The Anaconda standard., 1899-03-19

From which it will be seen that whilst
- the ton-miles have increased 200 per
cent, the freight train miles have only
increased 100 per cent, which is the re-
ssult of the train load increasing so per
cent.
The net income of the system after
expenses in 1878 was $13,O75 600 in
round figures The charges We're rough,
ly $6. 4140 900, so that there was surplus
for dividends of s6,661, 900 or thereabouts.
Charges are decreased $1,S0O, 900 by re-
tirement of the collateral trust fours,
and the Manitoba stock, and increased
slightly by the issue of bonds to pay for
the new Eastern Minnesota line. We
may take it that the absolute fixed
charges of the system this year are not
to exceed $4,S00,000.
Gross earnings in eight months show
an increase of s1,900.00o of which GER
tanly one-half is net Assuming a net
increase of only 100000 per month for
the next four months, the net gain for
the fiscal year should be about 81, 400, 600
W. G. Watriss civil engineer, has
given out some information regarding
the railroad situation in the Clearwater
country of Idaho, incidentally touching
the physical features of the region. The
letter is printed in the Morning Ore
gonian and is in part as follows:
This Camas prairie is on high
plateau or table land, about $500 feet
above the sea, and approached only by
following the tributaries of either the
Snake or the Clearwater rivers, and the
task OF carrying a railroad line to the
prairie from Lewiston has called for
the best engineering talent in the coun-
try
There have been engaged in this serv-
ice by both the Northern Pacific Rail-
way company and by the Snake River
Railway company dozen complete
parties of engineers, which have all baen
headed by determined, skillful men,
who have braved the rough mountain
Gus country in the depth of a severe
winter, with uncommonly deep SHOWS,
in their endeavors to find the best en-
trance into the promised land.
But fortune has SO far seemed to smile
upon the engineers of the Snake River
Valley railroad, for they have located
a line from Lewiston to Mount Idaho,
being 100 miles in length, by way of the
Little canyon, with practicable grade
and with curvature as reasonable as
such mountain country ever affords.
The Northern Pacific parties have
been far from neglectful of the stake
for which they, too, are striving, and
have lines in Tammany hollow, in the
LapWell canyon, in the Cottonwood can
yon. all of which have faults that pre-
clude their use for the purpose of rail-
road construction.
The Northern Pacific railroad, how
ever, has vast resources, and may un-
-ravel some of the unknown quantities,
q and plant line which, while doing Spo-
kane no good, will shorten the way to
Tacoma by 100 miles or So
E. H. McHenry, chief engineer of the
Northern Pacific, says that work will
commence on the Cooperstown branch
In North Dakota as soon as the snow
has melted. The extension is to enter
the country west of the Red river which,
heretofore, has not had railroad facili-
ties. The line will go about 25 miles to
the north of Cooperstown and will re-
suit in the establishment of several
towns. The line is to keep south of the
Cheyenne river
The progress on the Lewistown extern
sion in Washington has been somewhat
delayed by snowstorms. In the near fu-
@lture about 800 more men will be en-
ployed on the extension.
Vice President Miller and General
Passenger Agent Whitney of the Great
Northern returned yesterday from a
, two weeks tour of the Pacific coast,
says the st. Paul Pioneer Press. They
are enthusiastic over the prospects of
the Northwest. All that country needs,