The Sidney herald., 1958-11-19
G.. N. Branch Line
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W. 2Vs DIdIlCIl AlI1C--
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men and Engineers, and VIM. G..
Mahoney, of Washington, D. c.,
an attorney for the Railway
Labor Executive Association, con-
Quoted the cross examination,
over protests by Great Northern
attorneys Howard ". Rhedin, and
Anthony Kane, Vice Pres. and
General Counsel of the c.. N. who
protested that as representatives
of labor organizations, the at
torneys represented neither party
to the case. The objection was
noted, but the cross examination
was permitted. Lear was the
Railways only witness.
During Tuesdays session, resi-
dents and business men from the
affected communities testified to
their conviction that the Goose is
needed by their areas. They cited
the fact that it provides mail
service; that it offers the only
class A public carrier passenger
service west of Sidney, and from
Fairview to Watford City, and
the only contact that Mckenzie
County communities have with
their County seat town of Wat
ford City; that it furnishes en-
ergency services in cases of ILL
ness, needed medical attention,
and in delivery of medical pre-
scriptions; and that it transports
p~erishable commodities, such as
cream and meats, which might be
delayed from two to three days if
sent by freight.
P. P. Lawrence and Ole Jensen
of Richey, George Howell of
Lambert, Kenneth Gardner of
Fairview, Arthur Link of Alex
ander, c. F. Martell of Charbon-
neau, Frank Lassey and Lyle
Safely, of Cartwright, all helped
to develope the constant pattern
of isolated communities, without
professional services of doctors,
dentists, attorneys or pharmacists,
which depend on the Goose for
contact with outside centers, in
emergencies, such as blocked
roads, illness, or needed machine
parts for repairs during planting
and harvest. Skilled cross exam
ination had little effect in shak-
ing their testimony, and they
steadily insisted on their belief
that the service was needed, in
spite of new and better road con-
struction, particularly in the
Lambert and Richey area
Dan Price, former Secretary for
the Sidney Chamber of Com
merce, offered a statement,
s~tressing 8 points: that Sidney
is a trading center for the area
served by the Goose; Q. that it is
one of the main agricultural areas
Of the west, with large livestock
feeding activities; that the area
has large deposits of oil and
Ignite; that bank debts r
higher than in many surrounding
towns; that other transportation
facilities are limited or lacking;
and that lack of transportation
is one of the greatest weaknesses
in community growth. He stress
ed his belief that improvement
and modernization of the Goose
would stimulate passenger use,
and that elimination would be a
"step backward and doesn't seem
j. |. Turner and Elmer Soren-
son, testified that their businesses
make extensive use of the mail
and express facilities which the
Goose provides. At this point,
Newell Cough, Jr. of Helena, an
attorney for the G.. NJ, stated
that the road will continue to
offer 6 day a week express serv-
ice to Sidney, and 3 day service
to other areas, via the regular
trains on the branch line.
John Snyder, President of the
Williston Chamber of Commerce,
also testified that he appeared on
of the Williston Chamber,
and that he believed the Goose
to be important to Williston.
The case for the local commun-
tiles served, was presented by a
group of local attorneys, includ-
ing Milton Anderson of Sidney,
John Garraas, of Watford City,
and John Davidson of Williston,
aided by Mr.. Paul and Mr..
Mahoney and by c. j. Hanson,
Sec. Counsel of the Montana
Board of Railroad Commission, of
Helena.
At the conclusion Of the hear
ng, the testimony taken will be
presented to the Interstate Com
nerce Commission in Washington,
or a later decision.