Year: 1876




The advantage. or rather tie


necessity of 4 railroad between
/ Helena aid Benton We believe TO


be thoroughly understood by the


business men of Helena and this To-


cality. It is universally acknowl-


edged throughout the Territory


that cheap and rapid transportation
/ facilities have become an indispen-


sable necessity to the further de-


yelopment Of ourmineral resources,


the increase Of our population, and
the introduction Of those numerous
industries without which we can


not be regarded as a prosperous Or


even a permanent community. The
question is not, therefore, whether


we want a railroad or other means


Of cheap and rapid transit, but


what enterprise Of the kind will


best answer the purpose III view !;


and even on this point. SO for as
the interests Of Helena and Benton


are concerned, there is no room for


discussion.


| In the question Of railroad o.


other enterprise, the principal


points for consideration are Of
course the cost and comparative
advantages Of the proposed route.


AS simple enumeration Of facts


and figures, however, would require


more space than We have at pres
ent to spare, it is not our object to


discuss either point at length IN


this article, but merely to say q few


words in favor Of a route which We
believe to he the only one calculat-
ed to relieve the present neces-
stiles Of the Territory, 1t is esti-
mated by parties who profess to
have some knowledge Of the mat
ter, that q narrow gauge road from
Helena to Benton would cost not
more than 100000. We have
heard opponents Of the road say
that it could not be built for less


than 81 100000. Admitting that
it would cost all Of the latter sum,
we believe the people Of Montana
can better afford togiye the amount
than they can afford to do without
a railroad, or to place themselves
at the mercy Of monopoly by sub
sidizing an outside corporation. It
has been repeatedly shown BY this
and other journals Of the Territory,
that the savings upon the cost Of
transportation alone would in d
short time pay the expense Of build
ing the road ; but the Importance
Of this fact is perhaps not obvious
to those who would have to bear a
portion Of the cost, without realiz
inc direct benefit from a decrease
in transportation rates. But to
lessen the cost Of freight is not the.
only object Of building a railroad,
nor is cheap transportation the on
" or most important necessity Of
Montana at present, Our great
need is population, and in obtain
ing this every property holder with |
in the Territory however small his
possessions may be, must feel that
he has direct and important III
terest-not merely to increase the
present value Of his property, but
to save what he has got. There is
no question that the property Of
Montuna, especially the real estate:
is becoming Of less value every
year Of its existence. All the
counties are becoming deeply in

volved in debt, and taxes are con
sequently increasing while the peo-
pie are becoming unable to bear
the excessive burdens, much less to
improve or increase their posses
sions. #, then, without . railroad,
our resources must continue to
languish as they have languished, |
if our population must decrease as.
it has decreased, would it not be.
wiser to build a road, even at the
expense Of half our means, than to.
do without the road and IN time
lose all that We have? This IS no