The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-18
in RAILROAD CIRCLES
Blair Resigns His Position With
the Great Western.
GOES TO SAN FRANCISCO
The Short Line Situation According to
An Omaha Paper No Agreement
With the c, p. Relative to
Alaska Rates.

y. $. Blair. who has been general
agent for the Rio Grande Western since
that road established an office in Butte,
has resigned his position and accepted
| a better place with the Great Northern
| at San Francisco. Mr.. Blair is one Of
| the best-known young railroad men in
/ Montana. In the past TWO years he has
| changed his positions With different
roads two or three times. and each time
! he attained higher and more important
places. He was the first representative
| in Butte for the Oregon Railway &
/ Navigation company. and then he be-
came general agent for the Union Pa
| cific 1t Helena, leaving that position TO
! represent the Western in Butte. He
/ VIII sever his connection with the lat
! ter road about the LIST OF February and
! 60 to San Francisco.
| His successor with the Western has
| not vet been selected. The Salt Lake
! papers mention w. G. BcBride one Of
the Westerns travelling freight agents,
/ as the likely man. though G. $. David
son, until recently general agent for the
/ Union Pacific at Helena. is also named
las Mr. Blar.S possible successor. Mir
Davidson is aat present in Salt Lake,
where he has been in conference with
the Western officials. Another name
mentioned in connection with the va
cant place Is that Of l.. j. Bolton. an
experienced young railroad man. and
| the present contracting agent FOR the
! Western in Butte.
An Omaha paper has the following on
the Short Line situation:
Now that the Union Pacific Is to
take possession Of the Oregon Short
Line the likelihood of radical changes
is subject Of intense interest To West
ern railway men. The Union Pacific
officials in Omaha. who are in a posi-
ton to obtain something like precise in
formation, are Of the opinion that tht
general officers of the Short Line viii
| have to go. In many cases they are
not at all reticent about expressing
their views with regard To the officials
! whose positions are in doubt Vice
President and General Manager Ban
croft, General Traffic Manager F'ccles
and General Passenger Agent Burley
are accused of having diverted business
from the Union Pacific as soon as il
was separated from the Short Line.
Before this they had been. or had
seemed TO be, loyal Union Pacific
men, but as soon as the separation
took place 1T is said that they took up
| with other roads ana cut their former
associates.
Whether the feeling of unfriendli-
ness which exists between the officials
of the Union Pacific and The Oregon
Short Line officials will communicate IL
self to President Burt and the directors
is uncertain, but it is predicted that il
Will Moreover. ii is asserted that The
two railways VIII be conducted as ouc.
In this event. While il may he nects-
saly to keep one or two general officers
in Salt Lake, railway men acre believe
there will be a shifting IT titles.
Predictions are still made chat
Freight Traffic Manager Munroe .s 10
| he made general traffic manaerr. ten
eral Manager Dickinson will remain. t
Is also predicted. 1t has been talk in
some circles that lie had offered MS
resignation for acceptance or rejection
Wnen The new president came IN. but
this WAS denied this morning AMI pro-
nounced rank nonsense President Elrt
and General Manager Dickinson, il is
said by a friend Of the president. are en-
the best of terms, and il was oh served
that during their recent trip to the
West the president and Mr.. Dickinson
were together in idle as in busy
hours"
The dispatches day or two ago an
nounced that the Canadian Pacific
would not agree With the American
lines in the matter of rates to Alaska.
and that the latter had about decided
To meet any rate which the foreign line
might indulge III.
OF late kilograms have been flying
over the lines. and now II is announced
that the Oregon Railway & Navigation
company, the oregon Short Line. the
Union Pacific and the Chicago x North
western had practically agreed 10 meet
any rate which the Canadian Pacific
might make. Il is said the Burlington
and Northern Pacific. the Great North
ern and connections viii act similarly
and that there will he merry war on
when Alaska travel begins
Local officials anticipate no great
- III \ L.
the Canadian Pacific notes the disposi-
ton Of its rivals. il will yield The
! trouble is over differentials. and the
Canadian Pacific il said to he asking
for the long end If the business.
The Northern Pacific. Great Northern
and lot of lien holders are making an
effort to get possession OF lot of grade
constructed by the Union Pacific. stu
ated on the north side of the Columbia
river. and running between Vancouver
and kalama. The Southern Pacific Is
also said TO have its pole reaching after
! the persmmon. The cost OF this bit
/ Of work WAS said by Mr. Eccles 10
/ have been close on 10 Il million-SaIt
Lake Herald.
Among the railroad men in town yes
! terday We're II. II. Sheppard. Western
I travelling passenger agent of the Chi
j cage X Alton with headquarters at
! Denver. q, l.. Hickey, ear accountant
and {, A. Boies superintendent Of the
i Montana division Of the Short Line