The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-11
NEWS OF THE RAILROADS
The Latest Gossip Heard al MiSSOula
headquarters
FLASHES FROM HEADLIGHTS
Rumored Changes Along the Line
of the Northern Pacfic-The
Boys in Roundhouse, shops,
Cab and CabooSe.

MIssoULA, March 10.-A visitor at the
Northern Pacific depot any afternoon this
month cannot fail to be impressed with
the fact that the road is doing a good bus-
ness especially il ne is there from 4:i5
o'clock to 3 80. At the first mentioned
hour, the Bitter Root tram rolls into the
yard with its loads of lumber and farm
produce and with the passenger coach
we'll filled with business travellers, who
find the valley south of here an excellent
market this year. BY the time the yard
crew has the Bitter Root train out of the
way. the Occur d'Alene train, No. 62, pulls
In and then there is lively work disposing
of the baggage and express before the
whistle of No. sounds at the west end OF
the yard. At 30 the overland pulls up
Mt the depot and there is a lively scene, as
the baggage, express and mail men hustle
to make their transfers during the five
minutes that the flyer stops here. The
visitor is impressed with the fact that
Missoula handles a large amount of busi-
ness for the road and that tho valleys
which center here are no small contribute
ors to the traffic of all classes.
Combined with this rush of business,
which is increasing n little every week,
there is a decided flavor of economy in the
present handling of the train service.
Three crews are handling the passenger
business on this division. Conductor Jen-
kns and h crew having been pulled off.
They are now running freight on Helena
mountain, taking the run of Conductor
Cumming, who has been transferred to
Missoula. Under orders of General Mas
ter Mechanic Hickey, one engine is now
doing the passenger work between MIS-
MI Holnna hn
arrival of No. and going back to Last
Chance with No. . the same evening. This
saves the expense of keeping one engine
in service.
Five loads OF concentrates are sent in
over the Occur d'Alene branch each day
from the Poorman and Gem mines AMI
the other mines, except tho Bunker Hill
q Sullivan, are contributing their share
of the business. The extending of opera
tons in the mines of the Wallace country
has given the narrow gauge line moro
business than the regular train service
can handle. so an extra has been put on to
haul wood and timber for the mines.
p Superintendent Crimson made an inspec-
tion tour of the Occur d'Alcne branch last
week, going up to Burke and visiting some
Of the mines in that district. To a STAND
ARD reporter the other day he talked in
terestingly of that trip and of the country.
There Is some activity in nearly all of the
mines now and the branch lines of tho
Northern Pacific are in better condition
than they have been at any spring since
the Occur d'Alene was completed. The
average depth of snow on tho range last
winter was only three feet, where il was
from 10 TO 16 a year ago. This snow has
melted gradually this spring and there
has been no material damage TO the road.
The first slide of the season occurred
Saturday on the Coour d'Alene branch
about two miles east of DeBorgia. Train
81 was delayed by it for an hour. No Sc
rious damage was done and tho track was
soon cleared. These delays TO traffic are
to be expected far the next six weeks,
while tho ground is thawIng out, and n
close watch will be kept of all cuts and
entertainments. But, as railroad man
said TO STANDARD reporter the other
day, "things are coming mighty smooth
compared with year ago.
Tho shops are not very busy this spring,
there being no heavy repairs in progress.
Engine 45i was brought IN last week by
Engineer Herring from the ID. q Il.
branch. where 1t has been dong good
service for long time. Engineer WALL
ing with the 53l, VIII climb up the Phil
ipsburg grade until the Asa is overhauled.
The business on the ID. d. Il. branch is in-
creas,ng materially. Nothing has yet
been done in the way of giving n new
time card to this branch, although the
people of Granite and Philipsburg are
making a strong effort to bring this
about.
The distressing accident at Bonner Fri
day afternoon, 10y which the infant
Eieson children were seriously injured