Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-24
GRIFFITH IS NOT TO MOVE
Purchasing Agent Of Union Pacific Will
Continue in Office Here,
so SAYS DIRECTOR OF PURCHASES rHoRNE
MIR. ThOrne Explains system of Pur-
chasing for Hartman Lines
and says MIR. Griffith 10
Needed in Omaha.

w. " s. Thorne, director Of purchases
Of the Hartman lines has exploded the
persistent rumors that the Office of pur-
chasing agent Of the Union Pacific was to
be moved to New York. Accompanied by
Mrs. Thorne he arrived in the city Thurs
day morning and when seen at headquar-
ters said:
There is nothing whatever in these ru-
mors. l am director of purchases of the
Hartman lines, and each road has a pur-
chasing agent. Most OF my buying is i'm
the line of cars, bridges, engines and such
things are used on all of the lines, but
this Office will not be abolished, as we could
not get along without Mr.. Griffiith at this
end
Rumor had 1t that Mr. Griffith, purchas.
ing agent of the Union Pacific, would be
moved with his Office force to New York,
where all purchases would be made in the
future This has been talked of outside of
official circles for two years, but the direct
denial of Mr.. Thorne will put the matter
to rest Mr.. Thorne said:
There are some general purchases which
I contract for in New York and which Mr..
Grffith orders as per that contract when
needed, but the office OF purchasing agent Of
the Union Pacific in Omaha is too large an
institution to think of doing away with at
this point. The average monthly purchases
OF this office in Omaha for the last year
have been S62, 900. This is considerable hard
coin to be put in circulation in city each
month and it will give some idea of the re-
lation of the Union Pacific to Omaha.
Shortening Omaha-Os Line.
It now seems probable the Union Pa
| cifc has the idea of shortening its line
! about forty miles between Omaha and
Ogden by the line which is being built up
| the North Platte valley. If this line is
| extended UP the Platte and then run down
! the Laramie river to junction point with
| the main line 1t will not only cut off the
| Sherman hill, but will make a saving of
| about forty miles of travel which is con-
| siderable on the immense tonnage which
! the Union Pacific is hauling across the
! continent. The Union Pacific has had a
| survey of this route for years and now in
the age of spending immense sums of
money to improve the track and shorten
| the line this seems to be the idea of the
directors.
The main line makes a big bow in
| Wyoming. and between the stations OF
Hermosa functions and Medicine Bow the
! line runs nearly north and south. The
distance between these two towns is about
! SeNeniy-HNe miles, ana Wnen II is COnSlu-
cred that this run is made without get
ting much nearer to the coast it will be
seen that a line which would cut off that
distance would be a great saving. This
| would put the towns of Cheyenne and
Laramie a branch line of the Union
| Pacific but the Industries of these towns
would still demand a good train service.
First Trip ON Excursion.
The new limited passe lger train between
Chicago and Los Angeles over the SaT
Pedro route. recently finished. will max,
its first trip about the middle of Decem
Der, leaving Chicago the 18th. This will
be an excursion trip and the railroad
officials will take party of newspapc
men on the journey
The train, which will be known as tn,
Los Angeles limited. will be operated owe
the Chicago & Northwestern, Union Pacific
and the new San Pedro, Los Angeles {
Salt Lake railways. and will be the frs
through train between Chicago and Lo
Angeles by way of Ogden and Salt Lake
The distance between the two points vii
this route is 1906 miles and the schedul
calls for a speed of about fifty miles al
hour, including stops for the entire dis
lance. Westbound the new train will dc
part from Chicago at p. m. daily AM
will arrive in Los Angeles at 12:45 p. m
on the third day. Eastbound it will leav
Los Angeles at PAS p. m. and will arrv
in Chicago at II: 45 a. m. of the third day
The train will be made UP of a baggag
car, diner, two standard sleepers, touris
sleeper and an observation car. There wi
! he no coaches.