The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-07-28
WHAT IS RAILROAD WORTH?
State Officials View the Situation
Through Colored Glasses.

A ceWs item from Helena conveys
the information thai The state boatd
of railroad commissioners has re-.
turned from an official trip over the
Northern Pacific and its branches, the
alleged purpose Of the jaunt being to
ascertain the ply steal value Of prop
erty owned by that railroad It has
been the experience Of railroad com
missions In other states that an e$-
tablished basis of value is desirable
ia the process OF fixing rates, she
railroads frequently making objac-
ton to certain proposed charges on
the ground that they will not yield a
fair profit on Gheir investment.
The recent "trip of the railroad com
missioners does not appear 70 have
impressed eastern Montana aawspa-
pers as one shat will honestly accom-
plish the purpose for which il Is al
legged to have been made. Some of
the journals published along the line
OF the Northern Pacific regard the
trip AZ a pleasure junket al the ex-
pense OF the railroad. They report
that the commission travelled IN q
special train furnished by the North
ern Pacific and equipped with all the
comforts and co~nveniences that could
be desired, aud that a number of
'iolly good fellow railroad officials
accompanied the commission 90 its
tour. 1t is suspected that, under
these conditions, an Impartial and
approximately correct valu alton Of
railroad property could nOt be made.
The state railroad commission, how
ever, has not Yet given to toe public
lbs pection Of che Northern Pacific
through colOred glasses furnished by
the railroad may or may have been
productive of satisfactory results: but
il is believed there would have. been
more public confidence ia the fairness
OF it, findings it 1t pursued the method
followed by d certain European in
ve6tor in Great Northern securitie-.
This foreign capitalists, according
10 u story tuld by railroad meu, was
not entirely satisfied with the iufOr-
nation given in official reports issued
from time TO time, and to satisfy him
self a. 10 the value of the raiirOa nd
property jn which he had Invested
considerable wealth, he decided to
,,a ", ,,D,Snnnl ,a--a>, 81 NJ
Great Northern system, without re
v~ealing his identity TO any OF its Off
ciAiS. He spent several weeks on tbs
task, covering the main line from it,
eastern termiuaI 10 the coast, aud
making aide trips over lie variou,
branches. Sometimes he travelled b,
passenger train, at other tirn.a by
freight, ana on Il few occasions he
covered several miles of track afoot.
When his trip of Inspection had bee1
completed, this foreign investor had
a pretty fair idea as 20 the condition
of the Great Northeru track anl
equipment.
Upon his return TO St. Paul, tht
visitor called uponk J James j. Hill, the
boss ot,sh Great Northern, and after
the eXc5 2Dge of d few compliments in
formed the railroad magnate as to thl
purpose If his trip. Mr.. Hill greeted
hi~ hnaocial backer cordially, aud
requested his candid opinion DIS TO the
coalition Of the Great Northern avs.
TEN.
The result Of my iovesJigsgioua,'
said the visitor, may be condensed
under three heads"
Very good remarked Mr.. aiiI,
what are your conclnsioue?"
'ln the first place" answered the
%tiaancier, you have no r~oadbed."
mo road bed-that's very unfoi
tunatc," commented the railroad man,
who thea requested the visitor to con.
tiuue his story.
"ln the second place you have nc
motive power" said Mr.. Money bags.
"No roadbed aud no motive power"
exclaimed Mr.. Hill, who began to ex.
hibit symptoms of irritation. "Well,
what else did you discover"
SIN the third place, you have no
friends!"
AT this stage Of the proceedings Mr..
Hill threw open the throttle of his
vocabulary, and the remarks that
followed must be excused from publ
! cation.