The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-01-13
To The Kalispell Bee.


Gentlemen: If you will indulge
me to the extent of permitting the
use Of some space in your paper |
would like to express my views con-
corning the recommendation of the
governor as to the creation of rail
road commission. Heretofore very
little has been said on this subject
out of Difference to an ancient belief
that if we would only let the Great
Northern have it's way in everything,
Kalispell would eventually become a
railroad center and Flathead county
would be crossed and recrossed with
a network of railways.
1t is undoubtedly true that Flat
head county needs more railroads,
but the possible chance that we will
get another railroad at some indefi-
mite time in the future, If present
conditions Of legislation are permit
ted to continue, is hardly a justifica-
ton for turning the state over, boots,
body and baggage to the railway
companies.
The fact that this county is domi-
mated by a single railway company
is the very best reason why our mer-
chants and farmers should have the
benefits of such regulations as rail
road commission could prescribe in
the matter of rates.
There is no danger whatever that
the men who constitute the present
legislative assembly will be carried
away with any plan to work a hard
ship or injustice as against the com
panies operating railroads within the
state, but it is to be earnestly hoped
that they will see to it that ample
provision is made to guard against
the arbitrary and unjust discrimina
tons which have distinguished the
policies of the companies operating
in Montana.
The people of Kalispell have al
ways been diligently trained to the
motion that the railroad passing
through this city is a sort of buga
ly pull up it's tracks and leave us il
the lurch or perhaps get on violen
rampage and gobble up our mel
chants, big and little, and leave u
naught but grief and pain for prom
Used JOY" But this is sheer non
sense. 1t is worse than nonsense
1t is pitiful to witness the timidity o
in, limo m
tiers are prompt, acute, sagacious an
even strenuous, when they come t
deal with any matter in which the ir
of the Great Northern might b
aroused.
The fact is that the Great Nortl
ern, like any other business concerl
is looking for traffic. and the que
ton whether the people of give
community are friendly or unfrien'
ly has no effect whtever on the pol
cy of the company. If in the matte
of tonnage, mileage. grades and Ope
ating expenses it is to the advantag
of the Great Northern to maintai
it's line of road as at present estal
lished in this county, it will do 81
will be financially benefited by S
altering it's route as to leave this cit
on spur it will do so, notwithstan
ing the fact that our citizens HAY
in every way shown unusual frlen
ship for this company, and ha,
made the proper number of salan
every time the presidents speci
When the board of directors me-
in Saint Paul. I imagine they tai
I'D very little time discussing the i
habitants of Kalispell and vicinity
in exchanging views as to our frien
ship or enmity for or against Il
company.
In this matter two illustrations a
in point It is we'll known ia
that there has been constant wra
gle going on between the officials
the Great Northern and the town
Havre but we have not yet heard
the company pulling up any rails
moving any buildings from tn
place. On the other hand this CT
has given the company an immen
amount of tonnage, has shown
every possible courtesy even to t
extent of suffering great inconvel
ence; even to the extent OF hayil
our crossings unreasonably blocke
unsightly wooden buildings to
placed at the head of Main street a.
in a multitude of ways made 1t Gle
that we wished to avoid arousing I
ire of this bugaboo. Yet not IN
single detail has this city been fav<
ed. Local rates have always be-