On 07-04-2021 - 10:51, reader Wrote: [www.altamontpress.com]

Seems odd that Butte MT is not marked on this 1884 map of the west. The UP line just sort of joins the NP west of Helena (?). Is the map sloppy?

[www.raremaps.com]

Googled about the UP line into Butte and a news article says it was built as narrow gauge and was the first rail line in Montana (who knows?).

“The U&N was a subsidiary of the Union Pacific, which had acquired it in 1877-78. The narrow-gauge, 3-foot-wide rails crossed Monida Pass on May 9, 1880, the first railroad in Montana.

[mtstandard.com]”

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The description of the map says, in part -- "Rare map of the US, focusing on the Ranch and Cattle Industry.

From Nimmo's Report on the Internal Commerce of the United States.

Nimmo's book is held to be perhaps the most important of the cattle books. Nimmo's essay on the range and ranch cattle business of the United States is regarded as the best and most comprehensive treatment of the industry made to that time."

Based on that description, I'm guessing that author Joseph Nimmo, Jr. didn't think Butte, Montana was important enough in the world of cattle to include in his publication.

Gsearch [Treasury Department, Report On The Internal Commerce Of The United States, By Joseph Nimmo, Jr., Chief Of The Bureau Of Statistics, Treasury Department.] -- [www.google.com]. I didn't find a gbook or pdf version.

Here's one site that currently (Sun 7/4/21, 1 pm) seems to have a copy of the book available, for $9,500.00. [www.buckinghambooks.com], Inventory Number: 42976