The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-16
Railway Man Explains Visit to
Bellingham Bay.
WHY OFFICIALS WE'RE THERE.
Canadian Pacific Traffic Arrange
meDt With =. & 7. Does Not Ex-
pire May 81, and Can BE Re-
pewed-B. n. a. n. G. ny. More VAL
liable I'm Present Hands Than
Under Transcontinental Line.

IL is the belief of many local railway
men who are in a position 10 know the
facts that there Is no truth In the re-
ported negotiations for the purchase 0.
the Bellingham Bay &c British Columbia
railway by either the Northern Pacific,
Great Northern or Canadian Pacific. In
fact, no one seems to be aware that the
road Is for sale. Within the past ten
days however, several officials Of all
three lines have been on Belllngham bay,
but their mission Is explained as TO In
spect various Improvements that are be-
ing made at several cities in that Sec
ton.
General Manager Miller Of the Seat
Tie g. International who Is named in the
reports as the agent of the Northern
Pacific endeavoring TO negotiate the pur-
chase, denies the story emphatlcally.
ut is true that I have just returned
from the Bellingham bay district he
said 81 20 there every month, and hap
pened TO arrive this time while +. b.
Cornwall of the Bellingham Bay & Brit
fish Columbia railway, VINO was on
trip there examining the road, was
there We had no conversation about
the purchase of the road. and do not con-
template having any, so far as | know.
We have close traffic arrangement
with the Bellingham Bay road. which Is
giving excellent satisfaction and meets
fully our requirements in that district.
There is no reason why we should seek
10 purchase It,"
MIR. Miller refused to go further into
details, stating there was absolutely no
truth in the report
From another official source It was
learned that the trafnc arrangement
now enjoyed by the Seattle a. Interna-
tional and Canadian Pacific does not ex-
pire May n. on the contrary, 1t has a
considerable time yet to run, and so far
rs the Northern Pacific f. concerned
there IL no objection to renewing II when
II does expire. The plan under which
both roads are operating Is said to be
fully adequate to their needs and en-
tirely more satisfactory than could be
had any other way
SO far as Mr.. Mellens reported visit
TO the Coast this week Is concerned none
OF the local officials have been advised OF
II ms yet II ~ expected that Mr., Melen
VIII come here however, some time In
june to look over the vast amount OF
work now being done ny the road in this
section. That this visit win have any
thing 20 do with the purchase of the
Bellineham Bay a. British Columbia rail-
way Is denied. however.
Regarding the Canadian Paclflc's desire
20 get hold of the Bellingham Bay &
British Columbia line nothing Is known
IL Is stated, however. that while the road
has n traffic arrangement with the Seat
tie 4 International, IL could not possibly
have any lease of the short line. The
Nottingham Bay road when completed To
Sumas would give the Canadian Pacific
"a line to Whatcom. That terminus how
ever. II Is argued, would be OF little ben
eft unless some arrangement could be
Ia tn, inf la xrIai 4 a.
could hardly be contaminated from that
point
There was a time six or seven years
ago when President Hin. OF the Great
Northern. expressed a desire TO get hold
OF the Bcllingham Bay n British Column
bia road. more particularly ror it's water
front and terminal facilities than for
the road itself. Since then he has ac-
qured much valuable water front ant
tide land property on Nottingham bay.
The visit OF Engineer Edwards, of the
Great Northern, In charge Of the line
west OF Idaho, to Falrhayen had the Sig
nifoance that he was looking over the
proposed improvements at that point on
the Coast line properties ordered done
by Mr.. Hil during his trip TO Seattle and
Puget sound points ak weeks ago Chief
Engineer stevens may also visit that city
20 look over the same work In a general
way MS CONSTRUCTION VIII consist
mainly OF an inshoro Tine, provided a
risht-of-way through Fairhaven can be
secured
The visit OF l. A. Nadeau general agent
Of the Northern Pacific. and A. u.
Charlton, assistant general passenger
agent NJ the Northern Pacific at Port
land 10 Falrhaveu and other BAY points
was for the purpose OF making some
changes IN the passenger departments In
tina, district and a trip 81 inspection
NJ g, Han O. superintendent of the
Northern Pacific express and was there
also on tour OF inspection Of the varl-
Gus offices
The RcllluEhum hay & British Column
Ola railway, when completed and I'm op-
Grafton 10 Sumas viii be a valuable feed
a. te the Seattle y International and
Canadian Pacific and. II Is saN, wEu BE- a
moro valuable property IA the hands ~
the present company than as belonging
60 nuy one OF the tranFcontlucntal limos