Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-16
EXTENSION OF MISSOURI VALLEY,
Significance IL Attached to Visit OF
HALLWAY Officials to Caaper.

Railway Oficials to Casper.
CHADRON. Neb., Jan. 15.-(Special.) 1.-THE
proposed extension Of the Fremont. Elkborn
& Missouri Valley railroad west from Cas-
per, Wyo., never had brighter prospects
than at the present time.
Three weeks ago the general officers Of this
road made a visit to Casper and spent some
time looking over the ground there. A few
days since a party, consistlng OF George F.
Bidwell Of Omaha, general manager OF the
road, F. A. Harmon and G. G. Dennis. re-
spectively superintendent and freight agent
of the Black Hills division; Messrs. Hines,
stock solicitor OF the Elkhorn, and C.. H.
King, proprietor Of the Lander Transporta-
ton company, which transports all the
freight west from Casper to the inland
Wyoming towns. left Casper for an overland
trip into the interior.
A great deal OF significance Is attached
to this trip. Men who have given careful
consideration to the matter say hat these
officials would not make a trip Of This char
acter at this time Of the year unless there
was some especial occasion for It.. In this
connection 1t is also stated authoritativeiy
that the Northwestern railroad, Of which
the Elkhorn 10 q branch, has recently placed
an order for IS 1000 pounds Of steel rails, one
Of the largest orders ever made.
The extension of the Elkhorn road west
ward from Casper, Wyo.. to Ogden, Utah.
Is almost imperative. The last few years
have witnessed many changes in railroading
IN central Wyoming. At one time the Elk
horn road virtually had the business en-
tirely at its command. But now 1t is so
badly cut up that none Of the competing
roads can claim the lions share. Solicitors
are out ~rustllng for 1t continually and the
Union Pacific, Burlington and Elkhorn are
all offering inducements In the way Of water
for stock while en- route to the nearest
railroad point, good roads for hauling wool
hides, etc., and the lowest rates.
An interesting sidelight on the railroad
business in this territory during the las,
cattle shipping season Is given by the Wy
oming Derrick, one Of the leading papers
Of central Wyoming, published at Casper
1t says:
1t is said that the Burlington got the
best Of it's Elkhorn friends this last fall
in hauling stock. They both belong to the
combine and, consequently, they could moi
underbid each other, but the Burlington
got more than its share Of the business
by agreeing to give the stockmen a rebate
on every car Of stock shipped, providing
they did not get it into South Omaha by g
certain time and the time was fixed so tina,
they could not possibly get 1t there. 1t wa.
a good scheme and 1t worked. at least fol
a while.
The Elkhorn could practically get all o.
the big live stock shipments, as well as &
big freight patronage, II 1t would extenc
Its line to Ogden, where 1t would have
western connection. BY doing this its line
would be established through the heart &
Woyming, where there are some Of tn,
largest cattle and sheep ranches In tn,
west. 1t Is believd that The investigation
which are now being conducted oy the Of
acials will result In something tangible IL
the shape of railroad building.