The Montana Post

An Important Movement—New Roads to the Head of Navigation on the Missouri.

Among the many enterprises, both public and private now on foot, having for their object the development of the resources, and the increase of the commercial prosperity of Montana, we know of none of more importance to the business portion of the community than the recent survey and location of the new roads to the practical head of navigation on the Missouri River. It will be remembered that the Legislature, last winter, granted a charter to the 'Missouri River & Rocky Mountain Wagon Road & Telegraph Company,' which association afterwards consolidated with two other similar organizations, requiring them to survey and locate, within one year, certain lines of road, leading from our principal towns, to the important commercial entrepots above mentioned. The work of surveying these roads has been fully accomplished. A report of the operations and a plat of the line has been placed on file in the office of the Territorial Auditor. As this is a matter that interests all our citizens, we give the following synopsis of the document:

The main line of the roads runs from Virginia City, across the divide via Gallatin, Bozeman and Big Horn cities to the mouth of the Yellowstone, with a branch diverging from it, at a point a few miles east of Virginia City, which leads via Hot Springs and Crow Creek, to Helena, and thence by White's Gulch to Kercheval City at the mouth of the Mussel-shell River. The routes located under the charters of the companies consolidating with this Company, are from Fort Laramie to Bozeman City, and from Kercheval City via the south fork of the Mussel-shell and Twenty-five-yard Creek to Gallatin and Virginia cities.

While the establishment of mail and telegraphic communication with the States by way of Sioux City is of the utmost importance, the opening to travel of the roads from Virginia City and Helena to the mouth of the Mussel-shell is a matter of even more immediate interest to such of our merchants and business men as are interested in the speedy transmission of freight from the States.

An examination of the Missouri River, coupled with the experience of the past three years in navigating the upper Missouri, has demonstrated the fact that the mouth of the Mussel-shell River, is, for all practical purposes, the head of navigation, for the larger class of boats; the important obstructions to navigation being above this point. We do not desire to under-estimate the importance of communications with other points on the river, but merely present a few facts, the results of actual surveys, showing the great advantages which must accrue to us from the shortening of the line of travel from our inland cities to the steamboat landing on the river. The distance from Helena to the mouth of the Mussel-shell is but seventy-five miles farther than to Fort Benton, and an experienced freighter, who has examined the line, gives it as his opinion that, over the road that the company are about opening, six yokes of cattle can draw a load weighing six thousand pounds. The distance from Virginia City to Kercheval City is but thirty-five miles farther, in a straight line than it is to Fort Benton. The travelled road to Fort Benton from Virginia City is about ten miles shorter than the new road to Kercheval City. From Virginia City to Helena by way of Hot Springs the distance is eighteen miles less than by the present route, the divide east of this City being the only one to be crossed. The distance from Virginia City to Kercheval City via White's Gulch, is but fifty miles farther than to Fort Benton.

We should deem it an insult to the good sense of our business men, were we to go into an elaborate argument to show the advantages accruing from the landing of goods at this point. A few facts will suffice. The goods brought to this country during the past three years could have been landed at the mouth of the Mussel-shell from fifteen to twenty days sooner than they could possibly be delivered at Fort Benton. It must also be borne in mind that their arrival at Fort Benton at all, or without trans-shipment, has always been uncertain, owing to the frequent and sudden fall of the water in the river. By the proposed roads, it is but four days land travel, from Helena, and one from Virginia, to Mussel-shell, in excess of the time necessarily occupied in traveling to Fort Benton, and there is a strong probability that freight will arrive at this place at the appointed time. There is also an abundance of forage and of game around the mouth of Mussel-shell and along the valley, and there are no precipitous hills to be overcome throughout the entire journey.

These reasons will be sufficient to satisfy our merchants that they can receive goods shipped to Kercheval City much earlier than if shipped to Fort Benton, even when arriving at the most favorable stage of water, and at a cost for freight of five cents per pound less. The difference in expense can scarcely be estimated when the probable detention for a whole season is to be taken into consideration. We are credibly informed that the profits of the steamboat companies that contracted to deliver goods at Fort Benton, were all absorbed in the expenses of land transportation, from the highest point which they were enabled to reach on the river, their passage to Fort Benton being rendered impracticable by low water.

We are informed by Mr. N. P. Langford, President of the Company, that the work of grading these roads will be speedily commenced, and that they will be fully opened to travel before the arrival of boats at Kercheval City, next spring. The reduction in the cost of freighting (always a cash outlay), which the success of this enterprise will ensure, must produce a corresponding reduction in the prices of goods—a result devoutly to be wished for in this land of high prices.

The Directors of the Company deserve much credit for perfecting their surveys under all the difficulties they have had to encounter, and we believe that they are in a fair way to reap a rich return for their enterprise and for their large outlay of money.

Of Kercheval City, at the mouth of the Mussel-shell, we shall have something to say hereafter.