Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-10-12
NEW PASSEN-
GER SERVICE
Montana Railroad Will Have New En-.
sines and May Change Passenger
Train TO a Daily.
DELAYS IN TRAINS EXPLAINED
Due to Large Amount Of Freight and
Stock Handled and Limited Motive
Power at Present Time.

In the last issue of the Argus it was
stated that a rumor was abroad To the
effect that the Montana Railroad com.
pany was thinking seriously of dis.
continuing the passenger train en-.
tirely and making all trains mixed.
This was not stated as a fact but as
a rumor and the Argus was not in
any way authority for the truth of the
statement. The fact was mentioned
also that the trains had been late for
some weeks and much inconvenience
had been occasioned thereby.
The passenger of Saturday evening
was almost on time and the special
train of Sunday made good time and
things are rapidly getting better, This
paper is in receipt of a letter bear
ing date of Oct. Sth from President
Richard A. Harlow, in which the mat.
ter is explained fully. The railroad
is making every effort to run It's
trains regularly and at the same time
handle the large amount of freight
and stock shipments satisfactorily.
Aside from this the road bed is being
repaired and everything made ready
for winter. The Argus is glad that
he rumor is without foundation and
that the road is getting into such
good condition. Mr.. Harlow's letter
follows:
IN your edition of October 9Th you
state that it Is rumored that the Mon.
tana Railroad company has decided 10
take off its passenger train and force
It's patrons to ride on freight trains.
That rumor was not correct. This
company does not contemplate Teduc
ing its passenger service. On the on.
trary, ii is making arrangements, as
fast as possible. to improve it.
NbAoA AbAiuA'ls sbAl oAoA'iAl'liN AlldA
our passenger train has recently be-
come practically a mixed train is col
rect. 1t has been utterly impossible
Tor Us TO get sufficient power to han
die that train, as a passenger tram,
and take care Of the business that is
cruwdlng upon us, We have been able
heretofore 10 get locomotives from the
Northern Pacific when necessary, but
that company is now too busy hand.
ing the grain crop Of North Dakota
TO accommodate us. In the meantime
our business must have attention, and
the passenger train has been pressed
into service.
our passenger business has grown
rapidly and | agree with you that tins
company owes it to the Lewistown
people to provide accommodations am
pie Tor their comfort, and | can assure
YOU that We are sparing no Efforts
To that end.
We have ordered a new C~onsolida'
ton engine from the Baldwin Works,
and Two new coaches from the Bar
ney-Smith company. all of which are
due at Lombard before the first OF
November. II is our purpose to put
on a daily, instead OF a ~tri-weelly
passenger service as Dol as we can
do so, and we will make an effort to
provide a service that will be salts
factory.
Furthermore, we are doing every
thing We a to get ready for the
winter, and you will agree with me
that we must not neglect work to that
end. 1t is impossible to distribute
ties and lumber, and operate our steam
shovel and gravel trains without loco
motives, and the use of locomotives
for that work draws upon the power
that might otherwise be used in hand
ling freight and indirectly affects ouI
passenger service.
The immediate cause of the pres
cnt conditions of which you complain
is the demand for power arising from
the shipment of stock 10 the eastern
markets. | think a majority of the
Cilizens of Fergus county would say
that IL is fully as important for Us
10 move stock with expedition as il
is TO 10 passenger trains regular
ly.
Il can assure you that we are moi
Intentionally or negligently overlook
ing the comfort of the travelling pub
lie. The inconvenience you are suf
fering now (Which | believe has beer
very great so far is caused by oul
efforts to handle our commercial bus
mess promptly with our limited pow
Ell and to put ourselves in condition
to provide a good service for mex
winter"