The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-10-03

appointed iuperiM endent OF motive
power. ~Thk<fice of assistant super.
inttndent Of motive power is abolish.
ed
Vice President H%annaford. of the
Northern Pacific, has authorized Cen
eral Freight Agent Moore to figure on
rates applying to fertilizers on a basis
SO low that all farmers along the line
cannot help taking advantage of ship
ping fertilizers for the improvement of
their farms to increase the crops of
wheat. etc. The Northern Pacific has
been investigating the question of the
desirability of renewing the soil for the
past two years, and it has been decided
that it is very desirable to give the
farmers an opportunity to improve their
lands.
News from St. Paul is to the effect
that the rate war inaugurated on cattle
by some Of the roads centering in the
twin cities is not yet over by any
means. Further cuts have been re-
ported and it is claimed that in some
instances roads are carrying cattle at
an absolute loss.
The Northern Pacific statement of
tourist business of the Yellowstone
National park during the past season
makes the best showing of any season
since the park was opened to the pub
Tic, although it was closed ten days
earlier this year than last season.
Cold weather and snow storms, which
occurred ten days ago, fastened the
close Of the season.
r. Fl. Lawton, who has been acting
as receiving clerk at tho Northern Pa
olic freight depdt, has returned to To.
ledo, Ohio. He has been succeeded by
Mr.. Warren from the Burlington depot.
J.. F. Fridayt s s>dsw helper at the
Burlington freigAxhouse in this city.
Conductors M. l.. O'Brien and H.
L. Miller came up from Glendive early
Saturday morning and took charge Of
the special trains carrying the North
Dakota troops.
The Northern Pacific box car, wreck
ed il the local yards Thursday morn.
ing. was dumped on the right of way
and set afre Saturday, the company de.
that it was too badly damaged
to undertake repairing.
.
Frank P. Sargent, grand master OF
the brotherhood Of locomotive firemen,
a few evenings since gave a group of
newspaper men, in Washington some
interesting figures relating to >the
of the order, and some inter-
statements concerning the i'm.
portant part which the order. in con-
with affiliated organizations,
has played in bringing about better
for railway employees and
wages. Mr.. Sargent has been
at the head of the order since 1885,
and has therefore been in close touch
with it from the very beginning of it's
Importance. There are today il the
branch Of the railway broth
$1,000 members. Less than a
score OF years ago tiremen were paid an
of $32 per mouth; today the
average is $65 on passenger trains and
S75 on freight trains. Engineers, con-
t%uctors, switchmen, telegraphers and
other branches Of the service have
shown a similar increase. Says Mr..
Sargent: but for the organiza.
ions there never would have been any
Improvement in the condition Of rail.
road employees. In the early days of
The bro%therhoods petitions for more nav
small consideration, and were
invariably refused. Today, +,
aowever. the brotherhood petitions are {
given a respectful hearing and nearly !
vi influential railway officials are in q
ympathy with the brotherhood move. {
nent. We have too much at stake in :
'ur organizations to want to cause d
rouble without good cause. Our q
rowing conservatism in these matters r
means a growth in strength and infu-
noe. When one of the brotherhoods k
ONES forward with a complaint now v
{ is usually conceded at onoe that it h
as some substantial foundation. The a
Of the railways aud of tho F
rerhen who toll for them are identical, il
nd the prosperity of the two must be ii
d
John Wolfe Of Sheridan is a new fire. q
ian on the B. & M. switch engine in b
lis city. b
Fire destroyed the Northern Pacific o
. house and several loaded cars ut II
livingston Saturday evening, entailing n