The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1902-11-28
RAILWAY WORLD.
Doings Of the Roads and Their EN-
ployeS.

Information Is given by local rail
way men that the Great Northern
railway Is contemplating the extern
sion of its line from Curlew, Wash,
to Midway, b. G. 1t Is probably
the intention of James J. Hill to
build the CRANKY smelter spur and
the extension of the main line from
Grand Forks, b. c., to Phoenix.
The Southern Pacific, having
come to an agreement with its
tei,--saI,h ers, are now engaged with
the engineers. 1t Is no question
that the officials Of the Southern
E~cific railway are much exercised
over their labor troubles and that
an effort is being made to come to
a fair settlement is already assured
by the way the company made con-
cessions to the telegraphers.
The Milwaukee and the North
western lines have been very pros
porous during the past two years
and have had to work their power
and equipment to it's full capacity.
1t is therefore agreed upon by both
lines to use the surplus funds in
making necessary improvements of
their respective lines, instead of
reaching for the Pacific coast.
Now that the Chicago, Rock
Island Il Pacific railway has made
an entrance into the coast trade by
the Ell Paso and Sunset route. the
Union Pacific with it's Oregon Short
line connections and the Southern
Pacific with it's Shasta route will
be able to control the business.
When 1t is understood that the
Union Pacific and Southern Pacific
railways are handling the bulk of
business on single track lines, 1t is
evident that the business Is being
handled without much interruption,
as they have found it unnecessary
to double track their lines only In
certain spot for 10 or Is miles, to
overcome some delays oCcasioned
by the lack Of yard and terminal
facilities.
1t is stated in the local offices Of
the Chicago, Milwaukee Il st. Paul
and the Chicago Il Northwestern
lines that they have no Information
from headquarters concerning the
possibilities of either line extending
it's road to the Pacific coast.
Travelling Freight and Passenger
Agent Il. G. Fades of the Alton
Route, who Is now in this territory
In the interest of the Chicago 4 AL
ton railway AMI who Is In a position
to know what he Is talking about.
said: "The building Of either line
to the coast would necessitate the
other road undergoing the same ex-
pense, as they would be compelled
to offer competition" For this
reason. said Fades, IAN agreement
was recently made between the Chi
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the
Northwestern lines, which Is an
irosclad ban, preventing either line
building to the coast for a period of
80 years"
E.lN Hartman, president of the
Southern Pacific and director of
the Union Pacific railway. being In
a state of unrest over the prospects
of contest with the employees of
the Union Pacific railroad, has ap-
pointed a board to hold a confer.
ence with the men and see just
what they want and to decide upon
what can be conceded. thereby TAX.
ing the matter out of the hands OF
the railway officials. A precedent
for this Is unknown in railway
circles.
The railways have become joint.
ly affected by the gradual tendency
on the part Of several large lines
to treat In a friendly way with
their organizations and look upon
1t as business proposition.
Much money is being diverted
from the dividend purses and sink.
ing funds to the pockets of the EN-.
ployes and for magnificent terminal
improvements and construction pur.
poses.
The Pennsylvania railroad was
among the first to make concessions
and started the list by granting a
10 per cent increase, The New York
Central followed with an addition