The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-07-26
Win DISCUSS Possibility of Extending the
Great Northern TO This City--An
interesting Letter Just Re-
CeiVed by The Times

The collective letters" sent out
from Tacoma to three railway presi-
dents, asking them to build their
lines to this city, have not been I'M
needed.
Two of them have been answered,
enc by j. Kruttschnitt, director of
maintenance and operation of the
Hartman lines, speaking for his
chief, and the other by James j. Hill
himself.
The third collective letter"-the
one addressed to President Earling
OF the Milwaukee, remains man-
severed up to this date, fact regard
ed as significant by those who have
been Following the recent tide-ffat
deals in Tacoma.
1t win be recalled by all citizens of
Tacoma who were readers of The
Times last May that this paper pre-
pared three letters. one to James J.
Hill, one to q. H. Hartman and the
other to A. ]. Earring, asking each
to extend his railway system to this
city, stating the needs of Tacoma
IN the way of additional transporta-
tion facilities and pledging generous
freight traffic etc.
Were Heartily Endorsed.
These letters were circulated in
the city and were signed by the
Chamber of Commerce and nearly all
of the heavy shippers and merchants;
also by such well known citizens as
United States Senator Foster, pres
emit Mayor Wright and ex-Mayor
Campbell, and scores of others rep
Resenting all professions, industries
and trades.
No such letters ever went out OF
Tacoma before, and the answers were
awaited with keen interest.
A couple of weeks later mysteri-
oHs dealings IN tide-f1at lands, both
at Tacoma and Seattle, were re-
vealed. The Times forthwith gave
the facts exclusively TO the public
before other papers woke up to what
was going ON.
The Times was certain that these
tide-fiat dealings related to a trans
continental railway enterprise, and
soon narrowed the matter down tC
the Milwaukee road.
A Complex Situation.
At the same time the fact was not
overlooked that both Hartman and
Hill were contending for the mas
terry of the Northern Pacific, and
that the one who lost in the courts
was very liable to extend his own
system of railroads to Tacoma.
1t was therefore believed to be pos
siJle that more than one railway
president was securing tide-land OPP.
tions against a day of need.
The conditions being so extraor'
binary, there was little reason tt
hope that either Hartman or Hill
would answer the letters sent by Ia
coma shippers with full statements
of what would or would not be done
1t would be giving other roads infor
nation at a stage in the game wheI
secrecy was altogether desirable.
Hartman Takes Action.
However, Mr.. Hartman sent the
letter addressed to him to Mr.. Krutt
schnitt, who replied as follows:
June 10, 1904.
"Mr. E. H. Wells, Manager The Ia
coma Times, Tacoma, Washington
Dear Sir: Your letter of May "a
to Mr.. Hartman, transmitting a join
letter signed by yourself, the Tacom;
Chamber of Commerce, and by nu
merous other persons, representing
as you say three-fourths of the ship
ping interests of your CITY, soliciting
an additional transcontfne raj
road connection for your city, hai
been referred to me.
The information contained il
these communications, together witt
the offer of the united support O
your people in furnishing additiona
information and assistance towar,
the desired end, have been note,
with considerable interest, and il
thanking you for bringing the mat
ter to our attention will say that thi
data will be kept before us, an,
should we contemplate anything II
the direction indicated in the futur
we will communicate with you fur
Their. Yours truly,
-. KRUTTSCHNITT."
They Were Thinking.
Then came a long silence. Neithe
Mr.. Hill nor Mr. Earring replied, al
though a private assurance from 81
Paul was received at The Times Of
fee to the effect that the letter ao
dressed to Mr.. Hill had been fol
Warded to him in New York
Finally efforts were made by Tn
Times to locate Mr.. Earring, pres
dent of the Milwaukee road, and
telegram was sent him, calling a
tention to the letter and asking fc
9 definite reply. A wire came bac