The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-07
AMONG RAILROAD MEN
The Clearwater Controversy Is
Under Discussion.
COMPROMISE IS RUMURED
A Serious State of Affairs Threatened If
an Amicable Adjustment Is Not
Reached-The Burlington
Extension

The railroad officials who gathered in
Butte from all directions on Saturday
left the city again yesterday. Presi-
dent Mellen and other officials of the
Northern Pacific, and President A. l..
Mohler, B. Campbell, general traffic
manager, and w. H. Kennedy, chief
engineer of the o. r. & N, left at an
early hour by special train for St. Paul,
while e. H. Hartman, chairman Of the
Union Pacific board of director who
came from the west Friday night with
Mellen and Mohler, went south at 1880
o'clock yesterday forenoon with Oregon
Short Line officials on their special
train. 1t was stated yesterday, by one
who knows something about the facts.
that Mellen, Mohler and Hartman
travelled together for the purpose or
discussing several propositions adj
vanced as a means to settle the Clear
water and other controversies existing
between the different railroad inter-
ests represented by the three gentle
men. 1t was stated that When MT.
Mellen started west a few weeks ago
1t was with a determination to take ag-
gressive action in the Clearwater con-
troyersy with the Oregon Railway ~
Navigation company and that he went
so far as to say at that time that he
had fully made up his mind to extend
his road in that country no matter now
many other lines were built. Upon MS
arrival in Portland, it is claimed, Mr..
Mellen presented an ultimatum to Pres
ident Mohler to the effect that the 0
r. & N must promise to keep out Of
the Nez Perces country and must give
the Northern Pacific full trackage
rights down the Columbia from Lewis
ton to Portland, or have its line paral-
leled down the Columbia. The situa-
ton may be set down as tense. the
sudden appearance of Mr.. Hartman
upon the scene, having returned from
Alaska last Tuesday precipitated mat
ters and a conference between the
three officials was Immediately brought
about and was continued until their ar
rival in Butte. What result, If any mas
been reached, is of course unknown, as
no hint of what transpired was allowed
to escape. On their way to Butte the
officials went over the disputed terri
tory and viewed the physical aspects
of the situation. Speaking about Mr.
Melen's ultimatum, the Portland Ore
gonian a few days ago said:
Sentiment in Portland is unanimous
against the o. r. & N. agreeing to with
draw from any part of the Columbia
river basin, or of promising to keep out
in future If the o. r. & N were an
independent concern, it certainly would
refuse to entertain the Northern Pa
cific's claim that Idaho, east OF Lewis
ton, is natural Northern Pacific terri
| tory: but the o. r. & N. is controlled
| by the Oregon Short Line and Union
| Pacific and what action these roads
| will take must be awaited with pa
| thence AS to the matter of trackage
rights, best opinion holds that the O..
| r. & N. will give them, provided terms
| can be arranged, the natural assump-
| ton being that the Northern Pacific
| will hold out for the lowest reasonable
| charge. and that the o. r. & N. will
| demand the highest it thinks the
| Northern Pacific will pay in prefer
ence to building down the Columbia.
| 1t looks as if crisis must be reached
| very soon. Portland will view with de-
| light failure of the two roads to come
! to terms and the Northern Pacific put
ting into effect it's threat to build a
short, down grade line to Portland
A Wall street correspondent COM
ments as follows upon the situation:
IF Mr.. Mellen has been correctly
| quoted in the Northwestern papers as
saying that he intends to build into
Portland unless the Oregon Navigation
accedes to the Northern Pacific de-
mands, very serious state of things
| will result in the Northwest. At pres
ent the ground in controversy lies east
of Lewiston, and there has been no
serious talk of any building by the
| Northern Pacific west of that point. TIC
| build to Portland from Lewiston would
be to parallel the Oregon Navigation
practically along its entire line, and
| while the Oregon Navigation, with its
| water grade would undoubtedly have
the better line, it is to be expected that
bitter war; entailing serious losses
upon both roads, would result. 1t is
possible Mr.. Mellen has been misquoted
| in the matter. There is, however, rea
| son to believe that the Oregon Naviga-
ton Northern Pacific dispute is ap.
preaching a crisis, and that the next
| couple of months will bring decisions
| of a far-reaching character on both
| sides. At present it undoubtedly looks
! as if both parties were further from an
agreement than at any time. 1t Is
| understood that the matter is receiving
| the close attention of Mr.. Hartman
| who Is now in the Northwest"
| While in Idaho a few days ago Mr.
Mellen and his party of officials also
looked into the question of building a
branch line from Wallace to the Sun
set mines, owned by w. A Clark, and
it was stated yesterday that the propo-
sition would probably receive favorable
consideration.
A report generally circulated through.
|
than ordinary interest in the railway
world, to the effect that the Union
| Pacific is making preparations tc
| double-track it's entire system, Is au"
| thoritatively denied at headquarters In
Omaha as having any foundation oil
truth, says the Bee.
The rumor has been on the tongues OF
railway men for several weeks and one
! who had assumed to take especial pains
to investigate the matter related the
result of his observations as follows
There can be no doubt but that tins
Union Pacific will surely doubie-tracF
its entire line and expend between $40,
600, 900 and $4,000, 900 in this and attend.
ant improvements. The grading and
preliminary work alone, exclusive OF
| rails, ties and other material, VIII cosl
about $5,700,00O. Bridges on the roac
will be enlarged and made permanent
The work will be done in sections anc
will be pushed as rapidly as possible
so that the completion will be brought
about within two years"