The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-18
AMONG RAILROAD MEN
The Rate Situation Is a Cause
of Anxiety.
GENERAL WAR EXPECTED
Western Lines Anxious to Protect
Themselves-A Suit for $40, 900
Begun Against Presi-
dent Hill.


structions regarding the rate situation.
as conditions seem to fully justify the
belief that general rate war will be
declared, applying to all classes. both
East and West. The action of the
Northern Pacific and Great Northern,
followed by the 500 and Canadian Pa
citic in making a $25 second-class rate
to North Pacific coast points, and sub
sequently applying a cut rate on the SIS
basis to all intermediate points, it is
feared will have a far-reaching disturb
ing effect upon passenger rates gen
orally, and other Western lines are nat
urally anxious to protect themselves.
Word was expected yesterday from the
Union Pacific, Short Line and Western,
that those roads had met the cut, but
none was received, and it is probable
that action will be influenced by the
results of the st. Louis meeting of the
Western Passenger association.
A suit for $4,000 damages has been
begun at Seattle against James j.
Hill, president of the Great Northern
company. The Seattle & Montana Rail-
rOaod company, one of the subsidiary
corporations of the Great Northern, Is
Joined as codefendant with Mr.. Hill
in the suit, in which Is also demanded
a perpetual injunction against the fur
Their prosecution of the extensive i'm
provements now being made by the
Great Northern at Smith cove, Wash
ington.
The plaintiff in the suit Is w. F.
Hays, Seattle lawyer. who alleges
that the state has granted him an ex-
elusive contract to fill in the tide lands
recently purchased by President Hill,
and that if the latter Is allowed to pros
ecute his proposed terminal dock I'M
provements his own rights and proflts
under the contract will be seriously i'm
paired. Mr.. Hill, he alleges. bought the
tide lands subject to the contract, but
is now proposing to render it impossi-
BILE for the plaintiff to carry out his
agreement with the state and under
it's terms claims a lien upon the filed
in lands for the expense of the improve
ment.
Mr.. Hays claims that the improve
ments the Great Northern has under
way will make it necessary to build
bullihead 5000 feet long at cost of
$50, 900, and he alleges that though Mr..
Hill purchased about 40 acres of tide
lands he has without consulting him or
the state begun improvements which
will render it impossible for Mr.. Hays
to complete his contract without great
financial loss.
Judge Cornish. upon his return from
Wyoming, at once entered into the
work of considering the various de-
partment acquisitions, and was closet
ed almost the entire day with Mr.
Bancroft. says the Salt Lake Herald.
President Cornish said that practically
nothing of a definite nature had as yet
been decided upon, but that during the
week. every suggestion for improve
ment of the road, both in the way of
r1t p1r a.
would come up for consideration and
be acted upon. He will go over the
plans for the St. Anthony line, and will
report on the proba bility of it's con-
struction at an early date.
One thing seems certain-the Short
Line will purchase a number of COM
pound engines for use on the line north
Of Pocatelo. The result of the tests
made by the officials recently proved
very satisfactory, and further expert
ments have been ordered. II is consid-
cred one of the most economical, and
at the same time. needed improve
ments the company has to consider.
The Great Northern reports it's earn
inss for February, with a comparison
with the same period last year, as fol-
lows:
St. P. M. & NJ. leased lines. $1,119, 7OS
Eastern Railway of Mime
Sota.... 1S9,9O7
Montana Central.... $50. 49,. 1872, 1897
Total for SYSTEM. ...... s1,442,512
From July ] to Feb. Is
ST p. M. & NJ. leased lines. s13,SS6, 1903
Eastern Railway of Mime
sota.... -. 80. 80. ..,.. 2305 31s
Montana Central.... ........ 1915, $40
Total for SYSTEM. ...... $17,5OS, 27O
The increase was $1,S794
General Passenger Agent Fee of the