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Show Utah Northern Extension. Messrs. Oliver Ames, E. Atkins, Sidney Dillon, Jy Gould, Gordon Dexter, S. Richardson and R. M. Bassett hare submitted a proposition to the Montana legislature, to extend the Utah Northern railroad into Montana Mon-tana for a certain subsidy. The substance sub-stance of the proposition is that if the territoiy will give thom 8 per cent, curroncy bonds at the rate of $5,000 per mile they will commence work at Franklin within sixty days after the bonds are placed in escrow in Now York, and build and stock one hundred hun-dred miles or road annually until it reaches the mouth of Big Hole river, Montana, a distance of about 300 miles. The total subsidy would amount to $1,500,000. The legislature legis-lature is considering the proposition. To us thin seems the most feasible plan for our sister territory to adopt to get a railroad. The Northern Pacific is next to a hopless project. It is a matter of doubt whether that road will ever be completed as designed; de-signed; it certainly will not be finished in time to benefit this generation of Montanians; while the narrow-guags road could be in operation within three rears. Tndpmi. in nnft vnitr from tbe acceptance of the proposition proposi-tion tbe road would so shorten the distance between Montana and the "outside" ae to greatly benefit the territory. Subsidies to railroads or other corporations are in general decidedly de-cidedly wrong, and it is gratifying to note that the practice has become most unpopular, in congress and out of it; but " circumstances alter cases." The prospects ot Montana having a railroad within any ordinary period, unless it assists in the build ing of one by donatibg a handsome bonus, are not at ail promising. While the territory is rich in resources, it has tbe disadvantage of location to overcome. A railroad j into Montana would develop and make valuable one of the richest mineral and grazing sections in America; yet such road would never be more than a side line. It would simply be a road to Montunn, and solely for Montana. No other section would be materially benefited by it. Capitalists and railroad builders know this, and they trsat with the interested inter-ested parties accordingly. It is to be hoped the Montana people peo-ple will accept the proposition of Gould and associates. The offer is not generous, but more liberal terms are not likely to be obtained by waiting. wait-ing. The sooner the territory has railroad communication with the markets of the east and west, the Bpeedier will come the developmentof its resources, and the better will it be for the residents of that rich, but isolated region. |