The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-04
AMONG RAILROAD MEN
Notice of the Abandonment of
the Elkhorn Branch,
RESIGNATION OFC.SHIELDS
He Will Be Succeeded by P. T. Downs
Earnings of the Northern Pacific
Make Good October
Showing.

The news published by the STANDARD
several weeks ago that on the first of
December the Northern Pacific would
abandon the Ekhorn valley branch and
tear up the tracks of the Boulder Valley
road, has been confirmed by official notice
from st. Paul. The Minneapolis Times
| of last Friday had the following:
'In an official circular issued yesterday
the Northern Pacific announces that to-
day it will discontinue the use of the Elk
horn Valley branch in Montana. On the
same date the work of tearing up the
tracks of the Helena, Boulder Valley &
Butte branch will begin. This branch OPP
crates in part of the territory which will
be turned over to the Great Northern
| with the completion of the arrangements
for the transfer of the Central The
branch was practically abandoned two
years ago on account Of lack of business.
1t is intimated in railroad circles that the
Northern Pacific has also let the contract
for the extension of its line into the Bit
ter Root mountain district of Montana,
one of the richest agricultural and stock
territories of the state.''
The resignation Of c. Shields as assist
ant general superintendent Of the West
ert division of the Great Northern is an
nounced in an official circular from ST.
| Paul. He is succeeded by P. T. Downs.
| In speaking of his resignation Mr.. Shields
said TO Spokane Chronicle reporter:
Yes, I have resigned to take the place
| as vice president and general manager of
| the Virginia & Southwestern railroad.
| There are no special reasons for this res
| ignation except that I did 1t for what I
| think will be to my best interests"
| How long have you been contemplat-
| ing this changer was asked
! mot very long. That was one of the
reasons why I went to ST. Paul. I was
only in that city but one day, but went
from there to Bristol, Tenn. which place
| will be my future home. I went there to
make my preparations.
81 think will leave Spokane next Tues
day; that is my intention at the present
time. Mr. Downs may not be here so
soon, 7 do not know, but I will try to
| leave then. =
II acted general superintendent for
| the Chicago & Great Western before
| came to Spokane. and then took the Of
flee of vice president of the Spokane Falls
& Northern. When that road was bought
| by the Great Northern I was made assist
ant general superintendent for this road
| in connection with my old office.
| Il am not well acquainted with Mr..
| Downs, who will take my place He comes
| from some Southern road, l cannot re-
member which,"
The net earnings of the Northern Pa
| ciic for October We're far in excess of the
| showing of that road in any similar pc
Rod in its history. 1t may be stated furth-
! er that the showing for the month in
| question is in the vicinity of $2OOOo oo
i Never before has the system been able to
| point to such a splendid balance.
| 1t is known that President Mellen who
re-echoes the opinion of ]. Pierpont Nor
| gan of New York, has taken exception
during the past few weeks to the news
which the St Paul and Minneapolis press
has given to the public, and has taken
certain of his subordinate officials to
| task regarding the matter.
| 1t may interest railroad officials also
| that the Northern Pacific contemplatee
declaring a dividend of per cent. at the
| February meeting of the directors. and
thinks, too. of strengthening 1t by a
! further declaration of a per cent. divi-
| dend during each of the remaining four
| months of next year.
Cold weather has stopped work on the
Great Northern west of Havre, except in
a few places where improvements necas-
sary to the operation Of the line are be-
ing made. Forty miles of new track have
been laid between Havre and the Rocky
mountains and the amount of money en-
pended in roadbed Improvement. ballast
|
verts and general bctterment work dur
ing the season is immense On the Cas-
cadc division IA miles of track is being
laid and altered for the purpose of cutting
out curves and avoiding bridges.
The Northern Pacific railway conducts
literary bureau which might well be inn
tated by other roads operating in sparse
ly settled districts. 1t not only issues
large quantities of literature both inter
esting and instructive, to settlers in new
regions, but it has a regularly ORGANIZED
corps OF agents who visit and personally
, explain the methods of agriculture bes
adapted to the particular section in which
they live. When interest is sufficient,
aroused a regular lecture course follow!
in which stereoDticon views are useo
The reports from these agents indicate
that the method results IN the drawinE
OF large number of new settlers to thu
territory as well az the better develop
! ment OF those sections already settled
Railway and Engineering Review
\ Chairman Mcleod of the Western Pas
senger association announces that F. r
\ Wadleigh has been appointed genera
agent of the immigrant clearing house o
the Western roads in New York to suc
coed George A. Cullen, who resigned f.
4 go to Chicago as the general Western
I passenger agent Of the Lackawanna. MI
4 | Wadleigh was formerly general passenge
] | agent for the Rio Grande Western. Fl
assumed his duties on the first of tn
h | month.
HUMAN HEARTS,"