The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-20
BUTTE NEWS.
Mr.. MELLEN AND PARTY
Distinguished Northern Pacific
Officials Visit Butte.
FRESH RAILWAY GOSSIP
A New Traffic Agreement Is in Process
A New Traffic Agreement Is in Process
Of Formulation, the Exact Nature
of Which Has Not Been Given
to the Public.

President C. S. Mellen OF the Nofth-
ern Pacific, accompanied by Third vice
President J. M. Hannaford and Aud1tor
N. P. Martin, arrived in Butte yester-
day from ST. Paul for the purpose OF
meeting President F. D. Cornish of the
Oregon Short Line, who, accompanied
by other officials of that road, came on
a special train from Salt Lake With
Mr.. Cornish We're General Manager w.
H. Bancroft, General Superintendent r.
e. Calvin, General Traffic Manager S.
w. Eccles and Auditor F. H. Wills.
The officials met in Butte by appoint
ment for the purpose of formulating
some new traffic agreement, the nature
Of which was not made public. The
gentlemen were in conference in Mr..
Mellen's private car during their entire
stay in the city, and none of them ex-
cept Mr.. Hannaford and a few Of the
Short Line officials came up town at
all. When questioned as to the pur-
pose of the meeting, one of the gentle
men stated that it related to traffic
matters the details of which were OF
no interest to the public. At the con-
clusion of the conference President
Mr.. Cornish being anxious to get away
as his wife, who accompanied him, was
quite ill., They have been making
tour over the entire system OF the
Short Line and o. r. & N. Mr.. Mellen
and party returned to st. Paul last
night.
An insider in Northern Pacific says:
'"The developments of the past year
have fully justified the predictions that
We're made a year, ago. Talk OF diVl-
dend on the common stock at that time
was regarded either as visionary or as
being for speculative effect. Compare
lively few people believed that tho
earnings of the company would justify
the maintenance of a dividend on the
common at the rate of 2 per cent. per
annum. This, however, has been done
and there. is every promise of the rate
being maintained during the coming
year.
1T is true we are not showing the in
creases in earnings reported a year ago,
but to maintain the level of last years
earnings is enough to maintain the div
idend
Reports from the line are encourag-
ing in nearly all respects Some of the
crop features are not as good as could
be wished, but on the other hand, the
movement of tonnage generally exceeds
expectations.
I'VE saresppening up some new terri
tory in which large tonnage is in
sight The westbound business seems
to be increasing rather than decreasing.
We are simply in a position of wanting
to have well enough let alone
A case of much interest to travellers
over connecting lines of railway has
been decided by the supreme court of
Massachusetts. A passenger going
from Charleston, Tenn, to Boston,
checked her baggage in good condition
at Charleston, but it was in q damaged
condition when she received it from
the New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad company at Boston. A suit
for damages was begun, and the plant
if claimed that as the baggage had
been carried over several connecting
lines the law presumed that the injury
was done on the last one. This view
was shared by the court, the opinion
being given by Judge Oliver Wendell
Holmes. LAS we, in common with many
other American courts" said Judge
Holmes, "hold the first carrier not an
swerable for the whole transit and not
subject to an adverse presumption, it is
almost necessary to call on the last car
rier to explain the loss, If the owner Is
to have any remedy at ALL" The court
added that to do this was not unjust,
as whatever means of information
there might be were much more at the
carriers command than at that of a
private person.
In it's last weekly crop report the
Northern Pacific has the following
Montana observations:
weather conditions have not been
favorable, but show little improve
ment over the previous week. Seeding
has been further retarded, and warm
weather is greatly needed. Spring
grains, however, are in fine shape.
Crops are growing rapidly and are not
nearly so far along as at this time last
year. Around Livingston crops are do
ing very well. grazing is good and win
ter wheat is in fine shape. Agent Boze-
man reports some damage to winter
wheat in his district The acreage of
grain harvested will probably not equal
that of last year."
During the past few months the Bal
timore & Ohio railroad has materially
extended the runs of the passenger To-
comotives on through trains. Former
ly engines We're changed on an average
every 100 or $50 miles 1t was thought
that the mountain grades of the Balti-
more & Ohio railroad would prevent an
extension of the runs. However the
experiment was made. 1t has proved
SUCCESSFUL ana reduced the number of
locomotives formerly required by "a,
which can be used in other branches of
the service and save the purchase of
more motive power. Under the new
plan, locomotives are double creWed
and make from 1000 to 5000 miles a
month. as against $500 to 1000 under
the former method.
The passenger department of the
Northern Pacific is in receipt of a mes
sage from President Dean of the yell
lowstone Park association, advising
them that the hotels in the park are
now in full operation and that the vol
ume of business for this season of the
year is unusually large. The first day
there We're 102 tourists registered at
Mammoth Hot Springs. The weather
is cool and bright and conditions are
perfect for pleasant tour of the park.
FORT BENTON NEWS.