Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-12-30
WHAT Pennington THINKS.
General Manager of the 500 Road
Expresses an Opinion on the
Railroad Merger.
Thinks Action in Advance of Known
Facts is an Unwise Course to
be Taken Now.
Railroads Cannot Operate Without
Regard for and Difference to
Patrons

General Manager f.. E. Pennington.
OF the Minneapolis, st. Paul & Sault
Ste. Marie Railway company, said in
an interview concerning persistent re-
ports that the Hill interests contem-
plate absorption of the 500 road, that
the purchase of all 500 stock on the
market woald not afford control of the
road. as the majority of this stock was
out OF the market
For that matter" said Mr.. Pen
ningtcn. Il place little reliance in re-
lterated newspaper statements which
credit Mr.. Hill and his associates with
desire to absorb the Canadian Pa
cific and the 500. The probability is
that these gentlemen have all the rail-
way properties they can handle for the
present.
AS to the Canadian Pacific, of
course the stock of that company is on
the market and for sale, but l very
much doubt that the Canadians would
be willing to see their railway pass in
to the hands of an American company.
The probability is that the Canadian
Pacific will remain independent prop
erty.
Il may add that in my opinion the
crusade against James ]. Hill and the
Northern Securities company, passing
Judgment upon the purposes and inten-
tions of the latter. is uniustified by any
known facts.
1T appears to me that no law will
hold Which proposes to prevent the ac-
QUESTION of property by those who have
the money to buy it, and if Mr.. Hi, !
and the others involved have purchased
the Burlington with their money. tat.
transaction is a business one, with
which the state has no more right to
Interfere than it has to prevent nv
buying house or farm. If a. pronartv
is for sale and somebody buys it, how
is it possible that there can be lust in
te1Eerence with the dealo
~ ihIO tAt qutSLlOu OF a re-
course for the public. should it deyelon
that properties like the Northern Pa
cl1lc, the Great Northern and the Bur-
llngton, when controlled by one set of
men, are arbitrarily administered
would be to enter into the broad cues
ton of government control, but T do
not believe it is necessary to consider
that view of the matter. Every man
who knows anything about railroading
is aware that in order to enhance the
value OF a railway property the public
which supports it must be catered to
and treated JUSTLY
The management of the 500, for in
stance, considers itself in partnership
with every man on it's line whose in
terests are affected by the road and it's
policies. This is not a mere play I'D
on words. 1t is the actual fact and
no railway can be successful perma-
nently unless it is conducted on those
lines. Mr. HILL in his MANAGEMENT
OF the Great Northern road, has under
stood this thoroughly. and there is not
the slightest doubt that Mr.. Hills as
sociates understand it.
The advantages of the new control
are several. The most important one
Is that the properties can and will be
more economically managed than they
nave been in the past, and this, of
course, will permit a reduction in
freight rates and in other directions
when the occasion for such reduction
arrives l know nothing about the
intentions of the Northern Securities
but do understand the logic
of the situation.
The 500 has no complaint to make
Oh the outlook. We shall expend in
l:A2 for betterment of the system ST.
ooo,ooo ait least This sum will be put
into freight and passenger engines.
freight and passenger equipment, 100
miles OF S0-pound rails on the main
line in Michigan, which will make the
whole route from Minneapolis to the
500 heavy rail; and six steel bridges,
all in Michigan, for which the stone
foundations are already in. + L
As to extensions, there are several
IN contemplation, but we are not as yet
PREPARED to state where they will go. /
The development along the 500 road
mas il been erninently satisfactory this
season, sea an VI Since October !, 3,ooo new
settlers have made filings In the MiRot