The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-04-11
Railroad Briefs

eIn railways commenced last week tt
determine the compensation to be paio
the roads during the next term Of con
tracts. II the Northern Pacific is te
wrest the mail contract from the Great
Northern it will be known when the
mail weighing is completed, which will
be III thirty days.
It is understood that the Great
Northern railway will cut its promised
..melon'' on or about April Is. It will
consist of a distribution of $4,000, OOU
of surplus in the treasury by a stock
dividend of about five shares of stock to
each 100 shares. It is also reported
that negotiations are on foot for closer
relations between the Great Northern
and the Northern Pacific companies, if
not an actual merger.
A committee of the United CONNER
cial Travellers has asked the roads run
ming to Sioux Falls, S. D., to grant
them reduced rates for their annual
convention to be held in that city. 1t
is expected that between two and three
thousand delegates will be in attend
ance.
Contracts have been let for the ship
ment over the line Of the Cheyenne &
Northern of 900 cars of southern cat
tie to the ranges of northern Wyoming
and southern Montana, shipments to
begin on May 1.
"How the Greyhounds of the Bur-
lington Beat the Rising Noon is the
story of a fast run by n Of its speedy
trains, recently issued by the Burling-
ton company. The story is written by
Will B. Hunter, railroad editor Of the
Chicago Times Herald, and is beauti-
fully illustrated.
The Order of Railway conductors of
St. Paul will make a strong effort to
capture the national convention of 1901
for that city. Assurances have been
received from members throughout the
country indicating that St. Paul will
be warmly supported.
WEI
The 500 road is experimenting with
electric headlights. One or two of its
larger engines have been equipped with
electric lights. The experiment is pro-
nounced a decided success. There are
no engines in the country, as far as
known, similarly equipped. The bril-
liancy of the headlight enables the en-
gineer to discern any object on the
track full roo feet in advance, and the
reflection Of the engine, electrically
equipped, can be descrled nearly two
miles distant. The road contemplates
equipping all its passenger engines
with electric headlights.
The postal department has issued an
order forbidding the presence of rail-
road employees in postal cars during the
period Of mail weighing now in pro-
gress, and which will occupy two or
three weeks more. The station agents
and baggage men do the weighing on
behalf Of the roads just before delivery
in the cars, after which it is weighed
by the postal agents.
The report comes from Lincoln that
the B. & M. will SOON send out another
locating party to survey a new route
west from some point on the Billings
line to tap the Big Horn country in
northwestern Wyoming. Preparations
are rapidly going on to fit out the new
expedition as soon as possible. While
nothing definite is known as to whether
the Burlington will build a road into
that country. the survey has been
ordered, and Superintendent Calvert is
now on this line.
1t is reported that James J. Hill of
the Great Northern road has bought
the works of the Minnesota Car COM
pany, at Duluth, and the rolling mills,
fOundries, etc.. in connection Herewith
and will operate the plant for the Great
Northern road.
General Manager Holdredge of the
Burlington announced in Omaha last
week that the Nebraska. Woyming &
Western Railroad company was build.
ing a line from Alliance south to the
Platte valley and that it would con-
tinue south connecting with the Bur.
lingtOn's Cheyenne and Denver lines.
From the Platte valley, some place in
the n"eighborhood Of Camp Clarke, the
road will build another line to the
westward, following near the river to
Hartville, in Laramie county, Wyom-
ing. Hartville is thirty miles from
the Nebraska state line. The company
will build more than 200 miles of road,
probably completing a large part of it
this season. Graders are now in the
field and work on the eighty-tive miles
already surveyed in Nebraska is now
being commenced. It is said that the
grading out of Alliance has already be.
gun. Graders are also at work in
Wyoming. The company, according tc
Mr. H0ldrodoa is not in onv 4x,av non