The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-16
The Ogden Gateway Question Il
Still Unsettled.
AN OLD TROUBLE REVIVED
Certain to Be . Signal for the Reopen
ing OF the Warfare The Rio Grande
Western Has . Monopoly OF
Montana Business.


system. the question Of keeping the
Ogden gateway open appears still to be
a very uncertain matter. Since the
stockholders meetings at Salt Lake.
Eastern papers have been insisting that
the gateway will be closed. The Chi
cago Times-Herald. a paper that Is us
ually reliable and very accurate I'm its
railroad news. has the following on the
situation:
The old trouble between the Union
Pacific and its connections and the Rio
Grande Western and its connections
| over the opening of the Ogden gate
way bids fair TO be revived. A Boston
dispatch yesterday stated that lit is
understood that the requirement of
control of the Oregon Short Lin by
the Union. Pacific will work to the ad-
vantage of the Union Pacific and to
the detriment. of the Oregon Short Line
In that under Union Pacific control the
Ogden gateway will be closed. making
the Oregon Short Line practically a
branch. Before the Short Line became
an independent road the Union Pacific
made all the rates and allotments and
1t was not allowed to a any bust
ness from any other connecting lines
which YOU in any way interfere with
Union Pacific business" The opening
OF the Ogden gateway to the COMPETE
tors Of the Union Pacific n its con-
| nections. at the time the receivers of
| the Short Line took charge of the prop
erty, caused one Of the bitterest fights
I'm which Western roads ever have been
involved. Arrayed against the Union
Pacific. Northwestern and Alton were
all other lines running W Chi
cago, Kansas City and st. Louis and
-. - -
Union Pacific left the Western Pas
| senger association and for months II
refused to return. Every possible ef-
fort was made to keep Union Pacific
competitors from enjoying the benefits
Of the Short Line. The quarrel finally
was adjusted and for nearly a year
nothing has been heard of the case.
An attempt to revive the old situation
is certain to be the signal for reopening
the warfare.
The officials of the Rio Grande West
ern seem to be in a state of doubt and
extreme uncertainty as to what will re-
suit. 1t Is a fact that during the past
year that enterprising road has prac-
tically had a monopoly of Idaho. Mon
tana and Utah business that naturally
should go to the Union Pacific. and IL
Is therefore not surprising that the
Union Pacific shoul want to recover all
that business. and it can only be done
by shutting the Rio Grande Western
out of the Union Pacific territory. The
developments of the next few weeks
will be watched with a great deal of
interest in this territory, the scene of
the fight of the rival roads.
One of the officers Of the Short Line,
connected with the new board of direc-
tors, Is responsible for the following
statement, says the Salt Lake Herald:
THE Oregon Short Line has come to
stay. This is evident from the action
taken yesterday. The old board was
elected. with the exception of the SUBJ
stitution of a few New York names for
Boston names.
People of the West generally. and of
Salt Lake city and Utah in particular.
have been anxiously awaiting events,
and the outcome will be extremely
gratifying news to the people of the
states traversed by its lines. There is
every reason for believing that the pro-
gressive policy adopted by this COM
pan from beginning to end will be
carried out in the future n that the
coming year will bring new cars, new
equipment, improved road beds and
such other additions as are necessary
for its continuance as a first class line.
Such earnings as can be used for this
purpose will be drawn upon and new
capital will be raised, IL necessary, to
meet the enlarged requirements. 1t is
understood generally hat income
bonds form a portion of the obligations
of the Short Line. and this will permit a
development of the property from earn
ings and thus benefit the general public
as well as the security holders.
1t is a safe and truthful assertion
that the Short Line will be retained as
an independent system. and that IL will
be managed from this city as a rail-
road. independent and out of the Union
Pacific.
One gentleman thoroughly in touch
with the Union Pacific management
and competent to speak with authority.
said that no change In the present
status of the roads would be made.
Each would remain separate and dis
tinct under its own management, with
headquarters of the Union Pacific in
Omaha and Of the Short Line in Salt
Lake. and no change Of any impor-
tance in the officers would occur. The
object of putting Union Pacific OFF,
GERS and directors on the Short Line
directorate was to protect the Union
Pacific against the competition OF the
Rio Grande Western and other roads.
Another gentleman as near the Short
Line as the former Is to the Union
Pacific. said that as the Union Pacific
stockholders held a majority OF the
stock OF the Oregon Short Line. II is
that they have representation
on the directorate of the latter COM
pany. and that is all that is meant by
the action taken.
There are many reasons for believ-
ing this statement. said a prominent
man. The interests of the
Union Pacific stockholders in the Short
Line. the Union Pacific and the Ore
gon Railway & Navigation company,
in many ways Identical. but there
is an argument advanced against on
solidation which is tangible and appar-
ent.
As is well known. the so-called Van
derbilt interests operate many lines.
Yet they are maintained as separate
and distinct systems. The Milwaukee
and the Northwestern lines are nota-
BILE examples. Others might be cited in
The Union Pacific. Oregon
Short Line and the Navigation have
a sort of community interest. as IL were,
in connection with other transcOnti-