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Show THE UTAH & NORTHERN. Probable Completion of a Branch ftoad From Dillon to Helena. A Helena Herald reporter recently interviewed in-terviewed Mr. J. M. Page of Twin Bridges concerning the work lately done on the proposed branch of the Utah & Northern from Dillon to Helena. Mr. Page, who is a competent engineer and a resident of the section where the work was carried on, gave some information concerning it which may be of . interest to . readers of the Inter-Mountain and to the people of Montana generally. Mr. Page said that about the first of last December Mr. Ray, chief engineer of the Utah & Northern, with a large force of men, commenced grading for a roadbed between Dillon and Glen Btation. The work was continued for three weeks, when the force was withdrawn. with-drawn. During that time the sum of $12,000 was expended, , and five or six miles of standard road bed were graded. This was done; it appears, simply as representation rep-resentation work, as the company was compelled if it wished to hold its charter to do a certain amount of work on the line each year. No work was done in Jefferson canyon, although chief engineer Ray made an inspection of it -with the view of doing some. In this canyon the company has expending $130,000 in grading grad-ing a road bed, and has quite a section there ready for the ties. As it was graded for a narrow guage road it will be widened to a standard guage when the time arrives ar-rives for laying the track. Mr. Page says the settlers are not averse to the road, as they are in need of railroad facilities, and will do all in their power to further the completion of the line, by donating right of way, etc. The Herald thinks that the Utah & Northern branch from Dillon to Helena will be completed 'during the present year as it understands the charter for the road will expire at the beginning of 1887, and that the company will not apply for its renewal without performing considerable consider-able work upon the road. It also says that the Northern ;Pacific company is making every effort to enter Butte, but it is at the same time desirous of preventing prevent-ing the Union Pacific from coming to Helena. It is not very probable, however, how-ever, that such a .one-sided agreement will be arrived at, and if the former succeeds suc-ceeds in establishing railroad connection with Butte, the natural consequence will be the rapid following on the part of the Union Pacific with its branch road to Helena. |
