Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-07
IALG Of TRAFFIC ALLIANCE
Milwaukee U'ion Pacific Combination E1-
cites Ruch Comment
NTlTUOE OF Tile NORTHWESTERN LINE
Vheory That Vanderbilt Road May
Seer Connection with the Union
Pacific IN Not GENERALLY Ac-
cepted in Omaha.

superintendent Buckingham and Assist
ant General Passenger Agent Fort have re-
turned from their trip to Salt Lake City,
where they attended the conference Of
Union Pacific, Southern Pacific and Mil
waukee officials, at which the traffic alli-
ance between the Union Pacific and Mil
waukee, giving the latter road through
service on a par with the Northwestern
TO The Pacific coast. was perfected and
formally adopted. They returned with J.
G. Stubs and the officials Of the Milwau-
kee over the Kansas division of the Union
Pacific, President Burt remained behind
to Investigate conditions Of the company's
motive power along the road.
The Union Pacific officials had nothing
new to add to what has been published
regarding the alliance. They merely con-
frmed the statement Of Milwaukee officials
that the latter had secured every con-
cessiou from the Union Pacific asked"
which gives the Milwaukee facilities equal
to those of the Northwestern.
There is a theory, which, however, is not
general, that the success of the Milwaukee
dn securing everything II asked from the
Union Pacific must be taken as the signal
of defeat for the Northwestern and that,
90 regarding it, the Northwestern may de-
eide to construct its own road to the Pa
ci6c coast.
It is dificult to reconcile such a view
and II is still more difficult to reconcile
the theory that the Northwestern has or
will suffer material injury from this union
between the Milwaukee, its arch-rlval, and
the Union Pacific, its old confederate. The
fact that the Vanderbilts control the
Northwestern and own extensive shares of
Union Pacific stock, 1t is generally ad-
mitted, does not lend substance to this
Idea Of the Northwestern being thus i'm
posed upon. The general impression has
prevailed for years that the Vanderbilt
interest in the Union Pacific has
been great enough to enable them to
keep Horace G. Burt in the presidents
office. AS the Rockefellers are supposed
20 be the dominant parties In the Mil
waukee it is not thought, with these facts
In mind. that the Northwestern is coming
out of the deal very much II any loser.
And as to the Northwestern's intention Of
building a line to the coast as a means OF
retaliation. 1t must be said that 1t is ar
unpopular. theory in Omaha, where there
is more than ordinary interest over this
Amir,
Not Detrimental to Northwestern,
Neither the Northwestern nor Union Pa.
cihc officials regard the new compact al
necessarily to the former road
Doubtless the Northwestern would just al
soon have seen the agreement fall through
or never entered into. because of It's natura
potentialities of rivalry, but that the North
western fears serious injury now that tn,
agreement has been adopted. the official,
refuse to admit. On the other hand tn,
Milwaukee men are feeling mighty goot
over II.
A Union Pacific oficial takes this view
of the situation
Il look upon this matter not as a triumph
for the Milwaukee nor a defeat for tn,
Northwestern, but simply as, a regular stel
in the natural course of events which poin
Ito the opening Of the Omaha gateway to al
roads"
Whatever the actual facts in the cas-
may be, those who are responsible for tn
triumph and defeat theory may find groun
upon which to stand in the fact that prio
to the Union Pacifc's agreement to give tn
Milwaukee through facilities equal to thos
of the Northwestern the Milwaukee ha
authorized a new issue Of $25, 900, 600 an
allowed the report to go abroad that
would construct a line Of its own to tn
coast or make a satisfactory alliance wit
some other road. In fact, 1t did enter int
negotiations with the Missouri Pacific, an