The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-26
REMAIN IN OFFICE
General Western Freight Agent
i'm His Title.
VICE PRESIDENT FINLEY HERE.
prou1nenf Onlcers Of Great Northern
All Express sympathy With
seattle Industries.

arrive iE S&<4GstS EILsi yF6kElG4y f5DEfstf2-
The chief members Of the party are Vice
President W. w. Finley. General Traffic
Manager r. L. Shute. General Western
Freight Agent, w. T.. Benham, Of the
Great Northern Railway Co.. and Vice
President W. J. Footncr. OF the Great
Northern Express Co. They made the trip
from st. Paas in PresIden. HiiFs private
ear. which stood ziae-tracked 10 the Seat
d. yards yesterday awaiting The further
plsasure Of It's distinguished passengers
They vii remain In Seattle today. Leaving
<h.s eveging for Portland. where they will
spend Saturday and Sunday. They expect
10 return 20 Seattle Monday ard take =
run over the Great Northern coast line.
after which Mr.. Eeuhsru viii remain In
seattle In the discharge Of his dafie~ as
general Western freight agent, the other
MEMBERS of the party returning 10 st.
Paul.
Yesterday was Mr. Beuiaam's first day
In his Office. though not his first day OF
official life. the general Office here having
beer c1n9ucted I'm his name since LAST
Tuesday. During the Infsr1m between Mr..
ghelby's departure and Mr.. Benham's APP
pos5tmsHf the affairs of the ofice have
p~en In charge of Chief Clerk Charles r.
Converse. whose falfffulness and compe-
tence are recognized by the public as well
a. By the company which ne serves The
room reserved for Mr. BenfEam'k own uss
IL the one formerly occupied by Mr. Shell
By. and In sn the southwest corner OF the
Afzh floor OF the Burke block. IL COM
m9nds a fine view OF the city. bay and
Sound. with the mountains showing In tho
Gstance 10 the south and northwest Mr..
Benham's quick eye 81 once took In this
magnificent prospect
Il have done very little but look out OF
he Windows" he safd yesterday 20 re-
porter who called before ths new agent
was fairly settled ia his official chair.
The vlew. as you see. Is very fine This
IN almost my FIRST visit 70 Seattle. for. al
though I was here about four years ago.
II was only for one day and that day Was
dismal rainy Sunday.
Seattle since that time has certainly
made remarkable progress. and 60 me the
Improvement Is all the more noticeable be-
cause I know the trying ordeal afforded
By that quadrennium. II n not a meaning
j less compliment. not merely a wish to say
something pleasant upon arriving here,
when tell You that Seattle IL In far bet
! ter condition than many Eastern cities.
''Yes. while with the Michigan Central
had large experience with the lumber
traffic. and 7 hope to be able to serve the
Great Northern In connection with tina
great and growing lumber Industries OF
PUGET Sound and the Pacific Northwest.
OF course haven't been here long enough
to offer any comments ca suggestions. but
shall lose no time In getting acquainted
with my new field"
Mr.. Bsnham's good faith I'm making this
promise was illustrated on the spot: for
not name was mentioned of mill or ium-
Der man thar he did not make a note OF
II In memorandum book that seemed TO
be hungry for that sort of material. lie
was specially anxious to learn everything
about tho Seattle Lumber Exchange.
which he praised highly.
II know somethtng already OF the ex-
-. az4A ~4< b.
from what know have formed a very
favorable opinion. IL certainly has
treat opportunity, not only In the raguia-
ton OF prices but I'm the establishment
OF markets and many other important
matters. From what ! can learn OF the
msn al the head OF II they win be pretty
sure 10 ksap II from drifting into the ex-
tgemss which have been fatal To some
similar organizations. as for example In
hxing prices so high as to shut out bust
ness
II speak earnestly OF the work Of the
exchange and the iunnhermen. because
whatever affects them affects MS. Tam
her IL one OF the greatest. Il not at present
tbs greatest, and II would be cheer folly
Northwest and II would be sheer folly
for q railroad TO Antagonists II or the
men concerned in II. Whatever can
DO towards developing this and the other
Industries of the section which Is now 10
hs my home, I assure you I win gladly
"a ana Y shan consider that I'm doing 80
directly promote the interests Of thu
road with which have the honor OF be-
Tag connected"
Mr. FINLEY. who has recently resumed
his connection with the Great Northern as
second vice president IN charge OF all tho
Yeyenue producing business OF tAe road.
was seen by reporter at the Rainier
Grand. where all the members OF the
party are CHARTERED. Mr.. Benham having
already dcrnestscatsd himself by register
inr from Seattle lie saids
"onr present visit IL one OF business. snd
not 81 pleasure. Many affairs Of the road
can not be attended to BY correspondence
Yes ] think VA are fortunate in placing
Mr.. Rsnhsm here lie has been selected
primarily because Of his relation 20 the
humber trarlc. He is acquainted not only
with the sschniaue Of the trsfyfc ssself.
bat with tho men whom 10 ss necessary 20
know throughout the East and thu Middle
West.
This az itself will illustrate the fact
That we are looking after the lumber tn
tefes,s 81 The Northwest. The fact IL
there Is close identity between our well
fare AMI theirs: and what Mr. Benham
sas already said 70 you on this point
f5liy inaovas.
'*Yss. Of course. I have watched the
Spokane rate hearing with interest. for
While che complaint of the shippers IS
NOT directed against eur read we are In
directly concerned In Il. The recent decf-
Noa IN the Troy Montgomery Ala. case
~ the united States circuit court 81 az
resis at New orleans. reference 20 which
Aas ALREADY heea made in the Pest-fnteit-
sencsr. Is OF special interest because the
circumstances are closely parallel. Ths
siercms court IN The Texas import.
Ease has also pretty well established thu
Tact That under some circumstances the
railroads. have the right 10 make lower
fste fer a longer haul
Nc l have No; yet personally locked
tnfe the complaint CT car shortage on ire
sosss the, bat We expect 20 so ever that
ahe newt week. sni the matter will then
ee carefully locked tngs."
When Mr. Esn1pv has Nlnffv BIZ weww
UsTeeiiy answered a number Of ether
questions, hs introduced the reporter 20
As. Foatners whom he designated SIS The
spoAesnaan 90 she party
M. Foatnet Is weil atteS for that PAR
Deesr onsce provided = general TAX
seest the business affairs of the ROAD IL
sast Tire listener wisheS- lie spoke clear
sna ssTenxfy about the Industries of
sas~t sonn1. particularly tire nxh ard
sFaf business. ard declared that TIE ex-
ssess company - which he - wise pre~a-
saat an geaeval manager Is as rrascA IN
esf@Ss@a - the grcu5h ard welfare Of
ta4nA
We have recently herr making every
e8eft 70 rss&e a sn~cn&ty ~ segnpsns-
ma. fruits feegn Puget seana 60 ST. Paul
80 MtTsssss !sosis have rsusseet the -
ss@FA shse versatility az tbs Seton ~ gsrss-
saotnw. ana say" wlsh szspsasAs .'fsmt
so1s strawberries ard res raspbsrrgea ara
ssa aneSt IN Ira w9E4d. 1Aara a Fsss TRIM.