The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-07
blACKFOoT ROAD
HELD UP BY WAR
Milwaukee President Hints
This Branch Must Wait
for Peace.
WORKING FOR NATION
Railroad Paying First Heed
to Requirements of
Country.

Tha, the partially built Hlackfoot
branch of the Milwaukee railroad viii
not be completed until peace has been
restored, with normal business condi-
,ions. was the Impression given yes
terday by n. +. Ryram, now president
OF the Chicago, Milwaukee St,
Paul who spent an hour in Nilsson
with the party OF officials which is
accompanying him on "A tour of the
system.
Mr.. Hyram declined 10 speak def
nitely Of the Blackfoot project Il am
not yet acquainted with the details,
ne said. But" he continued, 4 will
say this much
Must Cut Down Extensions.
During the was every railroad
in the country Will decrease i'm
provemont work to the smallest
possible minimum. dcvotine all at
'ention to keeping the present organi
zation at the highest degree of eff
cheney. which doesn't mean substituting
women for men. and dropping any new
projects until the present war is over.
The increased cost of production. of
labor and of material, not to speak of
Tie scarcity of the latter. place us in
the position Of dropping new plans or
going into the hands Of a receiver.
Everything has gone up in our line.
while we have received nothing in re-
turn. We are faced with stupendous
increase in the cost of operation. while
rates remain at the anda rl
as before the war. We can not charge
rates arbitrarily. but must appeal to
higher powers for relief. We are in
the position of the contractor in a ma
chine controlled city who must ask the
boss for permission to work on a le-
Ultimate enterprise.
Coal Question First.
The demands of the nation are re-
ceiving first attention, from all the
railroads of the country, said Mr. BY
ram. For the present this means, to
the western extension Of the Milwau-
kee. the delivery Of coal Arrange
ments, he said. have been made for
any fuel emergency. though at pres
cnt no shortage of ears or coal exists
along the line
In connection with the fuel situa :
,ion Mr.. Byram called attention to the
saving accomplished by the two cleo
,rified divisions of the railroad--th,
Missoula division. extending from
Avery. Idaho. To Deer Lodge. and tn,
Rocky Mountain division. Deer I.odg e.
TO Three Forks. Electrification h
said. has proven successful and has
saved enough coal and oil to keep =
big fleet on the high seas for Il year
Has Lived in Montana.
Mr.. Byram is not IA stranger in Mon.
tana. He lived in Great Falls l6 years
ago. Il appreciate being able to re.
turn to the west after my long alb
sence.'' he said. and | hope to he
able to pay Missonla a longer visi
some day"
Mr. Byram and his party left for Thu
west after spending an hour here a
noon other members of his
party are II. b. Earring. vic'
president, from Seattle; G. +. Loweth
chief engineer. from Chicago: r. NJ
calkins, traffic manager. from Seattle
l.. II. Barrett, assistant general super.
intendent, from Butte; j j. Murphy
division superintendent. from Deer
Lodge and G. II. Mitchell division
freight and passenger agent, from
Butte
Members of the executive commttc,
OF the chamber of commerce and J.;
number of citizens met Mr.. BRYAN a
the Florence hotel at noon
{. II. Byram WAS first vice president
OF the Chicago. Burlington K Quincy
railroad. ana chief of the department,
of operation, until selected to succeed
President Earlne as head of the Nil
Nankee system about two months ago