The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-12-18
RAILROAD RunBLIEcS.
News Of Local and General Intsrsst
Gathered About Trains.

Traffic Manager BaDoock Of the
Rio Grande Western, says there will
be no immediate appointment Of ~
general freight agent X succeed ]. 81.
Henry when he retires the last Of the
month, and possibly it may be deemed
wise not to fill the position. This is
interpreted as meaning that Assistant
General Freight Agent Kenworthy
will have charge Of the department,
with a prospect Of some day being per-
manently placed at the head Of it,
with the title to be surrendered BY
Mr.. Henry.
Another statement made by Mr..
Babcock is Of much general interest.
He says the Burlington people told
him they were not going to Salt Lake
as SOON, at least, as is generally sup
posed, and that the sole object now Of
the surveys made and in progress is to
reach the Wyoming coal fields. In the
opinion of Mr.. Babcock, Salt Lake
City will become a railroad center in
the same way that Denver was de-
veloped in that respect.
%@ VAUl1u CAVO uCAV AvO yO0AS, ITO
says, 1.-THE Burlington, which is now
running a survey to find out what IL
might do, will enter Salt Lake. II
will pull the other roads along with
it. l look for the Chicago s. North
western to be creeping along about the
same time, then the Rock Island, then
others. They all followed one road
into Denver, and that is about the way
they will reach Salt Lake. But
whether it is five years or 30, Salt
Lake is bound to become a great rail-
road and commercial center"
VA ~ 4
The Great Northern announces that
the tunnel under the Cascade nouns
tains, which took three years and
many millions of dollars to construct,
is now opened for traffic. The tunnel
is over two and a half miles in length.
For the time being trains will be
hauled through the tunnel by two
specially constructed locomotives,
weighing $50 tons each, as there is q
heavy grade. The locomotives will
burn the famous coal from Grow Wing
pass, which has a very small p~ercent-
age of sulphur. The ventilation 10
said to be very good. In time it is ex-
pected the Great Northern will install
electric motive power with which to
haul trains.
The Northern Pacific earnings for
the first week in December increased
$57, 1915, a very satisfactory showing,
taking into consideration the light
traffic on the eastern end. The in
crease for the same week last year,
which was q record breaker, was only
a few hundred greater. The earnings
from July 1 to December Z were $751;
SIS, 933, as compared with $16, 00O,-
$50 for the anne period last year.
This years increase to December 2
has been 1914, 427. Last years in
crease for the same period was $643,
296.
The express companies can not lose
of the fact that Christmas is APP
preaching. The business along this
line is heavier than ever before. The
last few days just before Christmas
will see a regular freight business be-
ing done by express.
John Graham, superintendent Of
bridges and buildings on this division
Of the Northern Pacific. was in Bill
ings yesterday looking over the inn
provements being made by the addi-
ton of crossing gates.
Dan Boyle, trainmaster Of the Mon
lama division of the Northern Pacific,
down from Livingston yesterday
that everything was in tip-top
shape.
Thos. Mahlstrom, of the Northern
Pacific freight department, has 3
sumed his position after a weeks
bridal tour of the Pacific coast.
~ 4 y Y
The Northern Pacific has made its
first connections with the long dis
telephone lines of the NORTH
western exchange at Fargo.
The passenger trains of both the
Northern Pacific and Burlington roads
ire again or their good behavior, conn
.ng in on time.
l.. M. Hughes, express auditor OF
he Northern Pacific, was here yester-
lay making check marks.
4 X
The Northern Pacific crossing gates
IN Twenty-seventh street are now IN
working order.