The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-03
In RAILROAD CIRCLES
You Hear All Sorts Of Gossip of the
ReceiVership Middle
BUSINESS IS PICKING UP
The ~. P.'s Financial Affairs Are
Now Well Looked After An,
nuai Fight With now on the SO
Occur d'Aiene Branch. -ra

Missoula, Jan. 1.-The gossip about
the Northern Pacific receivership mud
die continues to circulate freely in local
railroad circles but there is nothing
new offered that seems to have any
authority back of II. The report print
ed in the Portland papers last week..
and subsequently denied from New
York, had been made here several days
prior to its publication, but no credsnce
was given IL. Such rumors have been
circulated with almost weekly regular
ity. since the dual rsceiversh.p has
been in existence. and have been as
regularly followed by denills. This
long range speculation as to the out
come of the muddle may be a harmless
way in which to put In time, but il is
like throwing snowballs at the moon.
as far as any possibility of hitting the
mark is concerned. At this distance
from the financial centers. 1t is not
possible to form any accurate cpsijlon
of the outcome of the problem OF the
Northern Pacific's salvation. A local
view is entirely without weight in the
solution of the vexing question.
While the financiers are bordering
and specializing regarding the question
of putting the roo upon it's feet again,
the Is OOinB iii tAtSIlEHl
business, and the balance shcstS Con-
tinue to show good returns. The roads
business is being well looked after.
and the operating department is max
ing an excellent record. A gentleman
thoroughly familiar with the affairs of
the road, said this week to a Standard
reporter The record made by the
road this year shows that il never
should have become so involved as Ii is
at present If the earlier management
of the road had been conducted upon
the same business principles that ere
now being followed, there is no telling
what the result would have been. This
much, however il is safe 10 say: In
stead OF a bankrupt road there would
have been a prosperous, fiourishing,
railway system" This is another way
of expressing what has been said so
often-if the road had played no favor
ties, and had gone for its business
where business was, there would have
been no receivership and no necessity
for one.
The annual fight with the snowdrifts
on the Occur d'Alene branch is now
we'll on and for the past few days the
snowdrifts have been on top. The big
rotary snow plows have been making a
gallant struggle, however, and succeed
in keeping the track over the summit
open most of the time. The snow buck
ing did not begin as early this year as
last, but there is more of 1t to do than
there was in 1894 and 1895. The depth
of snow on the divide is now getting
close to what 1t was two years ago,
when the record was broken. There
is one fortunate feature of the situa-
ton, the snow stays where ii falls and
there have been no slides. It's simply
question of getting the snow out of
the way as fast as it falls.
The Standard some days ago de-
scribed the big double hopper coal car
which was sent west from st. Paul as
pattern of a new series which the
road will build for the coast trade The
cars are designed for unloading coal
into docks, and are believed to answer
all the requirements of this class of
business. The carrying capacity of the
cars is 10000 pounds. and they can be
unloaded almost instantly The new
car seems to receive the approval of
railroad men wherever il has been
seen. There is but one fault found
with it, and that is the size of the
openings in the hoppers, which some
coal men think should be made larger
With an equipment of cars of this type
an immense amount of coal could be
handled with ease and rapidity.
The mooted question of the condition
OF the motive power seems to be in a
fair way to settlement, and that in a
most satisfactory manner. The en-
gines are being overhauled as RAPIDLY
as possible, and it is hoped that spring
will find the motive power of the road
in the same excellent condition which
has given the Northern Pacific such a
high standing with engine men and
mechanics.