The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-29
READY TO COMPETE.
Northern Pacific Officials Talk
Of Their Line.
MAKING GREAT IMPROVEMENTS.
Pre0ident Oakes and Manager Melien
Islk-suRvey to Denny Mines and
Road TO Vancouver.

President I. =. Cakes, Of the Northern Pacific
railroad, and the party Of officials accompany
Ing him, returned from Everett yesterday morn
ing and spent the greater part of the day In
the city. Besides Mr.. Oakes there are in the
party. W. & Mellen. general manager: W. Z.
fearce, assistant general manager; J. ~ Han
naford, general traffic manager; J. W. Ken
drick, chief engineer; NJ. &. Kimberly, general
superintendent; G. W. Dickinson, assistant
general superintendent; Paul schulze, general
land agent The special train on which the
party Travelled left here about 80 O'Clock i'll the
afternoon for Tacoma, and from there they start
today towards Portland. inspecting all the
branches on the way. They win probably be in
the state about week. Mr.. Mellen said in an
interview with q Posr-ISTELLIGExCER reporter:
Business IL very good aud improving. In the
Paiousc country there is q larger crop than last
year, due chiefly 10 increased acreage. In some
localities the production per acre 10 not as large
as il was last year, but in the greater par: OF the
district it will be as great is very safe to say
ia general terms that the Northern Pacific IS
prepared TO move the crops. We have no short
age of cars, but are all right everywhere. There
has been no general shortage, but in the effort
to take care OF the shingle business we have got
some OF our cars out OF the wheat territory.
Still we are filing all orders fairly well every
where. We nhais not cut off the supply OF cars
from the shingse business, but shall keep the
production moving. We have been encouraging
the peopic to market their shingles In the East,
and we are going TO stay BY them.
We have been at work steadily for four years
In shortening our line and re ucing our grades,
and have spent s2s0.c00 in the last year in grade
reductions. We think our maximum grade Is az
low now as that of the Great Northern; we cross
the same ranges OF mountains at the same gem
erai average, and cross the Cascades q: lower
elevation.
IL not the Transeontinental Association prao-
ticaily dead already?
It's sick: in fact, It's very i'll. But the trafic
associations will be reorganzsd. We have got
to have some method Of securing uniformity of
yntes, but that does not necessarily mean
reasonable rates. OF course ii any new road
comes in which can do business on a cheaper
basis than the existing rosds they must come
down To that basis. But We do not admit that
any road can do business cheaper than the
Northern Pacific.
Nothing is being done by the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific to agree on rates to the
Coast The Great Northern is mainiaing rates
and any changes will be made by mutua, con-
sent; IL could not be otherwise.
Docs the Northern Pacific contemplate any re-
auction Ia time OF passenger trains 10 meet the
reduction promised by the Great Northern?
Tho time 10 ST. Paul will be some hat re-
duced, but not during the winter months. The
Northern Pacific will not be exceeded by any
road in the country IN time, conditions. comfort
or safety OF travel. With the present condition
of6fracx we can, by putting on a train devoted to
through business, shorten time about
swenty-thIes hours; u Is now about eighty
schedule To make good showing. but il is bet
ter TO put on q rather long time aud always have
your train ON time. We shall keep. up with the
We think our passenger service is superior to
any tn the country which We traverse. We have
the original dining car line in the Northwest
and the largest In the United States.
In regard to the rosd tn which Vancouver has
Just voted bonus, Mr.. Cakes said:
The Burrard Inlet & Fraser Valley road Is a
local enterprise 1t Is proposed 20 build from
6umaa to Vancouver. We have made traffic
contract with the company. and expect to inter-
The terminal. question in this city 10 now in
the hands OF the court, aud Is q subject for
II will be some sixty days before the Trans
continental association will break up and
hope bsfore that time expires that the railroads
viii get together and form some new organixa-
fi0a 70 take the place OF the Old one.
Tho Helena Independent quotes Mr.. Hanna
ford - saying that extensive improvements
were In contemplation by the management
These would consist in cutting down grades,
putting I'm heavier steel rails, replacing pine
ties by oak ties. filing In where wooden trcstles
arc now used and building stone culverts; in
fact making the Northern Pacific track aud road
bed one OF tho best west OF the Missis-
spp' From other sources IL was learned
that T. l. Greenough, contractor for the
Northern Pacific, will put 30 teams
TO work tomorrow between Missoula and the top
sf the hill of Evaro They will fill I'm with
gravel aud rock where the track now crosses
dry ravines and put In stone culverts. THIS is
tho commencement of extensive improvements
on the Montana division.
Al spokane Mr.. Cakes said, when asked
whether IL was intended to extend the Central
Washington to the Columbia river: mo, sir;
We intend dong nothing OF the kind. There is
NO immediate prospect OF the road being ex.
tended beyond Couiee City"
Tho following was received from Tacoma last
night about the party:
TACOMA, Sept 2S.--l0pecial President O,ses
and party of Northern Pacific officials arrived