Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-29
GEO. T. 0DeLL ON
IDAHO TRADE CONDITIONS.

The shortage of cars, the railroad
congestion generally, the coal famine,
muddy roads. and conditions at the var
lous branches Of the c. w, & NJ. COM
pany In Idaho, were Interestingly dwelt
upon by General Manager Geo. I.
Odell In the course of conversation
with a News" representative yester-
day.
Mr. Odell had just returned from
visit to the several branches OF his
company He says he is more than ever
convinced that Idaho and the north will
beat all records for the year now clos
ing. In spite of the drawbacks. trade
win reach wonderful figures. and If the
railroads had been able to furnish
equipment and power TO move the
goods, the G.. w. & NJ. alone would have
made 900 greater sales during
the year that Il did. When this condi-
ton Is multiplied by all others interest
ed. IL can be seen what a huge item
It amounts to. Ii was often shown that
a freight train made an average speed
Of only 80 miles per day, a condition
which surely ought 10 be remedled.
Another hardship which Idaho has
undergone has been the coal famine.
In the Snake River valley people are
burning coal hauled by wagons from the
Teton Basin and Il was very good coal
too On the other hand Idaho Falls
and the other places are burning stuff
hauled In by the railroads, and sold at
from SO 10 IS per ton, and that could
only be termed coal" by the widest
stretch OF the Imagination. It was
simply dirt. Mr.. Odell rightly thinks
this an absurd condition when 20 or 30
,,stl 81, L. . O.
branch would tap the coal beds In the
Teton Basin.
Mr.. Odell was surprised at the i'm
provement evident everywhere, espe-
cially at Montpelier and Idaho Falls
city property there has increased In
value from 400 TO 500 per cent within
the past three years while farm land
has also taken heavy strides. The G.
w. < NJ. company everywhere are busy
taking inventories I'm order to be ready
With reports for the next directors
meeting. Although the work Is unfn-
ished Mr., Odell says the collections
and sales will far exceed those OF last
year. While expenses have naturally
increased, especially the item Of insur-
ance, due TO the increase In rates fol-
lowing the San Francisco disaster. the
company's showing will be gratifying TO
the stockholders. An the branch ho1ses
In the Snake River valley closed from
Dec. rs, TIL the S0th, and may also be
closed on the 3lst, taking Inventories.
OF course, there Is always side door"
open for collections and cash sales.
Mr.. Qdell was glad TO note one change
made by the Oregon Short Line. and
that was the placing Of tourist sleeper
on the tracks at Idaho Falls for the
benefit Of southhound travellers enah-
Ing passengers 10 get sleeping accom-.
modatlons AZ o'clock D. m. instead of
having TO wait for the trains 10 arrive
from Butte and then often finding Ali
the berths sold.
The present congestion promises 70
last, In farm machinery and vehicles
ana all intending purchasers should
place their orders early for the coming
season TO avoid the rush
Mr., Odell and his party drove bv team
from 81. Anthony 10 Sugar CITY WHARF
they had a pleasant visit with Messrs
Mark Austin and r. r. Cutler Jr who
showed them through the big sugar fac-
tory there. With them was a Mr. Gai.
lagher, representing some eastern man.
ufacturers, and as he had nevcr ha,ora
seen a sugar factory, he was delighted
With his experience
The party also looked into tho b,.,-
ness OF the Sugar City Hardware e.
Lumber company In which several ~
them are interested, and In eensro,
way investigate the trade condit,nra
Tor 1907, which were found TO be mos,
promising. " most