The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-30
is NOW SUPERINTENDENT
w. P. Taylor Has Received the
Appointment.
FIGHT FOR WATER FRONT
Between the Great Northern and the
Northern Pac.flc-Hiil Finds That
He Has Been Sadly Out
witted.

According to an official notice re-
ceived in Butte yesterday from st.
Paul w. p. Taylor has been appoint
ed superintendent of the Montana di-
vision of the Great Northern, vice ].
M. Davis, transferred At the same
time George T. Ross, until recently
assistant superintendent of the East
ern Minnesota, with headquarters at
| West Superior, Wis, has been APP
| pointed superintendent of the Montana
Central, with headquarters at Great
Falls.
| The fight between President Mellen
| of the Northern Pacific and President
| Hill of the Great Northern for water
| front property at Seattle promises to
| develop no end of trouble, says the
| Minneapolis Times.
| Leading railroad officials in ST. Paul
see in the conditions presented at Sc
| attic confirming proof of Mellens STRAIT
egg. Slowly but surely he Is forcing
President Hill to the defensive. A re-
view of events during the past few
months shows that the present fight at
F., Seattle Is not the first instance where
Mellen has outwitted the astute presi-
dent or the Great Northern.
1t is said now that after the board
of directors of the Northern Pacific
has passed on the work of the past
year and has seen in official form the
| splendid showing of the management,
4 that President Mellen will enter upon
a more aggressive policy than has
characterized that road for long time
past. The Great Northern will not
be treated with the magnanimity which
| the Northern Pacific has accorded it.
why should we?" exclaimed one of
it's officials recently. I'VE would be
shown no mercy were we in any sense
indebted to the Great Northern. We
have nothing to fear Our president is
| a match for James j. Hill and the lat
ter now realizes it. Note the whine
which he emitted when in Seattle a
few days ago. He was angry. Why?
Because he found himself so badly out
| witted"
Seattle is vitality interested in the
fight. Reports from there are to the
effect that it is the one absorbing sub
ject discussed at present. Mr.. Mel
| len has invested more than 100000 in
water front property and other prop
erty in the vicinity of Railroad avenue.
He proposes, he says, to erect large
docks. freight depots and a passenger
station on the newly acquired proper
ty. He is willing to enter into an
| agreement with Mr. Hill for the cree
ton of union depot on the Northern
| Pacific's new property. Mr.. Hill says
there is only one site for a union de-
| pot and that is in the southern part
| of the city. The absorption of. that
| portion of the water front now owned
by the Northern Pacific would, he
| claims, be detriment to Seattle and
damage its commercial future. He
| wants the city to refuse to Vacate
streets which now cross Mr.. Mellen's
| Ac pot Nv oil h1s moi
asked for such vacation. Mr.. Hill has
gone so far in interviews as to say
that an encouragement on the part
of the city of Mr.. Mellen's proposed
absorption will result in the Great
| Narthern seeking terminal facilities
elsewhere on the sound.
| His threats seem to have been taken
seriously by a portion of the commu-
nifty out there. The effect of his state
ments may have resulted in Seattle
refusing to grant important conces-
sions to the Northern Pacific. But
| President Mellen, although absent in
New York, had not left the western
field alone to his chief competitor.
| Since going to New York, President
Mellen punctured President Hills ale
cations in the following telegram
| which he sent to Seattle Sept. 10. In
wiring the Post-Intelligencer of that
city, which asked him for a statement,
he says:
Your telegram just received We do
not see how Seattle gives up any water
front in connection with our proposed
terminals. Our idea is that the water
| front will be greatly improved. and, as
| our plans have not been submitted to
any one, it is absurd that they be crit
cised now by our chief competitor.
The Great Northern facilities are not
| aHected even in remote degree by
! our plans unless by the fact that our
| terminals will be exceptionally desira-
| Bile. Our plans should be in shape for
| submission about Oct. 10, when we shall
be glad of intelligent criticism and will
modify them to meet valid objections.
| we VIII be as Jealous of Seattle's prom
| inence as a port and the future great
| city Of the northwest as any of her
| citizens. We have been criticised per-
maps justly, for not doing enough in
the development of Seattles business.
| we nave evidenced our disposition by
| investing nearly a million dollars al
ready for improved terminals. and shall
ask for nothing that will not appeal to
| the most jealous of the city's guard
ians. we cannot say what our Compel
| itors may or may not do. Railroads
are generally governed by their interest
| as business proposition regarding
such matters. 1t seems for our inter-
est to give Seattle facilities second to
none on the coast, and shall only ask
| for what will appeal to you all as for
your present and future advantage.
| We may say further that such facili-
ties as we provide will be open to our
present and future competitors to use
on fair terms. We ask you kindly to
suspend Judgment until our plans are
before you and we shall then be dis
posed to meet intelligent criticism more
than half way"
There are many reasons given by
railroad men why Mr. Hill is thought
| to be bluffing. They do not believe
| he will pull up his terminals and run
| away before his fit of irritation is over.
| If the Great Northern were to leave
| Seattle it would abandon an important