The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-07

History, in so far as it relates to the
railroad interests Of the Pacific North
west. is likely 10 be made rapidly during
the next year. The eyes Of the managers
OF three big transcontinental lines are
fixed on Puget sound. The Northern Pa
cific Is engaged In buying up a number
Of feeders to its line. The Great North
ern. according to rumor, has in prospect
the requirement OF the Everett & Monte
Cristo and the building up of short line
to Seattle. The Union Pacific is search
ing for an outlet TO Puget sound.
Railroad men all over the country are
agreed upon one thing. and that is tina,
the Pacific Northwest and Alaska offer the
only remaining field for the operations of
capital In the way of railroad construc-
ton. The importance OF the shipping of
the Pacific ocean is becoming more gen.
orally recognized among railroad manag-
ers all over the country. In the opinion
OF We'll posted observers OF the railroad
situation, the commerce Of the Pacific. now
being fast concentrated on Puget sound.
mental lines of the country that are with
out direct connections to the Sound.
Resembles u Checker hoard.
The railroad situation in the Pacific
Northwest resembles In some respects a
huge checker board. According to rumor,
James ]. Hill. president of the Great
Northern. having secured an advantageous
traffic arrangement with the Oregon Rail-
road & Navigation Company. seeks to ac-
Quire a hold In the affairs of the Oregon
Short Line, which commands the entrance
TO what is known among railroad men as
the Ogden gateway" Opposed TO him in
this enterprise is the Union Pacific. winch
has large interest in the o. r. & ~,
and which has an option on controlling
interest in the Oregon Short Line
The Burlington, with its Northern Pa
cific connection at Billings and the Chica-
go. Rock Island & Pacific, with its close
traffic arrangement with the Rio Grande
Western. are both merely spectators of
the contest which Is now in progress be-
tween the railroad giants of the country
for the possession Of the key 10 the Puget
sound country.
james HiIrs Work.
In this connection the following article,
which appeared recently in the Denver
News. under an Ogden date line, and
which has occasioned considerable COM
ment in the East. is pertinent:
Private reliable information received
here establishes the determination and per-
sistent attempt on the part OF Jim Hill. OF
the Northern Pacific and Great Northern
railroad systems, to obtain possession Of
the Oregon Short Line and all of its ad-
juncts and dependencies. such possession
n he hN-p .ba-n IN iaaS
method whereby the control OF this sys-
tenn can be secured.
This information itself is from Eastern
railroad centers, and substantial color is
given IL here by the fact that Mr. Hill has
lately held frequent and prolonged con-
ferences with prominent Ogden officials of
the Oregon Short Line system.
Probably no more important. railroad
deal to Denver and Colorado has ever been
brought on the taps than this. as Mr..
Hilrs intention Is evidently to form close
passenger and freight connection with the
Rio Grande system and all roads that lean
In any way on the Rio Grande rails an
important factor of the combination being
the now building Rio Grande Western to
Los Angeles via Thistle, ST. George and
other Southern Utah localities.
Such a railroad combination would prac-
tically concentrate in the hands of Mr.
Hill and the Rio Grande people the trade
and traffic Of the great West from the wa
tiers of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers
to the Pacific ocean and the borders of
the British possession with Denver and
Ogden as the great gateways and clearing
houses.
Two Roads Working Together.
The assertion is being constantly made
among railroad men of the Pacific North
west that the o. r. & n is favoring the
Great Northern in the interchange OF bus.
mess out of Portland. While it Is true
that locally there is no indication of Great
Northern suzerainty over the o. r. & n.
yet there are plenty of evidences at Port
land, * is claimed, that the O. r & "
people are throwing a goodly percentage
Of their east-bound business 20 the Grea,
Northern az Spokane I, is confidently as
serted by men who are thoroughly in
touch with the progress of railroad affairs
In the West that the O. r. & n and the
Great Northern are bound together with
tie that is more than sentimental In ma
ture. II this is true. Il Is argued the pur-
pose OF the prospective requirement; of the
Oregon Short Line by Mr.. HIN seems per-
fectly clear.
During the recent visit Of President Mel
len. OF the Northern Pacific 10 Seattle
one thing was made manifest and that i.
that no section Of the country "a regarded
with as much favor among the security
holders Of the Northern Pacific az the Pa
cifc Northwest. Among all % the OIL
Gals comprising the Meilen party there
was to BE- seen and observed an optimistic
feeling. This was practically exhibited in
the purchase OF the Spokane Falls &
Northern. Tha, the Northern Pacific is
eager 10 acquire the Seattle & Northern
as feeder Ia the Seattle * Iniernatlona.
Is regarded among railroad men as an evil
dence Of the desire on the part of Northern
Pacific security holders 10 Increase their
interests in the Pacific Northwest
Railroad Nc.rs.
The order o. the interstate coUmercr