The San Francisco call., 1908-10-25
R[SEFE1H,

derstand why we've got to wake the
Copah echoes with locomotive whis-
tie this season"
"Copah-yes," said Frisbie doubt
fully. But that is only a way sta
tion. What we need is Green Butte
and the Pacific coast outlet over the
S. L. & E., and they stand to euchre
US out Of that, hands down What's
to prevent their making that traffic
contract with the Mormon people
right now?"
Nothing; if the S. L. & E. manage
ment were willing. But just here the
political situation in Mormondom
fights for US. Last year the Trans
continental folk turned heaven and
earth over to defeat the Mormon can
didate for the United States senate
The quarrel wasn't quite mortal
enough to stand in the way of a profit
able business deal. but all things be-
ing equal the Salt Lake line will favor
US as against its political enemy"
You're sure of that?" queried
Frisbie.
"As sure as one can be of anything
with the money locked up in
a safety deposit vault. BY the
sheerest good luck, the Mormon
president of the S. L. & E. happened
-. ,l,o,,
Adair had his ear to the Transcon-
tinental keyhole. Adair hunted him
up and made hypothetical case of a
sure thing; If our western extension
and the Transcontinental, standard
gauged, should be knocking at the
Green Butte door at the same time,
what would the s. L & E. do? The
Mormon answer was a bid for speed
first come, first served. But Adair
was given to understand. indirectly.
that on an equal footing, our line
would be given the preference as a
friendly ally"
Bully for the Mormon! But you
say Copah-this summer. When we
reach Copah we are still 40 miles
short OF Green Butte. And If you
can broaden the Plug mountain in
three weeks-which you'll still allow
me to doubt-the Transcontinental
ought to be able to broaden it's Green
Butte narrow gauge in three months
IF you had cross sectioned both
lines as 1 have, you wouldn't stumble
over that" said Ford, falling back. as
he commonly did, upon the things he
knew. I'VE shall broaden the Plug
mountain without Strengthening curve
or throwing a shovelful of earth on
the embankment, from beginning to
end. On the other hand, the Green
Butte narrow gauge runs for 20 miles
through the crookedest canyon Rocky
mountain river ever got lost in. There is
more heavy rock work to be done in
that canyon than on our entire Panni-
kin division from start to finish"
That's bully for u.s." quoth the first
assistant But. all the same, we
wouldn't stop at Copah, this fall"
I'VE shall not stop at copah," was
the decisive rejoinder. 1.-The winters
on the western side of the range are
much milder than they are here, and
not to be spoken of in the same day
with our Minnesota and Dakota stamp
ing ground. If we get well out of the
mountains befote the heavy SHOWS
come
Frisbie wagged his head.
Il guess I've got 1t all, now-after
so long time. We merely break the
record for fast railroad building-all
the records-for the next six months
or so. Is that about it?"
You've surrounded it, said Ford
tersely.
Good enough; we're ready to make
the break when you give the word
What are we waiting for?"
Just at this present moment, for the
contractors"
why. understood you had closed
with the MacMorrogh brothers." said
Frisbie.
NO. At the last moment-to re-
lieve me OF a responsibility which
might give rise TO charges of fa-
voritism as he put it-Mr. Colbrith took
the bids out of my hands and carried
the decision up to the executive