The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-28
EXAMINING THE ROAD
Northern Pacific Officials Have
Arrived in Butte.
TO HAVE A CONFERENCE
Important Developments Are Expected
to Result From the VISTA Consul
tation to Be Held With Short
Line Officials.

Important developments in railroad
circles are looked for as result of the
visit to Butte of party of Northern
Pacific railroad officials. who arrived
in the city last evening. The party is
composed of President {. $. Mellen.
General Manager j. W. kendrick. Gen
eral Traffic Manager j. Nj. Hannaford,
superintendent of Motive Power +. NJ.
Herr Chief Engineer r. II. MeHenry
and Division Freight Agent Robert
Rantoul. Assistant General Superin-
tendent w. G. Pearce whose head
quarters are at Tacoma. is also in the
city. having come on to consult with
the heads Of the road. Just what
changes in railroad affairs win result
from the visit of the party Il would be
difficult to state at present, as Presi-
dent Mellen said last evening he could
not tell himself as yet.
Mr.. Mellen and the party arrived
from the East last evening at O'Clock
by special train composed of four pri-
vate cars and a baggage car. The
train was Immediately switched on TO
a side track and the gentlemen maue
preparations for the consultations
which will occupy their attention dur
ing the next two days.
You've caught me too early. said
President Mellen. when seen at his car
last evening. relative to the business
matters he and the other officials have
come to arrange. We have just got
here and, of course. have not had time
to do anything"
Mr. Mellen was then questioned rela-
tive to the intentions of the company
regarding the Montana Union and nu-
merous other matters connected with
the Northern Paeifie's acquisition of
the roads. When asked if ii was the
intention of the company TO put Ana
conda on the main line of the Northern
Pacific by an extension of the Mon
tana Union from Anaconda to a con-
nection with the present main line,
rumors concerning which have been
current since the announcement that
the Montana Union had been pur-
chased by his company, Mr.. Mellen
said he had never heard such a propo-
sition preached. and when asked If 1t
was the intention to run the through
overland train via Butte as formerly,
he replied that if it became necessary
to put ON two through trains, one of
them would undoubtedly be run by
way of Butte, but IL not, the through
train would be operated as at present,
AS yet. however, the matter had been
I given no attention, he said and at pres
/ ent there would be no change
/ Asked as to whether the Northern
+ Pacific and Montana Union offices
would be consolidated and as to wheth-
+ er one or the other of the stations
/ would be abandoned. Mr.. Mellen said
| the matter had not yet been taken up
I but iutimated that something along
/ that line would be done.
Mr.. Mellen was questioned concern
I ing the proposed conference between
/ his party and the heads Of the Oregon
Short Line and asked If there was q
! likelihood ii would result in the open.
ing of the Silver Bow gateway.
He replied that all he knew of sncf
conference being arranged was thai
the Short Line people had asked Mhef
i he would be here, and as he had heart
that General Manager Bancroft anc
| Traffic Manager Tceles were coming
| to Butte. lie supposed there would be .
| conference but he did not care TO say
anything concerning its purpose ol
what it might result in.
In fact neither Mr. Mellen nor any
Of the rest of his party were ready 4
give out any information and said they
were merely here as the Northern Pa
, cifie had purchased some stock in ths
Montana Union and the officials of tn,
| road had come on to look after thu
companys interest in that connec
| ton.
when seen. Mr. Mellen and his asso
1
spread out before them which was be
| ing explained by :. b. Calderhead o
that road. and Notwithstanding Presi
dent Mellen's dissemination to talk o
his plans. there is reason to helievi
important steps will be decided upoi
during the stay Of the officials bearing
upon all matters mentioned.
Local railroad men are of the opinion
that either the present Montana Unioi
or Northern Pacific's station will b
abandoned. most likely the former
owing to the greater convenience af
forded the public by the location of tn
Northern Pacific station. and that I'll
local offices of both roads will be con
solidated, which. ii is thought, will le
out quite number of the present Mon
tana Union force of employees. Tt |
also currently believed. owing to con
cessons known To have recently bee
made that the opening of the Silye
Bow gateway Is one of the things con
| templated and that although the ex
tension of the Montana Union to pu
Anaconda on the main line may no
have become contemplated PROPOSE
| ton. still ii is believed by many tina
1t will soon reach that stage and tina
ii will eventually come and tn
through train be operated Via Amazon
da and Butte.
President Mellen and his party wi
remain here at least to-day and 70
morrow. General Manager Bancroft
and Traffic Manager Eccles Of the Shoi
Lire viii arrive to-day. and II Is under
stood d conference between the official
of the two lines viii occur this even
ing or tomorrow