The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-02
BUTTE News.
IN RAILROAD CIRCLES
Clearwater Dispute IL Nearing a
Settlement.
QUESTION OF TERRITORY
One Thousand Men to Be Put to Work
Right Away on the Seven Devils
Road-A Second N. P.
Dividend in June.

The strength of the Northern Pacific on
Wall street is due to good buying. Those
informed say the Clearwater dispute has
been robbed of its worst features. the
only real difference in opinion between
the Northern Pacific and Oregon Naviga-
ton now being regarding the occupation
of Clearwater territory. Mileage built
by the Northern Pacific will form part of
the Missoula- Pasco cutoff in time. The
Oregon Navigation has not invaded that
part of the Clearwater territory yet. FL
nancial powers have been laboring with
this problem with the result that the out
look for peace is better than it has been
in a year. They still have the question
OF territory to settle, however
Louis A. Hall, president of the Pacific
& Idaho Northwestern, commonly called
the r. /. N. road, now being built from
Weiser Idaho, to the Seven Devils coun-
try is in, Salt Lake.
When approached by Herald reporter
concerning his road he said: 1.-The road
is being built. The first 10 miles are
graded and contracts are let for JOB miles
of road to be completed by Jan. ]. COM
plete construction train-locomotive, cars,
cago. About 300 men are now at work
and 1000 will be put on right away
Mr.. Hall controls a considerable part
of the copper properties in the Seven Dew
lis country, and is also largely interested
in the lumber business. When asked if
the road or copper property was owned
by any trust he said: at is entirely in
dependent. l am building this road to
develop my copper and lumber interests
trDs 81 iS
The railroad and copper and lumber in
terests will absorb between $3.00O000 and
si,000.000 Mr.. Hall said. and he thought
that ought to be a pretty fair indication
of his belief that the Seven Devils coun-
try will become great camp.
This road means a great deal, not only
for the people of Idaho, but for the home
seekers from other places. The mines are
not the only resources, as the road will
open up one of the richest agricultural
districts in the world to settlement About
10 miles from Weiser the road passes
through a canyon in the Middle valley to
tho village of Salubria, then into another
valley to a place called Council, and from
there to the Seven Devils country. From
the time the railroad enters Middle valley
the country is as fertile as any valley
in Idaho or the United States, and there
is still any amount of land right along
the route belonging to the government
winch is not taken up. The climate is
good and almost anything can be raised
there.
The Northern Pacific directors will
probably declare a second dividend of
per cent. at the meeting in June. There is
no prospect of anything more than this
at the present time. though the annual
report will show that the company earned
well over per cent. on its stock for the
fiscal year. assuming that business does
not go all to pieces in the next two
months A certain interest in the COM
pany would like to see larger dividends
The conservative element will prevail a
while longer.
Following is the Northern Pacific state
ment for March: Gross earnings. S. O61.-
SD4 increase, $21l.45S net, Sl.103.677; in
crease. $1,96S; net income. $S93.5l4; de-
crease. s1,S3T. Nine months gross earn
tnes, $199SS, 403; increase, LBS. $40; net,
SILL 09,3S0; increase, $l,953, 1888; net income
S96s 239 increase, $505, 974.
Chief Engineer McHenry of the North
ern Pacific is on the Pacific coast, and
will inspect the construction of the Clear
water extension before he returns.