The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-07
NEWS OF RAILROADS
NORTHERN PACIFIC OFFICIALS
RETURN FROM A CONFERENCE
AT WINNIPEG
WILL TAP THE SASKATCHEWAN

New Branch Westward From Port
age la Prairie Appears to Be an
Imminent Possibility of the I'M
mediate Future - Application of
Office Etiquette.
President Mullen and Vice President
.Hannaford. of the Northern Pacific. re-
turned yesterday forenoon from Winni-
peg, where on the preceding two days,
conference was held between the presi-
dent of the northern coast line and mem
bers of the cabinet, with a view of COM
ing to an understanding regarding the
proposed extension by the Northern Pa
cifc of branch westward from Portage
The dominion government has been in
clined to favor the Canadian Paciffc's
interests and has rot taken kindly to the
PROPOSAL of the Northern Pacific to par
rallel the formers line, and the Mani
toba and Northwestern, and during the
past few weeks, many overtures have
passed between the officials of the road
and the Canadian government Mr.. Mel
lens visit to Winnipeg has satisfactorily
settled the differences heretofore exist
ing and the Northern Pacific has gained
a victory.
During President Mellen's visit in the
East. he was met by representatiY of
the McKeusie interests and a conference
held in New York He was requested to
enter an agreement to allow the McKen-
sic interests to build the road west from
Portage and control it. This attempt to
defeat the Northern Pacific's plans was
unsuccessful. and Mr.. Mellen refused to
consider such a proposition It is now
fhn 6N
backed the Mckenzie faction. and that in
case the road were constructed by them
1t would in fact be operated and main
tanned by the Canadian system. though
nOminaIly under different control.
The returning officials express them
selves as satisfied with the result of the
conferences. Vice President Hannaford
was seen yesterday, but stated that he
had nothing to say directly concerning tla
results of the conference as he was in
Winnipeg merely in an advisory capacity.
He stated that President Melen had al
lowed himself to be interviewed by the
Winnipeg press, and had stated that he
considered the progress of the negotia-
tiOns between the Northern Pacific and
the government perfectly satisfactory.
Nothing is announced yet regarding the
future plans Of the Northern Pacific in
connection with the Portage branch. 1t
will parallel the main line of the Cana
dian Pacific and will give entrance to one
of the finest wheat belts in Canada. The
new branch will lead directly to the Sas-
katchewan valley. one of the garden
spots of that section of the country,
which will be the center of population in
Canada inside of ten years. The only
statement regarding the work on the new
road obtainable yesterday was that it
would be commenced Immediately. The
outcome of the negotiations is consid-
cred a decisive victory for the Northern
%, hos
fought its attempt to gain control of the
extension from the first
An effort was made yesterday to in
terview President Mellen on the subject
but Notwithstanding his usual friendli-
ness to the press, it was unsuccessful
President Mellen- occupies holy of holes
on the second floor of the general office,
entrance to which is only obtainabie
through an outer office. where Cerberus
in the person of one Percy S. Corbett,
New York Importation, maintains watch
and ward. 1t apDeared that an invisible
trocha had been drawn between the terra
cognita and the presidents inner sane
tum. Secretary Corbett was, at his desk
and when a request was preferred that
the press. representatives name be car
ried to the president and a request for
three minutes questioning forwarded,
looked UP with charmingly obnoxious
grin and asked. with such an air as only
a, railroad spernumerarV knows how to
assume:
whats your business with the presi-
dent?"
A blank refusal to grant even the
small courtesy asked followed, and after
a seven-minute argument. the captain of
the guard called a slave and asked him
to tell the president that newspaper
man waited. AS the messenger reached
the sacred door, however, he was called
back and the information was thrown at
the reporter that the president would not
be at liberty for an hour at least, prob
ably not for a week. and. he devoutly
hoped. inferentially, not for many years.
No interview was had