The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-26
AN ENEMY'S DEVICE.
Explanation Of Spokane Hostil-
ity to Jim Hill.
MANAGER MoHLER's OPINION.
He 1hinks The Majority Are Satisfied
Further Adjustmeot Of Rates-Nev
q. n. Lake Steamefs

A. L. Mohler. general manager Of the
Great Northern railroad, and n. D. Miller.
the chief engineer, arrived in the city yes
terday, having come over the main line in
. special train. They went to the Rainier
hotel, and spent the day in looking at the
company's property in the city and in
consultation with the local officials. In
IN interview with . Posr-IxrELL1oEScER
reporter Mr.. Mohler said
The road II ill open and In condition to
operate. We arc ready 70 handle freight and
have considerable on the way from the East
We shall not begin passenger business before
the end Of April or the beginning Of Nay. The
reason for this delay 10 that We cannot ret the
equipment in time on account Of the great de-
mand for cars for the Worlds fair trafic.
Mr.. Mohler was non-committal on the
subject of the relative position of Seattle
and Spokane in the Central Washington
market under the new freight tariff. but
left the conclusion to b drawn from the
favorable reception the tariff had received
IN this city and the antagonistic reception
it had met in Spokane that the road
would not injure Its friends. He did say,
however:
when the people Of Spokane anaiyss the new
rates thoroughly think they will fnd them
now antagonizing the Great Northern would
lead them to suppose. The rates in all districts
will probably require further adjustment but
such adjustments will b in harmony with the
interests OF the different communities. Mr. Hill
has not broken faith with the merchants Of spo-
kane He promised that he would give them
relative rates, and he has done 20 A few people
who arc ana always have been antagonistic
to ~ continue to sgitate this matter
ana are encouraged in doing 80 largely
BY some Of our competition A large majority
OF the community 10 not unfriendly TO us and
realizes that the construction of the car and
locomotive shops means quite an incresse In
population. besides large pay roll There are
no such interests located there on the other
roads aud our pay roll for one year will reim-
burse the city for all the right-of.way It has
given US The Spokane people, having three
railroads, cannot afford to fight any or all of
them. These things are usually settled salts
factorily after conferences.
Nothing has been done about the establish.
ment OF passenger rates % yet: that matter will
have to be considered when We are ready 70
begin passenger business. We expect to reduce
the time on passenger service, but to what ex.
tent has not been definitely settled.
Yes, We shall make arrangements with our
Eastern connections tor through rates on lum-
Der and shingles beyond Chicago and shall prob
ably extend such arrangements ~ far Is Ohio.
Mr.. Miller spent good part Of the day
in looking at the proposed site Of the depot
and at the terminal yards on the tide flats.
on which work was begun yesterday by two
pile drivers. In an interview he said:
Although the main line 10 not yet being ope-
rated regularly west of Rock Island, Il 10 prac-
tically ready for operation and We came through
with no delay, except about Ave minutes on the
switchback. There 10 no danger from slides
there, for W saw whore they were likely to
occur from the location Of old slides. and put
three truss bridges 1t those plaoe& Tho slide
which occurred there . few days ago did not
block the track, because II came down on the
scene OF IN old slide, where We had put one Of
these bfidRes, and passed under the track ct .
depth of about nity feet. There IL no more snow
on the mou Ltains now than there was In Janu-
ary. when I came ever; more has fall
len, but it has settled to about
tho same depth. =. ~ sfthia ia ~ had