The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-12
THE FOUR RAILROADS.
President Hill, Of the Great North
ern, Interviewed About the
Agreement
He Looks for an Important New
Development on the Coast
Soon.
the New Lands Of the Prosperous
West

President Jamss ]. Hin, Of The Great
Northern road IA New York few days ago
said that tho new agreement recently con
oluded between the four northern trans.
continental railroads. and which IL 20 be
put In operation al once. ia likely 20 be per-
manenL President Hilps views are ex-
pressed In the following interview: Under
this agreement the Union Pacific. Northern
Pacific. Great Northern and Canadian Pa
cine roads will make the same rates from
Chicago, ~. Paul and Omaha to Portland
and North Pacific poiats. Each road will
carry business 10 It's terminal for the other
roads. Dinerentiala have been settled on
for the roads which have % send business
BY water from their Pacific coast terminus
20 San Francisco. The new rAtss should be
permanent They are on a fairsr basis
than ever before. Any causes for friction
In the past are nov removed. Suitable no
tioe is required from line which may de-
sire 10 withdraw from the arrangement
This agreement takes in the passenger bus
mess. On the freight business there has
been no Engagement as between the north
ern lines. there has been nothing further
than a contest between the Southern Pa
oino aud the Atohison on one side and the
steamships on the other. which may be a
little Differences between the roads them
selves.
Il look for very little railway building
this year. There is no large area Of new
country 10 open up. In fact the country
10 we'll provided with railroads for a long
time 10 come. 30 far as the Great North
ern is concerned. there has been some fall
ing of In earnings IN certain sections. but a
small gain is beginning TO shew in others
which. with the general reduction in Ell.
penses. make net results satisfactory.
look for an important new Development on
the Pacific coast very soon. The Puget
sound country contains large deposits Of
nne iron ore ana good coking coal which
are beginning 10 attract attention. The
ectusl conditions are such that the best
there as cheaplY as anywhere in the world
IL will be but a short time before the Pacific
coast is supplied from that ssuros.
The lumber business OF the Northern
Pacific has been depressed on account OF
the falling OF in the export trade by ocean
to South America, Aust ALA and othef
places. 10 IL being replaced by rail ship
msnts 20 the east. The sinale item OF ship
ments Of cedar shingles amounts 80 100
carloads day. The only question is the
furnishing OF cars. The agricultural busi-
ness OF the Palouse county has suffered
because OF the heavy FGiRs during the bar
vest Which injured the quality Of the
wheat.
The mining business is even now pick
ing up. In Washington and Idaho the
greater attention 20 gold IL resulting in tbs
opening OF new gold fields. The same
thing prevail 90 an even Gieater extent in
Montana. Montana merchants are quite
generally paying cash for purchases. The
money comes largely from the mines.
There is movement from the cities TO
the new lands west of Lake Superior. Peo-
10 who have been engaged in indust ial
pursuits are leaving the manufacturing
eenters and taking up homes whore the soil
IL new aud the resources are moi exhausted.
Ibis section OF the country will recover
from hard times more quickly than the
section east OF Chicago, because 10 has
fewer manufactures. 10 produces things
the people must have for food and Shelter
and for paying their way-agrouitural
2. oduots, lumber and precious ores. What
IL net USED here will be exported. Prices
are low enough for breadstufs. Nobody
should 20 hungry on account OF the cost OF
the neoessaries. In the large manufactur-
ing districts east of Chicago people will
have 10 90 SLOW. The disorganizsd condi-
tions must wait for natural forces to read
just them"