The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-22
St. Paul Agitated Over the Rumored
Removal of the Northern Pacific
Offices to Chicago.
Tho Lease of the Wisconsin Gen.
trail Railroad Has Not Yet
Been Signed.
Dividend Tor Preferred Stockholders--The
President of the Chicago & Alton
Makes a Suggestion.

Sr. PAuI, Mimi, Feb, 2l.-ISpeoinl.l +
Speculation was rife again to- day regarding
the removal of the general Offices of the
Northern Pacific, or n portion thereof 70
Chicago. What gave rise 20 the revival Of
this talk was telegram from President
Oakcs summoning General Traffic Manager
Hannaford and General Agent Fee 10 New
York. liannaford left last night, acoom-
pamod 10y II. G.. Davis, The oompany's gen
eral agent. Pee went on 10 New York from
Chicago. II is thought the visit is for the
purpose of pcrfectng tho details of removal.
Tint there will be- removal is apparently
settled fact; but what those interested
want Go know is who will bo instructed
TO remove his effects tn the city
by The lake. Some few are Of tho opinion
that the general Offices will NIL be removed
from st. Paul. This, however, is SAID 10
be prevented by clause in tho company's
charter which requires the general offices TO
be maintained in 81. Paul. IL this is 50,
tho only department likely 20 leave st.
Paul will be- that over which Hannaford has
jurisdiction. and IL is nn open question
whether this will bo removed altogether.
Possibly Foe may be sent 10 Chicago and
the general working force of the depart
ment will remain in ST. Paul. IL is thought
this matter may be settled in
New York this week. because things
are supposed 10 be rapidly shaping them
se.ves for the consummation OF the lease by
the Northern Pachc of the Wisconsin Cen
tral. So far as can be learned, this lease
has not been signed. Tho paper TO which
tho signatures of the officers Of the two
companies have been affixed is said 10 be
only n preliminary agreement. The lease
is conditional upon certain things mcn-
toned in this agreement. These, II is un-
derstood. have practically been brought
about, and the parties are now, or will be in
a short time, prepared 10 carry out the orig
ina agreement and bring about the con
summation of the plans prepared by Willard.
! II ia said that under the lease the Wisconsin
Centralswill. 20 all intents and purposes,
become a thing of the past and that in the
/ future il will be known ms the Wisconsin
division Of tho Northern Pacific system.
/ This vii carry With il general consolida-
tion OF the offices, both executive and gen
eral. Willard will undoubtedly be the chair
man Of the consolidated board of directors,
and y. I. Oakes will, in all probability be
president of the consolidated properties
There was some talk. however yesterday OF
C. l.. Colby being elected 10 this position.
II is reported that as soon as the lease il
signed whereby the Northern Pacific gains
control of tho Wisconsin Central, Willard
will commence operations 10 shorten the
length of the latter line from ~. Paul and
Minneapolis TO Chicago by sixty miles. Tho
idea is 10 build a short line from Cadott,
Wis, small town sixteen miles east Of
Chippewa Falls, 10 Marshfeld, where tho
old line will be reached, making a reduc-
tion of twenty-eight miles. Then the pres
ont line will be used as IL is
through Stevens Point 10 Portage. From
here n now line will he run down Putoh-
waukee lake. crossing the Milwaukee at
watertown, and touching Jefferson, Pal
myra. Elkhorn and Lake Geneva, and strik-
ing tbs present line at point near Fox
River. These changes, with some others
near the crossing of the st. Croix river,
will mako the Wisconsin Central one of tho
shortest lines between hero and Chicago.
The main limo of the rond will still continue
10 be operated in its presen. course through
Noenah, Fond du Lac and WaukcBla.
II is said by those who ought 10 know
that there is no foundation for the rumors
of the removal of the Northern Paoifc gen
oral Offices 10 Chicago. There is one thing
which stands in the way, and which would
probably prevent sucli thing, were it really
contemplated. Whom the company was
looking about for Il site for general Office
building tho city of ST. Paul offered il its
present location, providing the general Off
ceg should Away 30 maintained in Paul.