The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-10-05
HILL ROAD TO ENTER
CONTRACT RACE
NORTHERN PACIFIC WILL MAKE
STARTLING CHANGES IN
ITS SCHEDULES.

With the issuance Of the Northern
paeific's new timecara, the plans for
which were announced by The Missou-
liam some time ago. that line will have
entered actively into the competition
for the United States mail contract,
which is to be awarded on January L
of next year for roads operating out
of Chicago. The Hill road has planned
a big change in tine time of its crack
trains. and the new schedule VIII
make it a strong bidder for the much
desired contract.
The detailed work on the timccard
has at last been finished. and when
1t is issued the road will have what
is undoubtedly the best transconti-
mental service in the country. The
work which has been going on on the
Rocky Mountain division is merely an
example of what has been done all
along the road. For the past month
IL large force of clerks has been
busiIy engaged in preparing the fig
ures for the new timecard. and it is
now ready for the printers. Faster
time and better service have been the
watchwortIs of the company in pre-
pairing this new schedule, and to all
appearances they have accomplished
their purposes tn II degree unexceiled
by any other transcontinental road in
the United States.
The reason for the big change is
principally Il desire to make an active
hid for the mail contract. over which
the great transcontincntal roads of
the northern part of the country are
fighting. New double tracks and cut
offs with modern improvements all
along the line have given to the Hill
road Il chance for speed with which
it will he hard for any other system
Ia compete. The question of Chicago
connections. which has puzzled the Of
ficials for SO long. has apparently
been solved. The recent purchase by
the Morgan interests of the bankrupt
Chicago Great Western gives Il good
road into Chicago. and this track is
undoubtedly the one which the North
Crn Pacific will use.
The new timecard was at first
scheduled for October 1. but it's issue
has been postponed and will not be is
sued until October -. The principal
changes which it will make will be in
regard tn the limited trains. Nos.
and :. which will he the ones to make
tho bid for the mail contract. Stops
will be eliminated and passenger bust
ness win be done away with as far
rs is possible. Two Chicago sleepers
will he carried. but seven cars will
lie the limit of the trains load, and
its principal and all-important func-
ton will be to carry Uncle Sans
The new schedule Will bring the train
into its western terminal II hours
earlier than at present and will make
its run from Chicago to the coast a
record breaker. Neither time nor cx-
pense will be spared in making the
crack train all that ii needs must he,
and the eyes of the railroad world will
he turned toward it when it makes its
first trip across the country
Nos. 3 and will also run out of
Chicago and will also go tn Portland.
This train will be improved and re-
modelled until 1t takes the place of
the present North Coast Limited. a
train which has M superior in trans
continental railroad service. II will be
made in every respect the equal of
this fast train. and. running on No.
Is old schedule. it should prove to he
the most popular passenger train on
the road. In the same way every
train will be advanced notch and
Il new train will be added to take
care of the local business done by Nos.
II and 16- This train. which will be
known as No. and :. will run as
a local out IF Duluth and will run on
the same schedule along the road as
Nos. II and Is follow at present The
present Nos. and & III the Rocky
Mountain will run on their old sched-
ule from Butte To Hamilton under Il
new name.
ON the whole. tho change promises
In he rs revolutionary Il one as has
ever been attempted by "A railroad.
The Great Northern and the Puget
Sound have hitherto been considered
as the only rivals fer the contract
hut the entrance nf the Northern Pa
eific gives the Hill roads two-to-one
advantage with which to fight the
easier grades and shorter line Of their
la tsl