The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-02
Much Interest Centers In the Ses-
sion of Oct. II.
WILL DECIDE THE MATTER
NO UNION OF SHORT LINE WITH
UNION PACIFIC EXPECTED.
Contracts For Material Being Made
and Changes Ordered as Usual
Major Hooper Will Be Here To-
day-Nevins Returns-Crand Ar
my Rates Observation-Disclosures.

Much interest centers in the coming
meeting of the directors of the Oregon
Short Line, which occurs on the 18th
day of the coming month. Toward it
all eyes in the western railway world
will be turned. Those who expect a
declaration that the Union Pacific has
acquired possession of the same, are
eagerly waiting for the contamination
of their hopes. Those who do not are
waiting for the chance to say, / told
you So Another class, those VINO
would be affected by change to the
extent of losing their positions, are
looking forward with small degree
of trepidation.
The Herald has predicted all through
the fight which has been made-tor IL
was a fight-that the Union Pacifc
would not secure the Short Line; that
il will continue in the future an indie
pendent system. There seems TO be no
reason for a change of opinion. That
the next meeting OF the directors VIII
make Z statement bearing on the mat
ter, seems to be certain. 1t VIII either
be announced that the Union Pacific
has regained possession or that IL has
not
The signs of the times all point to a
continuance of the present policy Con-
tracts for material and equipment,
which could have waited had there
been any reason for believing change
was going to be made. have been let;
important changes, which would have
been left unmade, have been made,
and the present management of the
Short Line has been lett as free as if
there was nothing going to be under
taken.
Railway men say this augurs well.
because had there been a change con-
templated, these contracts and changes
would have been withheld in order that
the new management might have tax
en- the matters in hand. The expendi-
ture of money would have been ordered
stayed, so that the new heads might
have say. But no action of this kind
has been taken. No hint has been re-
ceived from the east. Not an official
has been given the smallest bit of in
formation concerning any such prob
able action as is contemplated.
If this representation is true, it
will cause great satisfaction among the
shippers and business men of this
state. Since the segregation the peo-
pie of Utah have taken great interest
in the Short Line, have come to re-
gard it as a piece of property in which
they were Interested. It's officers were
located here; 1t has been managed here,
d1ls DN the VI ISctQNuof tci .
here, several hundred families have
been added to the population of the
state. The opening of the Ogden gate
way has given an impetus to business
and created a competition unknown be-
fore. Trade has been diverted 20 new
channels, and the effect has been a
splendid one. To have the Short Line
revert back to the old management
would be regarded, as has been re-
marked, as nothing short of a calam-
1ty. 1t would throw out of employment
a lot of men who have come here to
live; would make of this city an I'M
important station on a line whose
headquarters and business were man
aged a thousand miles away, and
would be bad piece of work all
around.
1t will be gratifying when the an
nouncement comes that the question
has been settled, for it will relieve the
minds of all interested in keeping mat
ters as they now are, and will put
stop to the exultings of those who want
to see the old conditions restored.
If the Short Line is maintained as
an Independent system, it will not be
long before there is a road to the coast,
via the southern route. If a change is
made, the people down in Dixie may
wait in vain for the whistle of the
engine, unless, perchance, the Western
takes a notion TO build.