The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-12-12

has faith in the future of the north
west and is preparing for its devel-
opment, was made clear at the recent
Interstate Commerce Commission
grain rate hearing held in Minneap-
oils, through the testimony of Chas.
Donnelly, president of the road.
Mr. Donnelly estimated that the
Northern Pacific will expend approx
imately 1000, 100000 for major i'm
provements during the next three or
four years. Mr.. Donnelly said:
In the report made by the Com
mission in this proceeding in October
last it is suggested that evidence of
the present and prospective financial
and service needs of the carriers
should be a part of the record. L
assume of course that the carriers
referred to are those carrying a con-
siderable tonnage of the commodities
involved. The Northern Pacific is
one of the carriers which would be
affected seriously by a reduction IN
the rates on grain, grain products
and hay, about 2G% of its tonnage in
1922 consisting of these commodities
l have therefore had prepared, and
file herewith, a statement showing
some of the major improvements
which we have had under cOntempla-
ton, and which might normally be
expected to form a part of u inn
prOvement program during the next
three or four years. These, it IS es-
timated roughly, would involve a total
expenditure of about S57, 000, 100000.
In addition to these We are now at
work upon, and within a few months
expect to complete, a branch in Mon
tana about thirty miles in length for
the purpose of opening an extensive
field of high grade Ignite coal,
owned in part and in part leased by
the railway company, or its subsidi-
airy, the Northwestern Improvement
Company. This branch when COM
pleted, will cost about $1,000, 100000
and it is confidently expected that
the use of this coal in the territory
which can be served from this field
will result in very considerable econ
omies.
! do not mean to say that all o.
these improvements would certainl!
be made within the next two or three
years, even under favorable circum
stances, but all of them are in con
temptation, and all of them are i'm
provements which we hope to make
and, as we think, each would full!
Justify the expenditures involved il
making it.
The Killdeer Extension
The Kildeer extension, as it is tn
largestI lsI ALSO perhaps the mos
doubtful, but it would result, if built
in a reduction of the present operat
inc grades from one per cent to four
tenths of one per cent. 1t woul
furnish service to a territory not nov
served; it would effect substantial
economies by elimination of delay
incident to the present method of OF
Grafton; and our engineers cOnside
that from the reduction in grad
alone a saving of approximate
$4OO, 100000 per year would be made
The construction of the secon
track between Little Falls and Phi
brook, a distance Of % miles, woul
complete the double track system G
the Northern Pacific from st. Pau
Minnesota to Buffalo, North Dakot;
a distance of 288 miles. The alter
ate location reduces the existin
grade to a maximum of three-tenth
per cent westbound and two-tentl
per cent eastbound, thereby elimina-
ing the present ruling grade owe
this district of five-tenths per cen
In addition to the operating econ'
mics effected by the elimination {
delays, the saving from the reduI
ton of grade is estimated to equi
81 on the investment.
The three double track item