Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1898-04-08
Damn a the F.ct..

ern Pacific with his questions. The
nature Of MI. Cowan's questions is
shown by the following from the Min
neapolis Journal Of the 9Th inst:
The proceedings In the North Da-
kota rate case yesterday in the Office
Of Vice President Lamont of the
Northern Pacific in st. Paul before
Master-in- Chancery v. R. Lowell, APP
peared to resolve themselves into a
series of demands by Attorney General
Cowan for financial statements OF
every description.
sHave you" asked Mr.. Cowan Of Con-
.troller Gray Of the Northern Pacific,
stables and statements showing the
earnings and operation Of tho railway?'
Il have a statement showing the
gross earnings and expenses per mile
and a separate statement for North
Dakota" replied Mr.. Gray.
"Have you prepared a statement Of
facts in reference to the Northern
Pacific railroad and the Northern
Pacific Railway company since 1890,
showing the facts required by me on
Feb. 22?"
Il have" replied Nj. Gray.
Nj. Gray then submitted a state
ment showing the gross earnings,
operating expenses and taxes for the
entire line for the eight years ending
June 30, 1897. 8
He supplied a further statement
showing the subdivided operating
expenses for North Dakota, covering a
statement of gross earnings, operating
expenses, taxes, etc, for eight years
past. He produced this with a little
air of triumph but Attorney General
Cowan Immediately inquiredif he had
in each of the subdivisions shown the
items under Expenses" "other en-
penses" and general expenses Mr..
Gray explained that thousands of
vouchers would have to be scanned
for the data. He had a statement for
the last six years.
Mr.. Gray produced statement No. 4.
1t included the total of operating ex
penses for eight years past.
Mr.. Cowan insisted on having a pro
rata statement of expenses for North
Dakota and it was promised him. Mr..
Gray furnished statements showing
improvements and betterments of the
railway in North Dakota charged to
capital account for the years 189O-l897
and Improvements and betterments
TOR the years 1s92-1s97 charged to
operating expenses.
The insatiate North Dakota official
continued to thirst for .statisti cs. Mr..
Gray threw at him a table showing the
total gross earnings of the Northern
Pacific railroad aud the Northern Pa
ciac Railway company for the years
1890 1897 and the average earnings for
each year.
Undaunted, the Encouragement
asked for a statement of the number
of passengers carried in and through
the state free. He was told that it was
impossible to prepare one.
Controller Gray's resources weren not
yet exhausted. He supplied a state
ment of the securities held by the
treasurer of the road.
No money had been advanced the
Montana Union Railway company or
the Northern Pacific Railway CON-
pany he said. The sum of $4,000 had
been furnished the Superior Consoli-
dated Land company, which was later
reorganized. Mr.. Cowan asked for a
statement showing all dividends on
stocks and bonds since the date of
their purchase. It a promised. MI.
Gray submitted his ninth and last
statement showing the passenger
earnings for the past four years and
the decrease on the basis of the pro-
posed reduction in North Dakota and
the hearing adjourned over night.
Attorney-General Cowan inquired
particularly into the item of stock
dividends. Mr. Gray was ready with q
statement of advances made the old
Northern Pacific Railroad company
bnt it did not show what was expended
in the class of investments. By the
books, it was said, that it was shown
that all stocks was paid for at par. Mr..
Cowan asked for a statement covering
the income of the road annually from
the time certain of the stock had been
purchased.
There were present yesterday be-
sides Attorney General Cowan from
North Dakota, Railroad Commission
er George H. Reyes and j. E. Phelan.
The railways were represented by
General Counsel G. w. Bum of the
Northern Pacific, and NJ. d. Grover,
general solicitor for the Great Nor
thern railway. General Manager J.
w. Kendrick of the Northern Pacific
was an interested listener.
900
- Tried to Break Jail.
John Hoffman, a bootlegger who wss
arrested in this city by the United
States authorities several weeks ago,
made al unsuccessful attempt to
break out of Jail Monday night. With
a couple of ase knives and the leg Of
a chair for tools, he attacked the cell
ing over the cells. The ceiling is un-