The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-12
IN RAILROAD CIRCLES
Union Pacific Soon to Sell Its
Own Tickets.
IN A VERY SHORT TIME
Supposed to Show hat There Is Not
Much Foundation for h Various
Consolidation Rumors-Gate-
ways Permanently Open.

In railroad circles considerable inter-
est is manifested in another change
which IL is reported is soon to take
place between two of the local general
agents offices. for the reason that Il Is
taken as an indication that there Is not
much foundation for the numerous ru-
mors that have been afoat of late rela-
tive to a proposed reconciliation of
h Union Pacific and oregon Short
Line on the old basis with a contingent
probability of a reclosing of the ogden
and Silver Bow ~gateways. The epo
is to the effect hat within a very short
time tickets over the Union Pacific will
be sold at the Union Pacific Office in
stead of at the office OF the Oregon
Short Line, as at present and as has
been the case for some time. There
appears to be little doubt that the re-
port is correct and that the change will
very shortly be made.
The decision to make the changes Is
said to be the result OF a meeting held
at Omaha during the past week be-
tween General Freight Agent Munroe
and General Passenger and Ticket
agent boffldN Oh the pnlon fdClnC anu
all their general agents. The general
gen were called in for n conference
on general business conditions, and
during the meeting IL is understood
that the proposition OF the Union Pa
ciic selling it's own tickets i'm Butte
came up. Mr.. Lomax Is said to have
favored the idea of the Union Pacific
selling its own tickets on the theory
that IL would strengthen the local gen.
eral agents office, and while IL is said
that the matter was not definitely set
tied. IL Is confidently believed the order
will soon be made
The news was brought to Butte by n
gentleman closely associated with the
railroads i'm matters of business and
who was in Omaha during the confer
ence Of the general agents with heir
chiefs, and while there was made ac-
quainted with the facts in connection
with the meeting as far as Butte was
concerned.
General Agent Clifford OF the Union
Pacific returned to Butte from Omaha
yesterday and was seen last evening
relative to the report. He did not care
to discuss the subject. but as ne declin-
ed to either confirm or deny the truth
OF the report. that fact was taken by
other railroad men as tantamount 10 a
confession that the change is in pros
pect. One matter of concern to rail-
road men MI. Clifford settled at least
for the present and the immediate flu
ture. Owing to the talk of late OF the
Union Pacific and Short Lin ~reconsoli-
dating. there has been much specula-
ton locally as To whether the Butte
offices of the Union Pacific and Short
Line would he consolidated into one
general agents office. Mr.. Clifford free
ly stated hat no such thing was talk
ed of at the meeting, and that he had no
season to think that such Il thing was
even contemplated.
In the discussion heard last evening
among local agents relative to subjects
involved in the talk OF the two lines
again consolidating, IL was the general
opinion that the policy OF the Union
Pacific and Short Line will be To main
tain close relations i'm future, amount
Ing practically to a consolidation. while
st'll operated as separate lines. the two
g~ateways to remain open and the gem
eral agents offices to be maintained
separately, though one will play into
the hands of the other. This opinion
was based o N the result OF the Omaha
meeting. with which the local railroad
men were made acquainted last even
ing and from which, IL was agreed, If a
consolidation in verify were contem-
plated an order would ave been made
to consolidate the general agents Of
fees OF the two lines. II is thought
this policy of separation, yet virtual
consolidation, IL II is the policy decided
upon by the We lines. is due to the
fact that there are separate mortgage
interests. the Short Line end of which
favor keeping the gateways open for
the benefit OF the Short Line. while
willing tn concede the Union Pacific oil
the benefits To be derived from main
tanning relations between the two lines
50 close as to amount practically to a
enuine consolidation. For these rea-
sons many local railroad men believe
such a policy IL as near a consolidation
in fact as will be brought about. at
least for a long time to come. and that
the g~ateways are permanently open.