The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-23
Will SHORTEN The LINE
Great Interest in the Proposed
N. P. Cutoff.
WORK TO START AT ONCE
1t Will Open to the World Region of
Wonderful Richness-A New Mar
ket for the Merchants
- OF Montana

M1ssoula, Oct. 22.-The Standards
recent item in regard to the promised
speedy completion of the Missoula cut
off by the Northern Pacific has caused
no 4ittle discussion here to-day. Care
fdl inquiry has only served to corrobo-
rate the Standards story and there
seems no doubt that the intention of
the Northern Pacific is to hurry the
building of this important line as much
as possible. The route of this cutoff
has been so often discussed that it is
generally understood. From MissouIa
over the Lolo pass into the Idaho Clear
water country, and thence by way of
Lewiston to the present overland line
of the Northern Pacific at Pasco is a
route that shortens by many miles the
distance by rail between ST. Paul and
the Pacific coast. In addition to this
great reduction in distance the cutoff
VIII open to the world a region of Won
derful richness in timber and mineral
and farm lands. To Missoula the i'm
portance Of the construction Of this
line is great. It will add most i'm
portant Feeder to Western Montana, a
new market and new producer.
The Northern Pacific is evidently
working out some deep plan for the i'm
provement Of its overland traffic. The
grade revision: the reduction in the
number and degree of curves; the i'm
provement of the roadbed: the laying
OF heavier steel; the purchase of the
great, new engines-all these have been
going on for some time and all point
to plan for something or other that is
to be sprung one of these days. 1t is
expected that the early spring will wit
ness the contamination Of these plans.
A general officer Of the road said here
not long ago: Next spring we will
show you something in overland travel
that you never saw before" While
nothing has been announced in this
connection there is a we'll established
bit of gossip in circulation to the effect
that the early spring months will see
an overland flyer on the Northern Pa
citic that will throw dust into the eyes
of all competitors.
Conditions are evidently shaping
themselves in that direction and by
the time the new track has had one
winter things will be ripe for the inau-
guration of the new fast schedule.
The new passenger coaches of the
Northern Pacific are splendid pieces
of car architecture. No finer rolling
stock can be found in the West than
these roomy, comfortable, well-lighte1
day coaches. For day ride they are
in many respects preferable to a Pull
man. These new cars have received
much favorable notice from the travel
ing public. In this CONNECTION it may
not be out of place to note that the
overland trains of the Northern Pacific
always call forth pleasant remarks
from those who travel in them for the
first time and from those who change
from other roads to the Northern Pa
cific in the course of an overland jour
ney.
The new class Y locomotives continue
to attract attention on the road and in
the round house Whenever one of them
is backed into a stall at the round
house or stands for any length of time
in the yards, it is certain to be the CEN
ter of an interested group of engine
men. The general verdict is that these
engines are the best that have ever
been in service on the Northern Pa
cific. The record that they are making
in handling freight is fine one.
After a busy and profitable season,
the Copper City Limited will probably
go into winter retirement in a few
weeks. There is the usual October ru-
NOR af1oat these days as to new time
card, but there is not as yet any Off
cial information on that score. 1t is
expected, however, that there will be
a new card in November and when this
card goes into effect the Copper City
Limited will undoubtedly be taken off
for the winter. The train will be much
missed by those who travel in Western
Montana. To these it has been a great
convenience, but the railway company
says that there is not enough bust
ness between Butte and the Bitter Root
in the winter months to justify the
continuance of this service.
The Occur d Alene branch service will
probably not be changed, except as is
necessary to make connections with the
main line trains. The business on this
branch continues to increase and it
would be impossible to handle it with
the old service. The lumber business
on this branch has never before been
as heavy as at present and the ore
traffic with the Occur d'Alenes is stead
lily increasing. No interruption to this
business is anticipated and the coming
season should be a heavy one on this
line.
The prospective Great Northern strike
last week was much discussed by local
railway men. When the first rumor
Of threatened trouble reached here it
was stated emphatically that the en-
gineers would take no part in strike
If there should be one. The men in the
other departments of the Great North
ern have the unqualified sympathy of
railway men here. The conditions that
prevail here are so different that the
Great Northern situation is not under
stood except by the railway men.
The ferries have forgiven Eugene v.
Debs for all the trouble that he caused
them in the strike of five years ago.
He Won their hearts completely by one
remark that he made in the course of
his lecture here Thursday night. He
said: You can run a railway with
out a president, but you can't run it
without a section man." That brought
out enthusiastic applause from the Jer-
ries, who We're out in force, and they
are again with Debs.