The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-08-21
THE.NoRrHERN PACIFIC.
Some Explain ations OF Recent Mysterious
Movements
Pioneer Press. lug. 18th.

Pioneer Press, Aug. 18th
The report teleeraphed from New York
yesterday TO effect that Jay Gould had been
buying heavily of Northern Pacific stock,
and had secured a controlling interest In
that road, has about as much foundation as
that published by Chicago paper, the day
before, that the Rock Island had purchased
the Northern Pacific. The truth of the
whole matter is the present holders of
Northern Pacific stock have no desire nor
inclination TO sell. That this should be so
Ia reasonable. These men purchased North.
ern Pacific years ago aud have held 1t stead
lily since, notwithstanding the many rumors
that the company would default on its sew
eral interests; that it was sure TO fail In Its
undertaking; that 1t would go into the hands
of receiver; in fact that the road was such
q terribly big Undertaking that it could never
be made to pay It's fixed charges. Notwith.
standing these various rumors Northern
Pacific holders have kept their stock, and 1t
would certainly be very poor business
transaction for them to want TO sell out,
when the outlook is so encouraging aud sat-
isfactory. These men realize that they have
good thing, and they are determined to
hold on to it until 1t pans out, which it is
certain to do In a very short time. The man.
agement of the Northern Pacific, as a matter
of fact, know precisely where the stock Is
held, and 1t also knows controlling Interest
cannot be purch ased. The only stock on the
market Is that held by the Oregon d Trans.
continental, and even If one company were
to purchase its holdings, it would not have
one-thirG interest in the Northern Pacific,
and, as every one knows, that interest Is not
sufficient to carry with 1t the control of the
road.
References have been made to the forth
coming annual election, and it has been said
Q sharp fight will then be made for control
of the road. Several weeks ago there might
have been some truth in this report, but now
there Is none, and the meeting will not be so
interesting as many had expected and few
had hoped. Some time ago there was diff
ference of opinion between Messrs. Billings
and Wright. 1t was then said that Mr..
Wright was aDgered for having been sold
| out to Willard, and that he had been pur-
chasing heavily Of the company's stock for
the purpose of getting even with those who
had ousted him from the directory. Mr..
Wright did purchase heavily, and is once
more q member of the board. Excepting
Mr.. Billings, he is probably the largest indi-
vidual holder of the company's stock, and as
such has more or less to say in the manage
ment of the company's affairs. His name
was mentioned for the presidency at the last
election, but the opposition was too much
for him. Mr.. Billings wanted some one else
at the helm; but the contending forces were
too evenly matched, and the result was q
compromise president in the person of Mr..
Harris. With Mr.. Harris as president, and
Mr.. Cakes as general manager, the company
has at its head two of the very best railroad
men In the country. The result Is the ex-
cellent condition Of the company's property
to-day. Mr.. Harris administration has not
been satisfactory to some few Of the stock
holders, because they considered him too
conservative, and wanting III that boldness
and dash which was the chief characteristic
of the Willard regime. These few have even
talked of resurrecting Mr.. Willard and once
more putting him al the head Of the COM
pany. This Is the most unlikely thing in
the world. The King of the Sandwich
islands has about as much chance as has the
great mogul now living in retirement In
Germany.
| Mr.. Harris and Mr.. Cakes are alike in 0
good many respects. They are both prac.
tical and thorough railroad men, and for This
reason 1t was at one time thought change
would be made At the coming election. In
the past few weeks, however, q change has
occurred, aud the re election Of Mr.. Harris
Is now an sured fact. The differences
which existed between the Billings and
| Wright factions have been amicably adjust
ed, and everything now points TO the re,
election of the preseLt board Of directors
and this will carry with 1t the reelection Of
the present officers.
|