the
further feeble attempts to gov