The Anaconda standard., 1895-12-16
BUSINESS WAS HEAVY
The Report of the N. P. Receivers
to Be Submitted To-Day.
LARGE RECEIPTS SHOWN
This Has Been the Banner Year
for the Road. But a Railroad Of
ficiaI Says That Too Much
Economy Doesn't Pay.

Knowles at Helena, their report The
Standards readers are already familiar
with the substance of the report, as IL
is practically the same that has been
filed in the Eastern court by the other
receivers. This report substantiates the
statements made by railroad men that
the business of the Northern Pacific
during the fall months was the best
that the road has ever known. Whiie
the volume of business was not so
great as 1t was In 1890 and for the two
years succeeding, the net returns were
greater by reason of the economy that
has been practiced in all departments
II the same record could be maintained
for a few months the receivership
would in a short time be a thing OF
the past.
But to an outsider 1t seems impossi-
BILE that the road can continue much
longer its policy of so-called economy
without running against a snag. This
IL the opinion, too, Of more than one
railroad man. There is q whole lot Of
false economy In the way the road is
being run at present" said q railroad
Official from the West to a Standard
man the other day. 1T will cost more
to put the road and motive power In
good condition after both are worn out
than II would to have kept them up to
the standard all the time" That Is the
the above remark indicates that the
appearance Is the same from the other
point Of view. 1t Is said that the whole
sale reduction in the force of the me-
chanical department has made 1t inn
possible to keep up the condition of the
motive power, and that In some instan-
ces the results of this policy Is already
becoming apparent.
OF course. railroad men will not ex-
.txatn hrtf io all
known that the track department has
been seriously hampered in the work
for the past two years by lack of
material. 1t being impossible to get
rails. even for places where they are
badly needed. The sad experience of
the Union Pacific a few years ago.
which followed a similar policy, is still
fresh In the minds OF railroad men, and
ought to be an example for those who
are in control of the road at present.
The west-bound train which reached
here last night, nine hours late. had a
veritable hoodoo trip all the way from
the eastern terminal No less than
four engines broke down on the train
before Billings was reached. That may
have been a peculiar coincidence of ac-
cidents, but 1t may also be an indica-
ton of the condition into which the
motive power Is drifting under the eco
nomical policy.
lnls may vi may not nave some el-
feet upon the reorganization of the
road. 1t is certain. however, that the
longer the reorganization is deferred
the more expensive will be the work of
equipping the road in good shape. IT
Is. or course. pure speculation to make
any prediction at this remote point re-
garding the reorganization, but the
opinion Is expressed here, more or less
freely, that the time is not far distant
when the road will be taken up and the
receivership dispensed with. That this
would be to the decided benefit of the
road and it's tributary country is gem
orally admitted here, and there is no
doubt that 1t would be welcomed by all
concerned.
There is a manifest disposition TO
blame the receivers for everything that
goes wrong on the road, from the mi
nutest details to questions of general
policy. People do not take a fair view
OF the question" said a prominent rail-
road omeial to reporter to-day.
ers was not very brilliant one. Il
should be remembered that they had
fearful odds to contend against When
they took the road, a rate war had re-
duced freight receipts to a minimum,
and the agreements existing with
the trainmen were such that freight
could not be handled with economy.
Then came the Coxey raids that in
voived a lot of expense. These Were no
more than suppressed when the floods
ooiterated the larger portion of the
line in Western Montana. Traffic had
only been resumed when the strike
came and the finances of the road suf-
fered again. 1t required time 10 get
things Strengthened out and this had
Just been accomplished when the new
receivers We're appointed" That is
certainly tale of woe and is a good
refuge for the receivers when the kicks
come too hard and fast
There will be one reason for general
regret when the receivers are finally
dispensed with. They have proved
sucn excellent scapegoats that they
VIII be missed by everybody. 1t makes
no difference what the kick may be.
the kicker Is always referred to the re-
ceiver. From callboy to general man
ager the policy is the same and even
the traveller who is In a hurry, as he
stamps up and down the depot plat
form invokes anything but blessings
upon the representatives of the courts
On this account. II no other, the re-
ceivers Will be missed by all who have
business with the railroads
The holiday rush of the express COM
pany is well under way and will con-
tinue until New Years. This year the
express company has put on helpers
between Portland and Pascoe and be-
tween Missoula and Billings These
helpers are assistants 10 the messen-
gers and are made necessary by the
Increased number OF packages which
must be handled There has been no
helper sent TO the local office, however.
and Agent Ludlum and Messenger Mel
son still hold the fort alone. The de-
livery wagon Is piled high these days
with packages and old Gus has 10
move lively to get them all out of the
way.
The grade revisions and the new
round houses for the helper engines at