The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-04
NO NEW BRANCHES.
President Cakes Declares North
ern Pacific Policy.
HILLS TALK RECALLS OLD TiMEs\
Cakes Remembers When He, too, Was
Making Promises-Strike on the
TheobaId-Walker Denounced.

TACOMA, March Especial - President
Cakes, of the Northern Pacific railroad said to-
day:
No extensions will be made to our lines in the
Northwest for the present Until properties of
more permanent value are shown to exist at
Mineral creek and in the Okanogan district we
shall not make extensions We shall not build
to Whatcom. We have lines enough Some
parties talked of building from Vancouver to
connect with our line at Sumas. know moth
ing definite regarding that proposal.
The present depot facilities here must suffice
for three years yet. l think affairs in general
are looking better here and at Portland than
when was here last May. The Northern Pa
citc earned $4,000 more last February than it
did year ago that month, although. on account
OF less travel and Immigration, through bust
ness has dropped off. Local business has more
than made up the difference, however.
Mr.. Cakes had nothing to say about Mr.. Vii
lard's plan to test electric motive power on q
broad gauge railroad But few Improvements,
he says, are contemplated for this year. The
reason assigned by him for the building
OF 100 stable cars at the Edison
shops here is the cheupness of lumber, as COM
pared with the Eastern market, and the facili-
ties OF the Edison shops to turn out such work.
II this order is filed satisfactorily, the car
building department of the Edison shops will
probably be increased. During the Worlds
fair, mr. Cakes says, his company viii endeavor
to induce visitors to come on and see the yell
siGo,cOo will be spent in advertising the sections
referred to.
Mr.. Cakes has been watching the movements
of President HILL of the Great Northern, and
says it reminds him of his own movements in
the early days of the Northern Paciic-when he
had to make many promises in working up Gp
interest in the road. He leaves it for tha
people to judge how well these promises
have been fulfilled, and trusts there may be no
disappointment in the fuifllment by Mr. Hill of
his. Mr.. Hills tour is referred to as trium-
plant and his plans as philauthropc, which, if
carried out, viii benefit the Northern Pacific
almost as much as the Great Northern. The in
umatlon of Mr.. Hill that he will further reduce
rates, Mr.. Cakes says, confirms the wisdom OF
the plan OF the Northern Pacific, which it has
been pursuing for several years, in reducing
such rates. When the time arrives the rates of
the Northern Pacific may be reduced still fur
Their than the Great NortheIn's.
The plan adopted by the Northern Pacific in
making no opposition to the Union Pacific
when it desired to come to the Sound will be
pursued, Mr.. Cakes says, regarding the coming
of the Great Northern. The Northern Pacific
could not block it in coming to Tacoma, and
would not If it could. The sale OF the Seattle,
Lake Shore & Eastern line, from Spokane to
Davenport, to the Great Northern has not
been closed, and may not be.
Mr.. Cakes is accompanied by Mrs. Cakes, Miss
Cakes and his youngest son, Prescott. General
Manager KeIlen is expected to arrive tomorrow.
Mr.. Cakes thinks il would be natural alli-
ance for the Great Northern to reach the Sound
by the Canadian Pacific until its road is FIN
ished. Should there be any attempt to demon
alze rates the Northern Pacific will meet the
cut as 1t has done before. The Northern Pa
cific will not reduce the lumber rate, because
the Transcontinental Association will not per-
nit it and the Northern Pacific cannot afford it.
Completion of the South Bend branch will be
the only improvement made this season.
Cakes does not think free silver would upset
trade, although it might reduce the value OF
that metal and increase the value OF gold.