The Dickinson press., 1902-08-23
DispatChers.

U~iSpdLCneCS.
One Half Of the Gleadive Force Brought to
Dickinson Which Greatly facilitates the
Handling Of Trains. Round House Force
increased and Other Moves Which lndi-
cate Clearly That the n. P. Is to Build the
Cutoff Very Soon, Adding Much to the
RaiIroad Force at Dickinson.
The Northern Pacific has divided the
train dispatchers' force on the Yellow
stone division, between Mandan and
Glendive, taking half of the despatchers
from the latter place to Dickinson. This
plan was decided upon last Friday when
Supt. Gibson was in the city.
A force Of railroad carpenters were
called from the Mandan end of the d.
vision and by hard hustling on the part
of Wire Chief Rudiselle and Battery
man Thompson and others, a room on
the second floor of the Western Union
building, in the southeastern corner, was
fitted and ready for the new dispatchers
on Monday morning. F. A. Hickman
was called from Glendive and given the
position of acting chief of the dispatch
er's force. J. F. Parish was promoted
from the operators room below and w.
F. Arnold is the third man. The vacan-
cy caused by Mr.. Parish's promotion is
filled by ]. w. Snyder, and an addition
al operator is expected within a few
days, which will make four men brought
to Dickinson on account OF the change.
Wire Chief Rudiselle remains in the
Western Union room,and while he is not
directly in charge of the dispatcher's Of
fee above, his duties are increased as he
has to see that all facilities are provided.
A number of changes are contemplate
ed, such as the enlargement of the bat
terry room, ETC., but in view of the fact
that the Northern Pacific is to build its
new depot in Dickinson the coming
spring (work may commence this falD,
AS little work as possible will be done
now. The increased business, the larg.
est that was ever known, necessitates,
however, that some changes he made a,
once. The Dickinson office is one Of
the most important IN the system, GOV.
ering a distance of 400 miles, between
Mandan and Billings.
The enormous increase in the N. p!
business has for some months taxed tn,
various departments beyond their ca
pacity and as a result there have beef
: many unexpected delays, both at divis
ion points and on the road. But by hav
, ing the dispatchers for the east end a
Dickinson and increasing the force a
the round house here, it is expected tina
. things will move much more smooth
:. in the future.
The fact of the matter is the N. P. ha
never anticipated such an enormous If
{ crease in its traffic, and there seems t
be a need of more engines, more treigE
and stock cars, and a third daily passer
ger train each way is needed.
Locomotive Foreman Littlehales ha
had his round house force increased fv
h men in the past few days and still NOR
are needed. The work in his depart
ment has increased Is or 80 per cent an
he has certainly made a good shown
for the help he has had. Last month
cars of coal, averaging 10000 pounds i
weight, were issued at Dickinson, whic
is over 80 per cent more than was issue
in any previous month.
From present indications it woul
seem but a question of a short time whe
the N. P. round house force in Dickinso
would be greatly increased. The con
pany's surveyors, who are running tt
cutoff line southwest through the Ba
Lands, are making good progress an
have found an easy grade. Those in
position to know are confident that tt
y company will have the new line con
pleted within two years. OF course the
are people who will continue to der
this, but the facts are that a shorter rou
and an easier grade can be secured ar
E. this is what the N P. IS bound to acceI