Year: 1868

The Cheyenne Commercial Record, in
quoting an article in which We depre-
Gated encouraging the construction of
the proposed branch line from the L. p.
X. r., in Utah, to Montana, thinks it
better to do that than trust to the un-
certainties of the Northern Road. citing
the old adage that "a bird in the hand
is worth two in the bush" IL 10 true
there arc advantages accruing to Mon
tana from this proposed branch road: it
is also probable that if Montana would


ask or encourage it, the Central Road
has influence enough to get bill


through Congress authorizing the con-
struction OF the road with the same sub
sides granted the Centraland Mt an ear
lier day than we can possibly hope for
the Northern Road, for we find the Com
mittee on Railroads have ready to re
port. the bill for the Portland branch.
1t was in view of these facts and proba.
bilities that we opposed the measure ut
first, and do yet. A bird in the hand
may be worth two in the bush if they
are the same Kind of birds; but we
would prefer to wait certainly to be
obtained engle, rather than to accept in
inconsiderate haste profiered vulture


What is to be gained by this. north and
south, Utah branch? Simply an unim-
portant railroad connection with a
point three hundred or four hundred
miles distant. the saving of n few hours
time and the building in Montana OF
perhaps go miles of railroad. 1t would
not materially lessen fare or freight


develop our Territory when completed
or in process of construction. or be OF
advantage in building up the solid
walls of civilization to check the raw
ages of the Indians. 1t would, howev-
er, be leech to deplcte the Territory
of that aliment which is needed and
which should be retained for a more
desirable road. You on the Central
road complain of exorbitant rates OF
fare and freightage, and You find that
Washburne's bill for a Commission
to revise the rates has gone to
the committee on Railroads, and if not
past resurrection, will scarce be res
vived to the advantage OF any but the
Company. The board of Directors claim
that the passenger rates of 10 cents pei
mile and freightage of Ia cents q ton
per mile cannot be reduced, when fuel
has now, as it ever will have, TO be car


ried several hundred miles on the route


and wood averages SEQ per cord on the
line. We do not care to throw ourselves
prematurely into the folds of the Central
iron anaconda. 1t is not our fault they
have not chosen the best route. We
are on a line OF road, 500 miles o.
which would be in Montana, passing
east and west through its very heart


opening up the great fertile valleys to
the eastward where now no white man
dare go, and we have good authority
for the assertion that we can, if de-
sirable, secure the extension Of the east
ern boundary one hundred miles
further. making the Missouri river the
eastern boundary, and giving us six
hundred miles of a great international
railway within our borders, well supplied
with fuel and free from SHOWS. Along
this line would be builded up settle
ments RS the road would be constructed
that would put a .fnale to Indian dep
relations On our eastern borders, and
open up to industry one of the riches;
regions in the northwest. IL would give
US reduced ireightage on machinery and
goods from the west, by the use of the
water communication of the Colum-
bia. 1t wonld place US on great :runk,
instead of an insignificant branch line.
II would moreover benefit the entirs
country IN making competition u


through freights. Ii would, in short.


-. more materially 10 our in:eres. TO