1952, 02 January: G. N. Adds New Fleet Of Five Streamliners In 1951

Great Northern Railway progress during 1951 included inauguration of another completely new fleet of five Empire Builder streamliners.

These trains, each of 15 cars and a diesel-electric locomotive, entered service in June between Chicago on the east and Seattle and Portland on the west.

Both fleets in Chicago-Pacific northwest service now are streamlined and have thoroughly modern equipment. The other is the Western Star, which became a new train name in 1951. The Western Star fleet is made up of the five streamliners that were entirely new in 1947 and operated until last June under the Empire Builder name, plus a sixth entirely new in 1951.

Forty new diesel-electric locomotives and 100 covered hopper cars were added during the year. So were 400 refrigerator cars by Western Fruit Express, refrigerator car subsidiary. Construction of 1,000 new box cars, begun late in the year, will be completed in January, 1952.

Delivery of additional new equipment costing $27,000,000 is scheduled for 1952. This embraces 25 diesel-electric locomotives, 950 box cars, 50 box cars equipped for passenger train service, 250 gondolas, 700 ore cars, 300 ballast cars and 50 express refrigerator cars. In addition, Western Fruit Express will receive 300 new heavily insulated refrigerator cars.

The railway’s efficiency was increased during the year by large expenditures to improve track and other structures. Installation of heavier rail and ballasting on main and secondary lines was included. This long-range program is to continue in 1952, subject to availability for materials.

On November 1, Great Northern purchased the Pacific Coast railroad, a 30-mile line serving Seattle and adjacent industrial areas. Operation as part of the Great Northern system will continue under the Pacific Coast railroad name.

Rail Oddities
May 22, 1951
Whitefish Pilot

 

1952, 09 January: Whitefish Ice Will Be Cut

Whitefish, Jan. 9 — Ice cutting on Whitefish Lake is scheduled to start next week said Edwin McKenzie of Bay Point.

Last measurement on the depth of the ice was 10 inches although the cutters hope to have 13-15 inches when they begin sawing. A new "live chain" to haul the ice from the water is being built today and should be finished tomorrow, said McKenzie.

Ice cut from Whitefish Lake is on Western Fruit Express Company contract for fruit car icing of Great Northern trains. There is to be about 8,000 tons of ice taken from the lake, 7,000 for the Western Fruit Express Company and the balance for local consumption.

Fifty to 60 men are to be employed under Foreman Chuck Ray of Whitefish. McKenzie has been removing the snow from the portion of the lake near Bay Point in preparation for the cutting. Frequent snows have made it necessary to plow nearly every day for two weeks.

Most of the Western Fruit Express Company ice will be stored at the big warehouse on the north side of the Great Northern Railway yard here.

A bridge and building crew is cleaning the roof of the Whitefish station with axes and steam hose. The crew first chops the ice free then melts the ice in the drain troughs. From here they are scheduled to go to the Kalispell and Belton stations.

Hungry Horse The "Dam Town" Main street of Hungry Horse town in U. S. Highway No. 2 here in snow cloak. To the rear is the V of Bad Rock Canyon through which the Flathead River flanked by the highway and Great Northern mainline enter the 400-square-mile scenic and fertile Flathead Valley. Construction of the Hungry Horse dam will add significant traffic on the Great Northern. (Bureau of Reclamation photo).

 

1952, 11 January: Fence Factory To Ship 4 Carloads In January

The Concord Fence Co., recently established in Whitefish by N. T. MacKenzie of River Falls, Wisconsin, will ship the first four carloads of its product - patented sectionalized garden fence - by Great Northern Railroad the latter part of this month.

The first shipment will go to Dallas, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Cleveland, for Sears, Roebuck & Co.

The factory began operations late in December and is turning out about a carload a week, Mr. MacKenzie said. At least 60 cars will be shipped this season before July 1, he estimates, with most shipments going before April 1. More than a mile of the sectionalized fence goes into a carload. The fence is sold only through dealers.

"Spring is here as far as the fence business is concerned," Mr. MacKenzie said. "The customers want it last week. Eight or ten carloads are being called for right now."

Cedar, used in manufacturing the fence, is hard to get now because of deep snow in the woods, Cedar has been obtained from Forest Service land five miles south of Olney, but more is needed, especially from private owners. The factory has about six carloads of cedar on hand and will need three or four times as much this winter, Mr. MacKenzie said.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 11 January: G. N. Railway Sets New Safety Mark For Year 1951

A new all-time safety record among Great Northern Railway employes apparently was established in 1951, W. L. LaFountaine of St. Paul, general safety supervisor reports.

The employe casualty rate was 4.50 per million man hours worked, based on final figures for the first 11 months and an estimate for December. This compares with 6.32 in 1950.

"This good record was established by cooperation and adherence to sound safety practices throughout the year by employes, supervisor personnel and officials," Mr. LaFountaine said.

Top ranking in 1951 among the railways divisions went to the Dakota, headquartering in Grand Forks, N. D., and second to the Kalispell, headquartering at Whitefish, Mont.

With a perfect record of not having a reportable injury all year, the Dale Street Shops in St. Paul won first honors among shops. The Great Falls, Mont., shops were second with one injury.

Under the Interstate Commerce Commission basis used in determining rates, a reportable injury is one which keeps an employe from performing regular duties for more than three days during the first ten days following a mishap.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 11 January: Poles Unload From Freight At G. Park Station

Several cars of poles and logs unloaded informally and unexpectedly at Glacier Park station early Sunday morning from an east-bound freight, just missing the depot. It was reported that the operator there, seeing the logs coming, tried to dive out a rear window.

Apparently a log had shifted on one car, lifting the car ahead off the track. A wheel was found to be broken.

Nobody was hurt, and traffic was not tied up, as other trains could use the passing track at the station until the derailed cars and their loads could be cleared up.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 11 January: Sawmill Closes

The American Timber Co. has closed the big mill at the head of the lake. Some repair and maintenance work will be done during the winter tieup. The portable mill, now sawing ties on Le Beau creek, will close in a few days. Wood and Dempsey are still operating their sawmill on Stillwater Lake and at latest reports will not close down unless the weather gets more severe.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 16 January: Whitefish Ice Cutting Set For Friday

Ice cutting will begin Friday on Whitefish Lake, according to Ed McKenzie, local contractor for the ice supply to Western Fruit Express Company and the Great Northern Railway.

The entire supply will be cut from Bay Point, at the end of the big dock; only local men will be employed, about 45 including truck drivers. Fifteen trucks will be operated. Chuck Ray is foreman of the group.

The last two weeks two jeeps have been employed to keep the snow off the ice as a snow blanket keeps the ice from freezing. At present the ice depth is one foot but is expected to reach 18 inches before the cutting is completed. It is planned to cut an area of 20 acres or about 18,000 tons. The blocks are 22" x 32" inches and from one to one and on-half feet thick. Once block averages around 300 pounds.

Instead of the old method of lifting the cakes with tongs hooked on to jeeps and then lifted to the trucks, a "lively" chain, similar to a conveyor betl, will be used. This chain extends underneath the water through a channel cut in the ice field. The blocks are cut from the surrounding ice field and floated onto the chain where they are pushed up an incline to truck level by iron "lugs" or pushers spaced at eight-foot intervals.

Two Warehouses: There are two yellow warehouses just east of the depot that are to be filled for Western Fruit Express Company. Together they hold about 9,000 tons; the trucks will haul the ice cakes directly to the warehouses which the cutters must fill. There are 40 boxcars for the G. N. that need ice from this year's quota.

Work will be finished within two weeks if all goes well, said McKenzie.

Welch Lumber Co.
May 23, 1952
Whitefish Pilot

 

1952, 18 January: Big Mountain To Be Featured In G. N. Goat

An illustrated article about the Big Mountain ski run is scheduled to appear in the Great Northern Goat's February issue. Photographs are by Marion Lacy.

Two other articles of local interest - one about snow clearing on Going-to-the-Sun Highway in Glacier National Park, the other about Hungry Horse Dam - appear in the January issue of Steelways, a specialized magazine published by the American Iron and Steel Institute. The Glacier Park story has photographs by Mel Ruder, publisher and editor of the Hungry Horse News.

All three articles were written by Miss Dorothy M. Johnson, the Pilot's news editor.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 18 January: G. N. Firemen Are Promoted To New Engineers

Classes for promotion of Great Northern locomotive firemen to engineers were held in Whitefish Jan. 7 through Jan. 10. R. L. Bretthauer, Don Marston and John German, traveling engineers for the Great Northern, were examiners.

The examiners have announced promotion of the following firemen to engineers:

John Robinson, Ray Van Slyke, Earl Knaus, Robert Lawler, Dave Morrow, Albert Robetorye, James Haines, Clyde Yenne, James Dewar, Ozzie Schmechel, Harold Gatzke, Lester Regan and George Strom.

--- Whitefish Pilot

Rail Oddities
July 31, 1952
Whitefish Pilot

 

1952, 25 January: Whitefish Ice Harvest Is Now Underway

It's harvest time in the north end of Flathead Valley, with the temperature a few degrees above zero.

Harvesting of 8,200 tons of ice on Whitefish Lake at Bay Point started with a band last Friday. Forty men under the direction of Ed McKenzie and Chuck Ray are expected finish the job in about two weeks.

Harvesting started three weeks earlier than usual this winter because of abnormally cold weather. The work is going faster than usual, too. This year, instead of loading each chunk of ice 22 by 32 inches, and 13 inches thick - with tongs, a live chain is being used. The chain pulls the sawed ice cakes out of the water at a steady pace to a platform, from which men hoist them with tongs into trucks.

Two snowplows operate nine hours a day to keep the surface clear of snow. Another man poles himself around all night on an ice float to keep new ice from forming in open water through which the ice is moved to the live chain.

A power saw cuts floats 12 feet wide by 30 feet long, and saw almost through between the smaller individual cakes that make up the float. Men with pikes break these off when the float, weighing 18 tons, is moved near the loading equipment.

Ice workers are being fed in the new 18 by 20 dining room just completed last week to adjoin the Bay Point Drive-In.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 25 January: G. N. Appoints Special Agent

Lawrence W. Powell has been appointed to the Great Northern's special agent staff here to succeed the late William A. Smith. He will have the rank of lieutenant of police. Great Northern officials said his appointment will be effective Feb. 1.

Powell, who is being transferred from the Spokane division, is a grandson of Puck Powell, who was police chief in Whitefish many years ago and had a colorful career in law enforcement elsewhere in Montana. Puck Powell was a member of a posse that pursued the notorious Kid Curry after a daring daylight train robbery in the eastern part of the state.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 25 January: Masonic Rites For William C. Smith

Funeral services for William C. Smith were conducted from the Masonic Temple Friday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock with acting Master Monroe Spink of the A.F. & A.M. Lodge No. 64 and Rev. John F. Reagan of the Methodist Church in charge of services. Musical numbers were sung by Gladys Barker who was accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Ann Phipps. Shrine members who acted as pallbearers were Dr. Robert Schroeder; Harry Burr; Harry Hollingsworth; Herb Peschel; O. L. Reeves and Hugh Adair. Burial was made in the Whitefish Cemetery.

William C. Smith was born May 1, 1900 at Merrill, Wisconsin the son of John and Martha Smith. He attended school and business college at Merrill, In 1923 he went to Iron Mountain Mich., where he was employed in the police department of the Ford Motor Company.

In 1926 he moved to Spokane where he went to work for the Great Northern Railroad in the Special Agent department. He came to Whitefish in 1927 as a special agent and in 1932 was united in marriage to Viola Barton at Cut Bank, Montana. They lived in Whitefish until 1933, when they moved to Spokane. In 1938 they returned to Whitefish where they have made their home since.

Mr. Smith was a member of North West Peace Officers Association; A. F. & A. M. Lodge No. 64 of Whitefish and Algeria Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

He passed away at the local hospital in Whitefish after a brief illness Jan. 15, 1952, at the age of 51.

He is survived by his widow, Viola; his mother, Mrs. Martha Smith, Merrill, Wis. and two sisters, Mrs. Carl Giese of Merrill and Mrs. Leslie Plenke of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. His mother and Mrs. Giese arrived in Whitefish Thursday to be present for funeral services.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 25 January: Andrew Braaten Passed Here

Andrew Braaten passed away at the John B. Simons Hospital Tuesday, Jan. 22. He had been a resident of this community for 24 years, coming here from McGregor, N. D. He recently retired from work with the Great Northern Railway.

Since the death of his wife in 1944 he has been living with his daughter, Mrs. Margaret Larsen. Another daughter, Mrs. Gladys Bock, also lives in Whitefish, and a son, Lawrence, lives in Portland.

Funeral services were tentatively set for Saturday at 2 p. m. at the Catron Chapel.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 25 January: G. N. Ry. Granted Permission To Reroute Train

Western Star Will Serve Great Falls; Commission Votes 2 to 1.

Helena, Jan. 25 – Montana’s railroad commission has given the Great Northern railway permission to route its Western Star streamliner through Great Falls.

This assured mainline rail transportation for Great Falls when the Montana railroad and public service commission granted permission to route the Western Star streamliner by way of the Electric City between Havre and Shelby.

Vote of the commission was 2 to 1 in favor of the G. N. application, with Leonard Young and Austin B. Middleton approving and Paul T. Smith dissenting. The commission’s order provides re-routing the Western Star by way of Great Falls but decreed that Chester be made a conditional flag stop for trains No. 1 and 2 (the Empire Builder) for revenue passengers for Minot and east and for Spokane and west.

The commission’s order also requires the Western Star to include Dutton as a regular stop, along with Conrad, Fort Benton and Big Sandy. Under the new schedule, trains No. 221, 222, 235, 236, 237, 40, 41, 42 and 43 will be discontinued.

Trains 221 and 222 carry mail between Great Falls and Havre, leaving Great Falls and Havre, leaving Great Falls at 9:50 p. m. Trains 235 and 236 are passenger trains, between Havre and Great Falls, while 237 and 238 is the "baby streamliner" connecting Havre with the Empire Builder. The Great Falls – Shelby – Glacier Park train is 42 and 43, and the Sweet Grass run is designated as 40 and 41.

Under the order, the commission ruled, the "baby streamliner" between Havre and Great Falls be continued until such time as bus service is inaugurated. It approved regular stops by Great Northern buses at Fort Benton and Big Sandy and provisional stops at all communities on U. S. Highway 87 served by the G. N., including Carter, Big Sandy, Loma, Box Elder and Laredo. Young and Smith voted for G. N.’s application for replacing the "baby streamliner" with bus service, while Middleton disapproved.

The commissioner’s order said "such authority to become effective on 20 days notice to the public." It is expected the Great Northern will make preparations for the changes as soon as the commission order is received. Indications are new service probably will start March 1.

The Great Northern announced plans for rerouting the Western Star through Great Falls last November. A hearing by the state public service commission was held in Great Falls in December when testimony was heard from supporters and protestants.

At Havre H. M. Shapleigh, superintendent of the Butte division said the arrival and departure schedules have not been announced from St. Paul as yet but are expected shortly.

Rocky Mountain Lumber Expanding on the Columbia Falls industrial skyline is Rocky Mountain Lumber Co., where a new 2 x 4 x 8 mill is being installed as well as a new mill pond. Rocky Mountain was established in Columbia Falls in June, 1948 and has employed up to 80 men. Most of its logs come from west of Whitefish.

 

1952, 31 January: Lake Ice Is Harvested

Mechanization takes over. Over 5,000 tons of ice have been sawed so far from the huge ice sheet covering Whitefish Lake.

Edwin McKenzie, ice contractor for the Western Fruit Express Company, said he hopes to complete the cutting of 8,000 tons of ice in another six days.

Since Jan. 18 a crew of 55 mend has been cutting, floating, loading, hauling and storing the natural ice from the lake near Bay Point.

Tuesday the Forest Service hauled 23 tons of the ice to the ranger stations at Big Creek and Coram. Another 1,200 tons of ice have been sold to the Great Northern Railway which will stock stations in the Spokane Division.

Other ice will be stored by McKenzie for local consumption and the big balance is being stored in the big icehouse of the Western Fruit Express Company here.

Ice cutting on Whitefish Lake has undergone some major changes since it began six or seven years ago.

Power Saw Cutting: Power buzz saws replaced hand saws, mobilized loading has replaced manual lifting of the blocks into the trucks and the tonnage has been increasing steadily each year.

Daily the area of open water grows in size as the blocks are taken from the bay. The ice nearest the loading point at Bay Point has been cut until about half the bay is open or only has a thin coating of ice. The blocks are sliced nearly through then floated toward the loading platform. To keep the blocks in line the channel is narrow near the loading dock with ice forming the border on each side.

Floated To Shore: As the big sheets of partially-sawed blocks are guided toward the float channel they are broken into smaller strips and just before they come to the continuous loading chain they are broken into individual blocks.

The chain that pulls the ice from the water is a new innovation this year. Last year a pair of tongs was attached to the block and it was jerked from the water by a truck. This year a motor runs the continuous chain which grabs the ice from the water and pushes it up a ramp to the trucks.

Nocturnal Watch Kept: Two men have been employed to keep the ice channel open during the night. Every half hour the men drag a strip of ice through the channel to break the scum of ice that forms.

Last year the contract for ice cutting on Whitefish Lake was awarded to Fred Stone of Browning but since last year Stone has retired and sold his cutting equipment.

Cinders and soot from the Great Northern roundhouse smoke stack made ice cutting on Whitefish Lake undesirable until six or seven years ago. When the roundhouse heating was switched to oil it eliminated the soot that each winter dotted the ice.

Ice At Coram: For many years the ice was taken at Lake Five near Coram but the heavier snowfall there made the job more difficult than in Whitefish where there is less snow.

Ice has ranged in depth from 12 to 15 inches although that taken yesterday measured an even 15 inches.

To add to the excitement of the 1952 yearly ice harvest, a jeep went into the lake. Only one small corner of the vehicle remained above the water when crews began the job of pulling it to shore. The jeep slid slowly into the water and the snowplow on front came to rest in the mud at the bottom of the lake in a shallow area. Crews pulled it back to shore, not much the worse for the dunking.

McKenzie said to date no one that he knows of has gotten a thorough dunking although several men have been drenched to the waist.

Twelve Trucks Used: Interested spectators daily line the shore near the loading point to watch the crews coax the blocks through the channel, then bully them into their place on the waiting trucks. Twelve trucks make the hauls to the warehouse where crews pile and insulate the blocks against the summer heat.

When it comes time for icing the fruit trains next summer or the need of ice for a picnic presents itself, the days of the annual winter ice harvest from Whitefish Lake may bring memories of trucks hauling their ice-blue loads.

Yearly becoming more rare is the cutting of natural ice. The cutting progress here is the most advanced along the Great Northern line, concluded McKenzie.

Snow Sheds Near Continental Divide Great Northern Railway has snowsheds near the continental divide to protect their mainline through the mountains from slides. Here a mass of snow moved down the mountain across the shed and then bowling over trees to near the highway from where this picture was taken last Sunday.

 

1952, 01 February: Old Locomotive Changes To Diesel On Checks

Old Ninety-Seven, or whatever the locomotive is on the First National Bank's checks, will gradually retire beginning next week. The steam locomotive on the present checks will be replaced with a modern Diesel, according to T. J. Silers, president of the bank.

Most Whitefish people don't even know their checks have an engine on them, and those specially printed don't, in fact. The standard checks, drafts and notes do have one, printed in pale blue, as part of the "safety" design that is used to make erasures show up in case some optimistic forger tries to boost your $1 check to $10,000.

The about to be retired steam locomotive in the picture on Whitefish checks is hard to identify. Some railroaders say it's a 2500; some say it's like a mallet but not quite. C. H. Jennings, who was president of the First National when the present engine went on the safety paper, thinks it is either and 1800 or a 2000. One formerly used, he recalls, was probably a 1300.

Anyway, the Diesel now used on the Great Northern will replace it on new checks, which are due next week from Great Falls, where they are produced by a process called lithography by the Great Falls Tribune.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 01 February: Masonic Rites For John Horn

Funeral services for John Reid Horn were conducted from the Catron Chapel Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock with Rev. Hugh Garner of the Presbyterian church and Acting Master Monroe Spink of Masonic Lodge No. 64 in charge of the services.

Musical numbers were furnished by Mrs. Gladys Barker, who was accompanied on the piano by Mrs. T. W. Hiatt. Friends and fellow masons who acted as pallbearers were Don Smith, Charles Tudor, Leonard Moore, Lorus Babcock, Bert Weller and Henry Irwin. Interment was made in the Whitefish Cemetery.

John Reid Horn was born in Kinross, Scotland, February 23, 1875. He came to the United Sates in 1911 to make his home with his brother Andrew on Dakota Ave. in Whitefish. He went to work for the Great Northern Railway that same year and continued as a railroad employe until his retirement in 1943.

In 1919 he married Mary June E. Hyres, who preceded him in death in 1922. To them was born one son, John David.

Mr. Horn lived at his home at 219 Dakota Ave. with his sister, Miss Mary R. Horn who assisted him in maintaining the home for many years. He was member of the First Presbyterian Church of Whitefish and of the Whitefish Masonic Lodge.

He passed away Friday morning, January 25, 1952 at the age of 76. Mr. Horn is survived by his son, Capt. John D. Horn, who is stationed with the Air Corps at Cocoa, Florida; one grandson; one sister, Miss Mary R. Horn of Whitefish; two nieces, Mrs. O. A. Britell, Whitefish and Mrs. A. M. Barnet, of Fergus, Ontario, Canada; one nephew, William D. Heron of Santa Cruz, California; and several nieces and nephews in Scotland.

--- Whitefish Pilot

AAC Plant Site At the Teakettle site Wednesday afternoon looking over actual building locations for the new Anaconda aluminum plant were John W. Irvine, ACM construction engineer, Yerington, New Mex.; Wilbur Jurden, New York City, ACM chief design, engineer; R. J. Kennard, Butte, chief engineer for western operations; Frank O. Case, ACM vice president in charge of aluminum, and H. G. Satterthwaithe, the new plant's manager. Main construction starts next spring.

 

1952, 01 February: Lumber Carloadings

Columbia Falls January lumber shipments totaled 75 freight cars, according to Great Northern Agent H. J. Mustell. December shipments were 86, plus 11 of poles and January, a year ago, shipments, 108 cars.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 05 February: G. N. Schedule Changes Announced

Great Falls Getting Ready for Big Event of Feb. 26.

A new train schedule will be put in effect by the Great Northern Ry. Co. February 26 when some trains now in operation will be discontinued and the Western Star mainline train will be rerouted to include Great Falls and several other points. A notice today is pursuant to authority granted by the state railroad and public service commission.

The operation of trains numbered 221, 222, 235, and 236 between Great Falls and Havre will be discontinued. Others that will no longer be in operation include trains 42 and 43 between Great Falls and Shelby, and trains 40 and 41 daily between Shelby and Sweet Grass numbered 3 and 4.

The railroad will operate trains between Havre, Great Falls and Shelby, with No. 3 to leave Havre at 4:55 a. m., and No. 4 to arrive in Havre at 12:30 a. m.

The complete schedule announced by Supt. H. M. Shapleigh is as follows:

No. 3		Stations	No. 4
04:55 a.m.	lv	Havre	12:30 a.m.	ar
05:39 a.m.		Big Sandy	11:41 p.m.
06:46 a.m.		Fort Benton	10:35 a.m.
07:50 a.m.	ar	Great Falls	10:35 a.m.	lv
08:05 a.m.	lv	Great Falls	09:20 p.m.	ar
09:10		Dutton	08:21 p.m.
10:07 a.m.		Conrad	07:32 p.m.
11:05 a.m.		Shelby	06:40 p.m.	lv

The state commission has ordered the "baby streamliner" between Great Falls and Havre is to be continued until such time as bus service is inaugurated.

Meanwhile the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce is making elaborate plans to welcome the Western Star to its city. John M. Budd, Great Northern president, will speak at a banquet on Feb. 26.

1952, 08 February: Conductor Spears Retires After Half Century

Robert (Bob) Spears retired at the end of January after 50 years of service as a conductor with the Great Northern. He expects to rest and follow his hobby of woodworking at his home on Whitefish Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Spears have made their home here since 1937.

Mr. Spears began railroading on the Great Northern in Glasgow as a messenger and callboy in 1892. He later worked on extra and bridge gangs and went to work in the roundhouse in 1896. He became a fireman in 1898 and resigned in that year to work as a brakeman with the Minneapolis & St. Louis.

He returned to Glasgow in 1899 and became a Great Northern brakeman. He was advanced to conductor in 1902 and went into the passenger service in 1910.

Mr. and Mrs. Spears have two sons, Fred in Fresno, Calif.; and Bob, in Whitefish; and two daughters, Mrs. O. B. Seim and Mrs. H. B. Pond, both of Missoula.

His last run was on No. 28 leaving here the evening of January 31. Tuesday of this week he and Mrs. Spears went to Havre and were special guests at the annual banquet of the B. of R. T.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 08 February: Ice Harvest Is Finished

Winter harvest ended this week when a 40-man crew supervised by Chuck Ray finished cutting 8,200 tons of ice on Whitefish Lake for Western Fruit Express Company ice houses here. Cutting was done at Bay Point.

The January thaw, which continued into February, made the lake ice thicker and better than usual, Ed McKenzie reported. He explained that heat sends frost downward into the ice, which was 13" thick when the harvest began and 16" thick when it ended.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 08 February: New Special Agent Here From Spokane

Lawrence Powell, former Whitefish resident, took over his duties as lieutenant of police in the Great Northern Railway's special agent department here Feb. 1.

Mr. Powell went to Whitefish High School for two years and then moved to Havre with his family. He is the son of Mrs. O. A. Burt, who still lives in Havre, and a grandson of the late "Puck" Powell, early-day peace officer here and in other parts of Montana.

For the past six years, Mr. Powell has been a Great Northern special agent on the Spokane division. He expects to bring his wife and two children from Spokane this week end. They will live at the Whitefish Courts.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 08 February: The Passing Of The 1700

Last week's Pilot included a news story about a change in the locomotive used on First National Bank checks. A steam locomotive, unidentified at that time, is being replaced with a modern Diesel on the lithographed safety paper used on bank checks, notes and drafts.

The old steam engine has been identified as belonging to the P-1 class. Fifteen of them were in service on the Great Northern, starting 1914. They were numbered 1750 to 1764. The 1700's went out when the Diesels came in.

This information came from A. F. Evey by way of Allen Herriges.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 13 February: Cutters Finish Ice Harvest In Whitefish

Whitefish, Feb. 13 — The annual ice harvest on Whitefish Lake has been completed reports Ed McKenzie, contractor for this year's ice supply to the Western Fruit Express Company and Great Northern Railway here.

Not quite seven thousand tons were stored in the two spacious yellow warehouses of the Western Fruit Express Company at the G. N. yards here. A remaining 1,500 tons were stored in G. N. boxcars and shipped to out-of-the-way stations for use by the extra gangs working along the tracks. Ice was also supplied for the Forest Service and some local consumption.

Forty-five men from around Whitefish and 15 locally-owned trucks were used during the operations at Bay Point [on Whitefish Lake]. New Machines involved helped lessen the time required to finish the ice cutting, which was said to be as good if not better than previous years. The thickness of the cakes increased from 12 to 16 inches at the close of the season. An additional space was built on the Bay Point drive-in and served as a dining room for the ice crew and foreman, Chuck Ray.

1952, 14 February: Schedule Changes For Western Star Train Announced

Helena, Feb. 14 – Great Northern railway officials today announced schedule changes which will become effective Feb. 26, when G. N.’s streamlined Western Star starts service to Great Falls between Havre and Shelby.

South-bound No. 235 will leave Great Falls at 8:30 a. m., arriving here at 11:12 a. m. This train will leave Helena at 11:27 a. m. and arrive in Butte at 1:30 p. m.

North-bound No. 236 will leave Butte at 3:20 p. m., arrive here at 5:40 p. m., leave at 5:55 p. m., and arrive in Great Falls 8:50 p. m., for a direct connection with the Western Star, No. 4, east-bound. This train will arrive in Chicago at 8 a. m. the second morning after leaving Great Falls.

Both the north and south-bound trains will use the same "baby streamliner" equipment now in use on trains from Great Falls to Havre. This latter run will be discontinued.

1952, 20 February: Top Officials To Attend Main Line Celebration

Top officials of the Great Northern Railway will attend Great Falls’ celebration Tuesday of the inaugural of main line rail service, Manager R. F. Kitchingman of the Chamber of Commerce said.

Heading the delegation will be John M. Budd, president; I. G. Poole, vice president of operations, and C. E. Finley, vice president of traffic. Others from St. Paul will include P. G. Holmes, passenger traffic manager; H. V. Rhedin, attorney; David Eichten, mail and baggage department, and C. W. Moore, executive assistant. T. A. Jerrow, Williston, general manager of lines east, and Don Taylor, Seattle, assistant general manager of lines west, also will be here.

More than 20 other railroad officials and heads of brotherhoods are numbered among guests at a banquet Tuesday night at the Meadow Lark Country club. Among these are J. J. Heimes, assistant general freight and passenger agent; M. M. Shapleigh, division superintendent; Lee Metcalf, local agent; Taylor Weir and Newell Gough, Helena, G. N. attorneys, and others.

Lloyd M. Croxford, chamber president, will be toastmaster at the banquet. Budd will deliver the principal address, after an official welcome by Mayor James Austin.

The banquet and program will end in time for the official welcome of the first east-bound Western Star arriving here at 9:20 p. m. Band music and other special features are planned at the station celebration. The west-bound train will arrive Tuesday morning at 7:50, when flowers will be placed aboard and other greeting will be extended on behalf of the city.

Reservations for the banquet are being received at the chamber. Kitchingman said the event, which will be stag, is limited to 150 persons. He urged those desiring to attend to make their reservations early due to the limited number that can be accommodated at the Meadow Lark club.

1952, 20 February: Western Star Comes To Great Falls Feb. 26

The Western Star, Great Northern Railway streamliner, will provide direct service daily to and from Great Falls, Mont., both east-bound and west-bound, starting with train arrivals there February 26.

Under the new routing the streamliner will travel between Havre and Shelby via Great Falls in both directions rather than directly between Havre and Shelby. Otherwise the train’s route between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest will be unchanged.

Previously, Great Falls has been served through connecting trains meeting the west-bound and east-bound Western Star at Havre or Shelby.

Arrival and departure times for the Western Star at Chicago, Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Ore., will be unchanged. Running time between the Twin Cities and Seattle - Portland will be lengthened by 25 minutes west-bound and 35 minutes east-bound.

The west-bound Western Star leaving Chicago on Feb. 24 and the Twin Cities on Feb. 25 will be the first to travel via Great Falls, which is Montana’s largest city. East-bound, the new service will be inaugurated with the Western Star leaving Seattle and Portland on Feb. 25.

G. N. Streamliners Follow Middle Fork Great Northern streamliners, the Empire Builder and Western Star, follow the Flathead River's Middle Fork down from near the continental divide virtually to Bad Rock Canyon, the entrance to 400 square mile Flathead Valley. River here is good fishing stream and is border for Glacier National Park to left. Since February 26, Western Star provides direct rail connection from Great Falls, Montana's largest city, to the Flathead.

 

1952, 20 February: Great Northern Passenger Train Schedule Changes

Beginning February 26, 1952, Great Northern’s streamlined Western Star, Trains 3 and 4, between Chicago, Portland and Seattle via St. Paul, Minneapolis and Spokane, will operate between Havre and Shelby via Great Falls.

The west-bound Western Star, Train 3, will arrive Havre at 4:45 a. m., daily, leave Havre at 4:55 a. m., arrive Big Sandy at 5:39 a. m., Fort Benton at 6:46 a. m., Great Falls at 7:50 a. m. Connections will be made in Great Falls with Train 235, leaving Great Falls at 8:30 a. m., daily, arrive Helena at 11:12 a. m., Butte at 1:50 p. m.

The east-bound Western Star, Train 4, will leave Great Falls daily at 9:35 p. m., Fort Benton at 10:35 p. m., Big Sandy at 11:41 p. m., arrive Havre at 12:30 a. m., leave Havre at 12:40 a. m. Train 236 will leave Butte at 3:20 p. m., daily, Helena at 5:55 p. m., connecting with the east-bound Western Star, Train 4, in Great Falls.

The west-bound Empire Builder, Train 1, will leave Havre at 12:10 p. m. daily, five minutes later than at present. The east-bound Empire Builder, Train 2, will leave Havre daily at 12:30 p. m., fifteen minutes earlier than at present.

The east-bound Fast Mail, Train 28, will arrive Havre at 12:25 a. m., leave Havre at 1:00 a. m. daily.

Great Northern Trains 221 and 222 and 235 and 236 and 237 and 238 will be discontinued between Havre and Great Falls effective February 26. Trains 43 and 42, between Great Falls and Shelby, and Trains 40 and 41, between Shelby and Sweet Grass, will also be discontinue. Trains 43 and 42, between Billings and Great Falls will continue to operate on present schedules until further notice. Bus service will be substituted for Trains 237 and 238 between Havre and Great Falls.

Call or see you local Great Northern Agent for further detailed information.

1952, 21 February: Great Northern Passenger Train Schedule Changes

Beginning February 26, 1952, Great Northern’s streamlined Western Star, trains 3 and 4, between Chicago, Portland and Seattle via St. Paul, Minneapolis and Spokane, will operate via Great Falls, Montana, between Shelby and Havre, Montana.

The west-bound Western Star, train No. 3, will leave Columbia Falls at 3:01 p. m. daily.

The east-bound Western Star, train No. 4, will leave Columbia Falls at 2:54 p. m. daily.

The west-bound Fast Mail train No. 27, will leave Columbia Falls at 10:59 a. m. daily.

The east-bound Fast Mail, train No. 28, will leave Columbia Falls at 5:10 p. m. daily.

All train schedule changes are effective February 26, 1952. For further information phone or call on your local Great Northern Railway agent.

pd. adv.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 22 February: G. N. Passenger Train Schedule Changes

Beginning February 26, 1952, Great Northern's streamlined Western Star, trains 3 and 4, between Chicago, Portland and Seattle via St. Paul, Minneapolis and Spokane, will operate via Great Falls, Montana, between Shelby and Havre, Montana.

The west-bound Western Star, train No. 3, will leave Whitefish at 3:15 daily.

The east-bound Western Star, train No. 4, will leave Whitefish at 2:40 p. m. daily.

The east-bound Empire Builder, train No. 2, will leave Whitefish at 6:40 a. m., daily, fifteen minutes earlier than at present.

The east-bound Fast Mail, train No. 28, will leave Whitefish at 4:55 p. m. daily.

All train schedule changes are effective February 26, 1952. For further information phone or call on your local Great Northern Railway agent. (adv.)

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 22 February: Western Star Via Great Falls Starts Tuesday Feb. 26

The Western Star, Great Northern Railway streamliner, will provide direct service daily to and from Great Falls, Mont., both east-bound and west-bound, starting with train arrivals there February 26.

Under the new routing the streamliner will travel between Havre and Shelby, via Great Falls in both directions, rather than directly between Havre and Shelby. Otherwise the train's route between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest will be unchanged.

Previously, Great Falls has been served through connecting trains meeting the west-bound and east-bound Western Star at Havre or Shelby.

Arrival and departure times for the Whitefish at Chicago, Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Oregon will be unchanged. Running time between the Twin Cities and Seattle - Portland will be lengthened by 25 minutes west-bound and 35 minutes east-bound.

The west-bound Western Star leaving Chicago on February 24 and the Twin Cities on February 25 will be the first to travel via Great Falls, which is Montana's largest city. East-bound, the new service will be inaugurated with the Western Star leaving Seattle and Portland on February 25.

The west-bound Western Star, train No. 3, will leave Whitefish at 3:15 p. m. daily.

The east-bound Western Star, train No. 4, will leave Whitefish at 2:40 p. m. daily.

The east-bound Empire Builder, train No. 2, will leave Whitefish at 6:40 a. m., daily, fifteen minutes earlier than at present.

The east-bound Fast Mail, train No. 28, will leave Whitefish at 4:55 p. m. daily.

The Whitefish - Kalispell Great Northern bus will conform to the new schedule.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 22 February: Former Superintendent I. E. Manion Passes In Seattle

Ira E. Manion, general manager of lines west of Williston for the Great Northern Railway, died Friday night in Seattle. He had not been able to attend to his duties for several weeks. He was former division superintendent here, and at Great Falls, and in Spokane.

Services were held in Seattle Tuesday. He is survived by his widow Della, two sons Rex, of St. Paul, and Don of Devil's Lake, N. D., both connected with the Great Northern and a daughter Afton (Mrs. H. W. Nelson) of Pennsylvania.

He had been connected with railroad work since youth, and came up through the ranks. Great Northern officials from a distance attending the service in Seattle were: John Budd, president of the Great Northern, Ira Pool, vice president in charge of operations, both of St. Paul; Tom Jerrow, manager of lines east of Duluth, Minn., and Walter Minton, division superintendent here.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 22 February: W. R. Minton Transferred To Superior By G. N.

W. R. Minton, superintendent of this division of the Great Northern Railway since January 1, 1945, has been transferred as superintendent of the Mesabi division with headquarters in Superior, Wisconsin, effective on March 1. His tour of duty here has been the longest on record with the exception of M. C. LeBertew, whom he succeeded here.

The Messabi division takes in the Iron range, head of the lakes territory of the Great Northern between St. Paul, Duluth and Superior, and due to the iron ore is the heavy tonnage division of the Great Northern.

His successor here will be Henry M. Shapleigh, now superintendent of the Butte division with headquarters in Great Falls.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 22 February: Railroad Chief Gets Transfer To Superior

St. Paul — Walter R. Minton of Whitefish, superintendent of the Kalispell Division of the Great Northern, will become superintendent of the line's Mesabi at Superior, Wis., March 1.

His appointment to succeed C. O. Hooker, who will become general manager of lines east of Williston, N. D., was announced today.

Henry M. Shapleigh, of Great Falls, now superintendent of the Butte division, will succeed Minton at Whitefish. Shapleigh will be succeed by Charles M. Rasmussem of Klamath Falls, Ore., now superintendent of the division there.

In Whitefish today Minton said, "We regret leaving the area as we have lived here a little over seven years. The employees of the Kalispell Division have been most cooperative and are a very fine group of railroad men. We have lived in Montana about 15 years, consider it our home and like the people of Montana very much.

For Minton to return to Superior, Wis., will be a happy promotion as it was there that he started as a phone operator and yard checker in 1910. He started checking cars in 1912.

The railroad executive served as a trainmaster from 1929 to 1934 at Great Falls and became assistant superintendent in 1934. He served in this capacity during the building of the Fort Peck dam until he was transferred to Klamath Falls in 1938.

It was at Klamath Falls that he was promoted to superintendent in 1943. On Jan. 1, 1945 he was transferred to Whitefish. During his stay in Whitefish Minton has been a regular member of the Rotary club and he and his wife made their home at 233 Second Street. They have two grown children in Milwaukee.

1952, 24 February: New Rail Head For This Area Coming March 1

Henry M. Shapleigh of Great Falls, Mont., is scheduled to take over the Kalispell Division of the Great Northern Railway as superintendent effective March 1.

Shapleigh succeeds W. R. Minton who is to go to Superior, Wis. on the Mesabi division as superintendent.

Other Great Northern changes include the assignment of Thomas A. Jerrow of Duluth who will become general manager of lines west of Williston, N. D., with headquarters in Seattle.

Charles M. Rasmussen of Klamath Falls, Ore., now superintendent of the Klamath Falls division, will succeed Shapleigh in Great Falls.

Jerrow, who has been in Great Northern service since 1924, will succeed Ira E. Manion of Seattle as general manager on lines west. Mr. Manion died Feb. 15.

Shapleigh was born in Moorehead, Minn., and went into railway work there in 1919. From 1924 through August, 1931 he was identified with the maintenance of way department of the railway. Shapleigh became a trainmaster in 1934 and was made superintendent in Klamath Falls in June, 1942. He has been superintendent in Great Falls since July, 1943.

1952, 26 February: Great Falls Gets Main Line Train Service

Great Falls, Feb. 26 – Great Falls got main line rail transportation today after years of waiting.

The Great Northern’s west-bound streamliner, Western Star, stopped here this morning on its way from Havre to Shelby. The train was greeted with flowers.

The main celebration comes tonight when G. N. president John M. Budd speaks at an inaugural banquet. He heads a delegation of railway officers from St. Paul.

After the banquet the first east-bound Western Star will be officially welcomed when it arrives here at 9:20 p. m.

Effective today, G. N. discontinued trains 221, 223, 235 and 236 between Great Falls and Havre, 42 and 43 between Great Falls and Shelby and 40 and 41 between Shelby and Sweet Grass.

Trains 237 and 238 will continue between Great Falls and Havre until the state railroad commission authorizes their discontinuance.

Loma, Feb. 26 – Loma residents said goodbye to their last passenger train yesterday.

Starting today, they could watch the Great Northern’s streamlined Western Star whip through twice daily. But they can’t board it. The train won’t stop here on its run between Havre and Shelby via Great Falls.

On the last run of train 235 and 236, Conductor Tom Klein received a wreath from Mrs. Greisback Chappell, 87.

1952, 27 February: G. Northern Announces Personnel Transfers

Changes involving eight Great Northern operating officials throughout the system have been announced in St. Paul by Ira G. Pool, the railway's operating vice president. The new assignments, effective March 1, are:

Thomas A. Jerrow of Duluth will become general manager of lines West of Williston, N. D., with headquarters in Seattle.

C. O. Hooker of Superior, Wis., now superintendent of Great Northern's Mesabi division, will succeed Mr. Jerrow as general manager of lines East.

Walter R. Minton of Whitefish, Mont., now superintendent of the Kalispell Division, will succeed Mr. Hooker in Superior.

Henry M. Shapleigh of Great Falls, Mont., now superintendent of the Butte division, will succeed Mr. Minton in Whitefish.

Charles M. Rasmussen of Klamath Falls, Ore., now superintendent of the Klamath Falls division, will succeed Mr. Shapleigh in Great Falls.

Eugene F. Oviatt, trainmaster in Willmar, Minn., will succeed Mr. Rasmussen as superintendent of the Klamath division.

John H. Boyd, trainmaster in St. Cloud, Minn., will succeed Mr. Oviatt in Willmar.

William T. Sloan, assistant trainmaster in Grand Forks will succeed Mr. Boyd in St. Cloud.

Mr. Jerrow, who has been in Great Northern service since 1924, will succeed Ira E. Manion of Seatle as general manager of lines West. Mr. Manion died on February 15.

A Montanan, Mr. Jerrow was a trainmaster in Iowa, Minnesota and Washington before entering the Military Service in 1942. In 1945 he became superintendent of the Klamath division and two years later was transferred to Grand Forks, N. D. as superintendent of the Dakota division. He was advanced to general manager in Duluth in May 1951.

Entering Great Northern service in 1909 as a brakeman, Mr. Hooker is a veteran of World War I. He became trainmaster in MISSING THE REST continued on page four

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 27 February: Inauguration Of Main Line Service Held

Great Falls, Feb. 27, (AP) — Great Falls marked the inauguration of Great Northern Ry. Mainline service Tuesday with several special ceremonies including a banquet at which John M. Budd, president of the railroad, was the principal speaker. The dinner, attended by 150 Great Falls Chamber of Commerce leaders and 32 guests from out of town, was held at the Meadow Lark Country club.

In his talk Budd traced the history of the Great Northern and stated, "Great Falls and Great Northern have been good friends since the pioneering ‘80s." The foresight of such men as Paris Gibson, founder of the city, James J. Hill, the railroad’s builder and O. S. Warden, publisher of the Great Falls Tribune was lauded in the talk. Budd was introduced by Lloyd Croxford, president of the Great Falls chamber. Thirty top officials of the railroad were introduced by Croxford who was also master of ceremonies at the big welcome extended to the east-bound Western Star train after the banquet.

Mayor James Austin presented scrolls to Engineer George Wolff of Great Falls and Conductor Fred Gregory of Whitefish.

Earlier in the day John E. F. Peterson of Great Falls and Tom Kleiv of Great Falls, engineer and conductor respectively of the west-bound Western Star were presented with scrolls.

Aluminum Plant Site To Be Chosen This Great Northern mainline sheltered spot to left of breezy Bad Rock Canyon and at foot of Teakettle mountain has 700 acres under option to the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. as a site for the new aluminum plant. Other option site is a mile east of Coram. Also considered is a centrally located Harvey Machine Co. purchased and optioned land, six miles north of Kalispell.

 

1952, 27 February: Service Climaxes Years Of Friendship

Inauguration of main line rail service direct to Great Falls is an historic and memorable day, John M. Budd, president of the Great Northern railroad, said Tuesday night at a celebration marking arrival of the crack streamliner, Western Star.

Budd was the principal speaker at a banquet held in his honor at the Meadow Lark Country club, at which more than 150 Chamber of Commerce leaders attended. The G. N. president said, "Great Falls and Great Northern have been good friends since the pioneering 80’s," as he traced the history of the road. He paid tribute to Paris Gibson, founder of the city, and James J. Hill, the railroad’s builder. Budd lauded the vision of the late O. S. Warden, Tribune publisher, "who championed the transportation service that has become a reality." More than 30 top officials of the railroad attended the dinner and were introduced by Lloyd M. Croxford, chamber president. Mayor James Austin delivered the official welcome and Alexander Warden, Tribune publisher, gave the response. Warden paid tribute to Ralph Budd, once head of the railroad and father of the present G. N. president, as "a great and good friend of Great Falls." He said the start of main line service rewards this city’s 62-year dream. Representatives of Dutton, Shelby, Conrad, Cut Bank, Fort Benton, Big Sandy and Havre attended the dinner.

Over 2,000 persons were present when the first east-bound Western Star arrived here Tuesday night. Scrolls were presented Engineer George Wolff of Great Falls and Conductor Fred Gregory of Whitefish. The Municipal band played and Croxford led a community sing.

Earlier in the day a ceremony was conducted for the west-bound train. The first train was piloted by Engineer John Peterson and Conductor Tom Kleiv, both of Great Falls. They also received scrolls commemorating the start of daily main line service.

In his address, Budd expressed appreciation of Great Falls’ warming "friendliness." He jokingly referred to J. J. Flaherty of the chamber for his "inclination to write letters on railway matters." The speaker said: "Great Falls has waved its symbolic Stetson for Great Northern all this day." To acknowledge for the railway the expressions of good will, and thank you for your cheering and generous hospitality is a privilege that I shall remember and cherish. I wish to emphasize that in making this acknowledgement, and giving thanks to you, I am merely a spokesman for the hundreds of Great Northern employes whose faithful and loyal service is responsible for successful operation of our trains.

The arrival of the Western Star from Chicago this morning, and its counterpart from the west coast tonight will be recorded in new chapters of the continuing histories of Great Falls and the Great Northern. Almost five years ago to the day we began operation of the streamlined equipment on an expedited schedule with a connecting train operating between Havre and Great Falls. At that time daily transcontinental passenger service to and from Great Falls was closer than any of its proponents in Great Falls and the railway management believed possible.

There was one man who, judging from vivid memories of his determination and constant striving to advance the prestige and welfare of his city, very probably entertained no doubt in 1947 that a Great Northern main line passenger train eventually would come to Great Falls.

It must be obvious that I am thinking of the late O.S. Warden, who championed for longer than I remember the transportation service that has become a reality.

Several generations of Great Northern officers were privileged to know Mr. Warden - and none of them ever was permitted to forget his contention that Great Northern never would be a full-fledged railway system as long as one of its top passenger trains didn't stop every day in the best little city in the United States.

During Mr. Warden's distinguished career, no Great Northern officer regarded a visit to Great Falls complete without a call on the publisher of The Tribune. That the visitor would be warmly welcomed by Mr. Warden was taken for granted, and the occasions invariably followed that pattern. The ensuing conversation was always interesting and informative, even though the visitor knew that before taking leave he would be asked, by the quiet-spoken man across the big desk about Great Northern's current thinking on re-routing a coast train through Great Falls. Mr. Warden never let his man off the hook on that subject!

Although Mr. Warden was unswervingly faithful to his convictions on the subject, I feel that he was optimistic about the eventualities, and for that reason frequently indulged in humor in his discussions on it.

Not long after Great Northern began operation in 1947 of the streamlined equipment which now is on the Western Star, a representative of the railway called on the publisher of The Tribune. He was cordially received and asked about the new streamliner. Conscious of the inevitable question, the Great Northern man said:

"Well, Mr. Warden, we might as we’ll talk right now about running the streamliner through Great Falls."

The publisher smiled and looked out his office window for a moment before turning to his visitor with this comment:

"Young man, you know that is one of my pet subjects, and I claim prerogative as to when and where I discuss it. Now let’s start with you telling me how to run the newspaper business."

Great Northern had a valued and respected friend and ally in O. S. Warden, and our regret that he could not have lived to see the realization of what he so long and ardently advocated and worked for is deeper than I can adequately express.

There are two other people who would have taken a prominent part in this occasion had they not gone before their time. One was a long-time resident of Great Falls and a personal friend of most of you – Tom Dixon, who passed away some three years ago. (Thomas F. Dixon was superintendent of the Butte division and later operating vice president of Great Northern.)

Mr. Croxford has paid a fine tribute to Ira Manion, whose death earlier this month was a great shock to his fellow workers, who knew, liked and respected him. I know all of you share my feeling about these two men.

Great Falls and Great Northern have been good friends since the pioneering 80’s. The relationship embraced the laying out of the town-sites in 1882 by Paris Gibson and James J. Hill at a meeting in St. Paul. Two years later Mr. Hill, who then was building the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railroad through North Dakota, came to Great Falls at Mr. Gibson’s invitation.

After Mr. Hill’s death in 1916, Mr. Gibson wrote his recollections of that meeting in Great Falls. He wrote, in part: "He spent a day with me looking over the Townsite, the water power and adjacent coal fields. As night came on he stood on the river bank and outlined to me a plan for extending his railway line westward from the Red River valley to the falls of the Missouri; assuring me that he would build the proposed road in a shorter time than any road of equal length had been built on this continent."

Thus began a productive and enduring friendship, the fruits of which were inherited, and have been increased by successive generations of this city’s leaders and managers of the railway.

Mr. Hill’s comprehension of Montana’s resources and possibilities obviously was swift, and his action incredibly fast, for three years later more than two-thirds of the Treasure state had been spanned by the Empire Builder’s steel. Mr. Hill had his problems, of course, in pushing his tracks to Great Falls. The federal government withheld for many months the right to cross Indian and military reservations and other public domain in western North Dakota and Montana.

In February, 1887, the federal government gave Mr. Hill permission to build into this state; and, although no history that I know of credits Montana’s assistance for changing Uncle Sam’s thinking, it is a safe assumption that Paris Gibson and his associates in Great Falls were of tremendous help to Mr. Hill in obtaining authority to proceed westward from Minot.

Sixty-five years ago this month Great Falls had no railway, but the town was known to thousands of men who never had seen it. They were the teamsters, the gandy dancers and the swarms of other construction men who were hearing constantly from the straw bosses that a man named Hill wanted tracks in Great Falls before snow fell that year.

On Oct. 15, 1887 Great Falls had a railway connection with the east, and James J. Hill’s promise to Paris Gibson had been fulfilled.

Great Falls became a station on the Manitoba at the conclusion of one of the most dramatic and remarkable railway construction projects in engineering history.

Visualize the gargantuan task which confronted Mr. Hill and his contractors in April of that year. Construction of the Manitoba had been stopped 5 miles west of Minot in 1886, pending negotiations with the government. Great Falls was 550 miles away and Mr. Hill was adamant about reaching the new town on the Missouri before winter set in. Realizing the necessity for speed, the contractors threw tremendous man and horsepower into the record-making project. The contractor had none of the devices afforded modern builders of railways – bulldozers, power shovels, graders, track-laying machinery and truck. Only men, horses, scrapers and wagons were at the command of the contracting concern which pushed the railway destined to become the Great Northern through Montana to Great Falls.

On April 2, 1887, when track-laying was resumed in North Dakota the construction gang numbered nearly 9,000 men, and about 7,000 horses were on the job. In preparing the roadbed between Minot and Great Falls nearly 10,000,000 cubic yards of earth and 22,500 cubic yards of loose and solid rock were moved, and, on Aug. 11 the crews laid down 8.2 miles of rail between dawn and dark — a gigantic one-day record, even today.

Mr. Hill was not content to build from Minot to Great Falls in one season, so topped off that accomplishment by constructing a railway the same year between Great Falls and Helena under the name of the Montana Central. Of those achievements in 1887 Mr. Hill later said: "It was a long and hard summer's work. A great many people called it my folly."

James J. Hill's "folly" of 1887 is an integral part of one of the world's great rail transport systems — that history-making link in the Great Northern railway which literally clinched Great Falls to the map of the United States with bands of steel. In the past 65 years Great Falls and Great Northern have lived side by side, experiencing and sharing prosperity and adversity. We feel that the railway is a Great Northern industry — that it is a resident enterprise, contributing daily to the economic importance and welfare of Montana's largest city, and meeting the obligations and responsibilities of community citizenship.

Among your fellow townsmen are more than 1,400 Great Northern employes, whose salaries and wages totaled in excess of $6,000,000 in 1951. The railway’s purchases from Great Falls concerns last year amounted to more than $175,000, and the company’s tax payments and special assessments in Cascade county, including Great Falls, totaled almost $352,000 in 1951.

The modern pioneers of railroading are the engineers, scientists and technicians who are contributing immeasurably to the efficiency of this nation’s railway industry. The development of the diesel locomotive and its expanding use is responsible, in very large measure, for Great Northern’s ability to operate the Western Star through Great Falls without changing arrival times in Chicago, Seattle and Portland. Improvements in construction of passenger cars also have enabled railways to move people with greater speed, comfort and safety.

Improved motive power and equipment are not the only factors in greater efficiency of operations. Our track crews — those big and little gangs of rugged workmen you see along the line from the train windows — are playing an enormously important part in better service. Without their know-how and conscientious efforts we could not run trains on today’s schedules or would modern cars provide the comfort and safety passengers now enjoy.

The first west-bound Western Star in regular service through Great Falls now is nearing Spokane, and the east-bound section of this modern streamliner soon will be here to complete an historic and memorable day for your city and Great Northern. The railway’s management is happy that it now is able to provide superior passenger services direct to Great Falls every day, and is confident that Great Falls will respond encouragingly.

Before concluding I should like to express the regrets of Thomas Jerrow, who becomes general manager of lines west of Williston on March 1st. Tom had planned on being with us tonight, but because of illness in his family, was unable to join us in Great Falls.

Charlie Rasmussen, who will become superintendent of the Butte division here on March 1st, already has been introduced by the toast-master. I have known both Tom and Charlie (hose middle name is Milledge, should you interested) for many years, and I have a great deal of confidence in their abilities. I know they will enjoy making friends with you, and I ma sure that you will enjoy the opportunity of becoming acquainted with them. They are here to serve you.

Wherever I have been in Great Falls today I have encountered friendly Montanans – some old acquaintances, other met for the first time. This day’s experience will be deeply impressed on the memories of all Great Northern people who have had the good fortune to share the hospitality of good and valued friends.

Start Of Main Line Service Scrolls Presented Crewmen Of Western Star — Scrolls commemorating the start of main line passenger train service were presented the conductor and engineer of each Western Star’s train’s inaugural run into Great Falls Tuesday. More than 2,000 persons greeted the east-bound train at the Great Northern station. Lloyd Croxford, chamber president, was master of ceremonies and Mayor James Austing, left, presented scrolls to Engineer George Wolff of Great Falls and Conductor Fred Gregory of Whitefish. Croxford is in the background. President John Budd spoke.

 

1952, 29 February: Western Star Now Routed Via Great Falls

For the first time in the history of the Great Northern Railway a mainline passenger train is routed through Great Falls, Montana's largest city. For a generation the late O. S. Warden, publisher of the Great Falls Tribune, kept alive an effort to secure mainline service.

Tuesday of this week the Western Star made its first regular scheduled trip into Great Falls, leaving the main line at Havre and re-joining it again at Shelby. It was a big day in Great Falls and many of the principal officers of the Great Northern were there to take part in the celebration, including President John Budd. The detour makes a change in the running time from the Midwest to the coast.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 29 February: Minton Promoted To Mesabi Range

Leaving the Flathead this next week for Superior, Wis., is W. R. Minton, Great Northern division superintendent.

Minton has been promoted to superintendent for the Mesabi division, heaviest tonnage carrier of the Great Northern system.

Succeeding Minton here is Henry M. Shapleigh, superintendent of the Butte division with headquarters in Great Falls.

This division of the Great Northern from Havre across the continental divide to Spokane presents challenges to railroading. Mr. Minton, superintendent here since Jan. 1, 1945, has been liked and respected and there is regret at his leaving.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 09 March: Kalispell Men Pay Honor To Rail Official

Kalispell businessmen gathered at a no-host luncheon Friday to honor Great Northern official W. R. Minton.

Minton, superintendent of the Kalispell Division for the past seven years will soon assume the post as superintendent of the Mesabi division with headquarters at Superior, Wis. His successor here will be Henry Shapleigh who is being transferred from the Butte division.

The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce arranged the luncheon at Hennessy's which was attended by over 25 business and personal friends of the departing superintendent.

Chamber President Ed Stockton expressed the appreciation of his organization for Minton's work and cooperation in valley development.

Daniel J. Korn, as guest speaker, lauded Minton's efforts in the Flathead Valley and in behalf of Minton's friends, wished him success at his new post.

Shapleigh's arrival in the area was delayed by engine failure on the train he was riding and he was not present at the luncheon.

G. N. Official Honored Daniel J. Korn (right) is shown wishing W. R. Minton, departing Great Northern superintendent of the Kalispell Division, success in his new position as superintendent of the Superior, WI., division. Minton attended a Kalispell Chamber of Commerce luncheon in his honor Friday noon.

 

1952, 14 March: Scrap Metal Is Cash Crop Urgently Needed By Steel Mills

America's steelmakers hope to turn out 118 million tons of steel this year.

They cannot produce the steel for domestic and civilian uses in 1952 without scrap - at least 35 million tons of the old, discarded metal now on farms, in towns and cities!

Scrap is a basic ingredient of steel. Production of 1 ton of new steel requires 1,000 pounds of scrap, which is refined metal. Its use cuts down the total time of steelmaking - a vital factor in meeting demands for new steel.

Great Northern recognized long ago the necessity of a constant scrap supply at the blast furnaces, and for years the railway regularly has sent heavy tonnages of discarded metal to the steel mills. However, the steel industry recently urged the nation's railways - a principal source of old metal - to dig deeper for urgently needed scrap.

Great Northern assigned to two-man committee to dig deep throughout the 8,300-mile system for metal parts and equipment no longer useful, but which had escaped scrapping.

The result was 1,623,070 pounds - more than 800 tons - of badly needed metal scrap to feed the steel mills.

If the nation's steel mills are to operate at full capacity during the remainder of the year they must have 1½ million tons of scrap metal every month. And, next year even more scrap will be needed!

Look around your farm...your place of business...your home for worn out or obsolete metal. Sell it to your local scrap dealer, who knows how urgently it is needed.

Scrap metal is a cash "crop" and every pound turned in means a stronger United States of America!

GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY

--- Whitefish Pilot

Scrap Metal Is Cash Crop The vessel in the picture above isn't the grandfather of modern submarines, but the "whaleback" ship which carried the first cargo of Minnesota iron ore down the Great Lakes in 1892. A total of 4,245 tons of ore were handled that year over Great Northern's docks in Allouez, Wis. In 1951 the railway handled 28½ million tons of ore over its docks, one of the largest installations of its kind in the world.

 

1952, 23 March: The Railroader's Prayer

On a switch engine belonging the Northern Pacific is posted the following, according to The Pathfinder:

"Now that I have flagged Thee, lift up my feet from the rough road of life and plant them safely on the train of salvation.

"Let me use the safety lamp of prudence; make all the couplings with the links of love, and let my hand lantern be the Bible, and keep all switches closed that lead off the main line into sidings with blind ends.

"Have every semaphore block along the line show the white light of hope, that I may make the run of life without stopping.

"Help me to use the Ten Commandments as a working car, and when I have finished the run on scheduled time and pulled into the terminal, may Thou, Superintendent of the Universe, say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, come into the general office and sign the pay roll and receive your check for eternal happiness."

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 28 March: G. N. Official Here

Official visitor in Columbia Falls Tuesday morning was H. M. Shapleigh, new division superintendent for the Great Northern at Whitefish. Shapleigh and party were traveling by rail auto car bound for Havre, and are stopping at each of the Great Northern depots.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 29 March: G. N. To Operate Special Car For Blood Program

The Red Cross - Great Northern Blood Procurement car, which begins service about April 1, will be dedicated to the memory of the first employe of the railway to lose his life in Korea, it was announced today.

The special blood car, first to be operated in the Northwest, will be named for Pfc. Richard Vincent Whalen of Florence, Minn., who was fatally wounded in Korea on August 5, 1950. The 20-year old soldier, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Whalen of Florence, worked for Great Northern as a maintenance-of-way employe prior to his enlistment prior to his enlistment in 1948.

Great Northern will provide and operate the Richard Vincent Whalen car for procurement of blood for the Armed Forces without cost to the Red Cross.

The railway plans to make the blood procurement car available to Red Cross chapters throughout its territory between St. Paul and the Pacific Coast, but it first will be operated in Minnesota and the Dakotas.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 04 April: Ralph Baker Injured At Work In R. R. Yards

Ralph Baker, Great Northern carman, was severely injured Sunday afternoon about three o'clock while working in the railroad yards west of the station, servicing a train.

He was struck by a switch engine, which he did not see or hear. Pat Timmons, who was working with him, tried to pull him out of the way but was too late.

Mr. Baker has two broken vertebrae, but late reports indicate that his condition is more favorable than had first been believed. Following his injury, it was thought he might be paralyzed, but members of his family said Wednesday that he was able to move his feet.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 04 April: Engineer Charles Cone Retires

Charles Cone, locomotive engineer, retired April 1 after service with the Great Northern beginning in 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Cone will continue to live in Troy, their home for many years. Mr. Cone's run between Troy and Spokane has been on No. 28 and No. 1. His last trip on the streamliner was March 28.

He was born in Emigrant Gulch, Mont., in 1881. With his mother and stepfather, W. H. Smith, he moved to Demersville in Kalispell in 1892. Mr. Smith was the first roundhouse foreman in Kalispell.

Mr. Cone became a locomotive fireman June 16, 1900, and was promoted to engineer March 14, 1906. He represented Flathead County in the state legislature 30 years ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Cone's two children, James and Marilyn, live in Alaska. Mr. Cone's half-brother, Claude F. Smith, and three half-sisters, Mrs. Ethel Gage, Mrs. Rachel Deputy and Mrs. Bess Pickins, live in Whitefish.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 04 April: Winfield C. Cage Rites Held Here

Winfield C. Gage locomotive engineer, passed away March 27 at his home, 203 Dakota Ave., after a lingering illness. He was 66 years of age.

Funeral services were held at the Catron Chapel Monday, March 31, with the Rev. John F. Reagan of the Methodist Church officiating. Vocal selections by John McKee were accompanied by Mrs. T. W. Hiatt at the piano.

Friends who acted as pallbearers were R. J. Weller, J. W. Shoaf, Leslie J. Silliker Jr., C. M. Bonner, Dan Glynn and E. J. Olson. Interment was in the Whitefish Cemetery.

Winfield Clifton Gage was born Jan. 4, 1886, at Liberal, Mo., the son of Alfred and Rebecca Gage. His parents moved to Parsons, Kansas, when he was a small child, and later to Rugby, N. D. There Mr. Gage began his railroad career washing boilers for the Great Northern. Later he moved to Kalispell and in 1907 became a locomotive fireman. He was promoted to engineer in 1912.

He was united to Ethel Smith in Kalispell in 1909. Survivors are his wife; two children, Alice A. Gage and Harold Lowell Gage, of Whitefish; one grandchild; a brother, Percy, and a sister, Mrs. Ethel Duffy, both of Kalispell.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 04 April: Collision Of Trains No. 27 And 28

An accident which claimed the lives of an Engineer and Fireman of No. 27, west-bound Great Northern Ry. Mail train, occurred about 3:00 a. m. today at Fort Belknap siding between Harlem and Zurich. Involved in the collision was the east-bound counter part of No. 27, mail train No. 28. The dead are James C. Haines, 66, of Havre, the engineer, and Henry Brazer, 42, of Glasgow, the fireman.

Seriously injured was Marcus Greenwald, of Shelby, a railway mail clerk. Dr. M. A. Franken at the Fort Belknap Indian agency hospital, said that Greenwald suffered head, internal injuries and a mangled right arm. Martin H. Conner of Williston, N. D. and H. I Meusd, of Shelby; mail clerks and a passenger identified only as "Birdwell" were less seriously injured.

Bruises were suffered by Jeus Ohlsen, engineer; Richard Chellander, traveling engineer and Edward Van Kleeck, all of Havre, who were on No. 28 train which apparently "drifted" through the siding onto the main track and was struck by No. 27. It could not be immediately ascertained if No. 28 was moving at the time. With terrific force No. 27 struck No. 28 turning over diesel locomotive units and shattering leading mail cars. About 250 feet of track was torn up.

John M. Budd of St. Paul, president of the Great Northern, was enroute east through this area in his private car attached to No. 28 when the accident occurred. After he had returned to Havre he said, "This was a terrible accident. It is too early to make a statement as to the cause or possible causes. It is up to the operating department of the Great Northern to conduct a full investigation." He indicated that a probe would probably be conducted within a week or 10 days.

Train crews remained silent pending the investigation which will probably be conducted in Havre.

A G. N. claim agent this afternoon revealed that an express messenger whose last name is Brooks suffered a hip injury.

Two diesel units of No. 28 and three of No. 27 were badly broken by the crash which twisted the locomotive and threw them on the north side of the track at the edge of some flood backwater. The accident occurred within a few feet of U. S. Highway No. 2 which has been cut off from a point near Lohman east by raging waters of the Milk river.

Mail pouches were widely scattered but recovered at dawn and stacked beside the highway for forwarding to Havre.

Walter Hensley, operator of the Hensley Flying Service, flew over the wreck about 6:15 a. m. this morning and reported to The Havre Daily News that it was hard to imagine the ruin of the locomotives and first mail cars. "It was a jumbled mass of steel piled haphazardly," he said. Later Hensley flew Vern Helmbrecht, Havre photographer, over the wreck. The flood and early hour of the accident kept large crowds from the scene. Highway patrolmen were at the siding on duty.

E. C. Morrison was conductor on No. 27 and Harry Thomas was conductor on No. 28.

Funeral services for the engineer of Train No. 27, James Cook Haines, 66, will be conducted at the Holland and Bonine Funeral home Sunday, April 6 at 2 p. m. with the Rev. Selmer M. Heen officiating. The body will be taken on Train No. 4 Sunday night to McIntosh, Minn., for interment.

He was born at Bertle, Manitoba, Canada, Nov. 18, 1885. He was married Oct. 19, 1905 at Havre to Helma Lerum.

At the time of his death, he had completed 46 years with the Great Northern Railway. He started his career as a railroader in April, 1906 at Havre, then the old Montana division, with C. D. Jenks as superintendent.

The body of Haines was removed first from the wreckage Coroner Herman Kuper of Chinook said. Brazer’s body was not removed from the entangled wreckage for several hours by crews sent from Havre.

C. M. Rasmussen, superintendent of the Butte division, made a rush trip to the accident scene to direct clearing operations. Budd said that barring unforeseen difficulties the track would be cleared this evening perhaps around 6:00 p. m. No. 1 train was rerouted through Sidney, Billings, Great Falls, Shelby and to the coast. No. 2 train was held here this afternoon and passengers spent considerable time visiting the city.

It was pointed out by Budd that No. 28 train had 14 cars and No. 27 had 18 cars.

By chartered plane Ira Pool, operating vice president; J. L. Robson, chief mechanical officer and D. M. Eichten, supervisor of mail traffic arrived in Havre from G. N. headquarters in St. Paul.

Mail Trains Meet Early Arrivals — Partly due to flooded area where the tragic wreck occurred and partly due to earliness of the hour, a few spectators arrived on the scene before wrecking train crews went into action. Highway patrol, guardsmen kept traffic open.   Parcel Car — Next to last car in 8-car string on west-bound No. 27 was old-style wooden one. While the coach, mail and express cars in the center of the train escaped serious damage, this one was ground into matchwood. Wire crates hold small packages. (Great Falls Tribune photo)   Scenes of havoc follow crash of mail trains. National guardsmen, hastily shifted from flood patrol duty to the scene of Friday's pre-dawn crash of mail trains west of Harlem, stood guard over scores of sacks of U. S. mail which were scattered along both sides of the right-of-way for several car lengths.   One of the lesser casualties of the mail train wreck was the damaging of an express shipment of Easter millinery along the north side of the tracks. Mail sacks were thrown from both sides of the train (note hat in foreground).   Force of impact of west-bound No. 27 against diesel locomotive of east-bound No. 28 shows rail bent into half-circle arc. Doors of the mail and express cars were shot open by the terrific impact.   When work of clearing away wreckage was started an hour after dawn, a gigantic task faced postal inspectors and wrecking train crews. Fortunately, few of the hundreds of mail sacks carried by the west-bound train were ripped open.   Brakeman on west-bound train peers into wreckage for bodies of two fellow trainmen who died in the crash. Bodies could not be removed until wrecker arrived from Havre, about 3 hours after two trains met head-on in pre-dawn blackness.   After doing their nightly tours of duty on flood-threatened bridges and along dikes tenuously holding back murky waters of swollen Milk river, Chinook-Harlem area guardsmen stood watch over scattered sacks of mail and express following wreck. Hot breakfast was served.   Somewhere in this twisted torn mass of metal are shells and motive equipment of two diesel locomotives which churned together when Great Northern mail trains Nos. 27 and 28 crashed head-on between Chinook and Harlem early Friday. Two trainmen – engineer and fireman on west-bound train No. 27 – were killed. Three mail clerks, engineer on the east-bound train and a passenger were injured.

 

1952, 07 April: Collision Probe To Be Made At Hospital Wednesday

Investigation of the accident in which Engineer James Haines, Havre and Henry Blazer, Glasgow, were killed when Great Northern train No. 27 collided with train No. 28 early last Friday Morning will be conducted at the agency hospital Wednesday morning at 9:00 o’clock.

At that time investigators for the railroad will take testimony from several men who were injured in the accident. It is understood that D. P. Guss, Williston, and H. I. Eklund, Shelby, mail clerks and Jens Ohlsson, engineer of No. 28, will probably be released from the hospital Wednesday.

Marcus Greenwald, Shelby, a railway mail clerk, who sustained serious injuries is reported getting along as well as can be expected.

Ira Pool, St. Paul, operating vice president for the Great Northern Ry., has returned to headquarters and among those conducting the investigation and gathering reports and testimony are T. A. Jerrow, Seattle, manager for lines west; C. M. Rasmussen, Great Falls, superintendent of the Butte division; J. L. Robson, St. Paul, general mechanical and motor superintendent and C. J. Ebey, Spokane, rules examiner for lines west.

Testimony will be gathered and prepared for examination and action by the Interstate Commerce Commission. No announcement as to testimony is expected to come from the investigation Wednesday. However, in due course, the findings and report of the ICC and railroad will be released after a complete study.

1952, 11 April: Section Worker Dead After Bar Fight Here

Following a quarrel at the Palace Bar early Tuesday morning, one man was dead and another was in the city jail.

The dead man is George Bone, 45, who had been working on a railroad section gang at Warland. He was said to have come here Monday to draw his pay.

In jail as a material witness was Jimmie Joy, 29, of Whitefish. (This is not the Jimmie Joy who operates a jewelry store here. The two men with identical names are not related.)

Unofficial reports said. Bone had accused Joy, a section worker, of taking a wallet containing $100 but that Bone himself was found to have the wallet. A fight resulted.

The Whitefish ambulance was called, but one eye-witness who saw Bone lying on the floor believed he was already dead at that time. He was found to be dead on arrival at the John B. Simons Hospital and, as is customary in such cases, was not taken into the building. Dr. John Isgreen was called after arrival at the hospital.

Sheriff Dick Walsh and Coroner Harry Campbell came to Whitefish Tuesday morning to investigate. An autopsy was performed Tuesday evening by Drs. Leon Lockridge and John Isgreen.

An official inquest into the death could not be held before Thursday.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 11 April: Two Killed In Train Crash East Of Havre

Mail trains No. 27 and 28 collided east of Havre last Friday, killing two enginemen of No. 27 and seriously injuring a mail clerk on the same train.

The dead were Engineer James C. Haines, 66, of Havre and Fireman Henry Brazer, 42 of Glasgow. Marcus Greenwald of Shelby, mail clerk, had to have his right arm amputated at Fort Belknap Indian agency hospital and sustained severe head and internal injuries.

Officials said No. 28 drifted through a switch onto the main line from a passing track and was struck by the west-bound No. 27 about 3 a. m. Friday.

John M. Budd, Great Northern president, was in his private car on No. 28. He ordered an immediate investigation.

Engineer Jens Olson on the east-bound mail train sustained minor injuries and Engineer Richard Chellander of Havre was bruised.

Leading units of both diesels and some cars were smashed, several other cars were derailed and a stretch of track was torn up.

It was reported that Engineer Olsen tried to back up his train and the first two units of the locomotive went off the track, blocking the main line. The crash occurred shortly afterward when No. 27 rammed No. 28.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 11 April: Ralph Baker Dies Result Injuries Yard Accident

Ralph Baker, 61, passed away shortly before midnight Tuesday as a result of injuries suffered when he was struck by a switch engine in the railroad yards Sunday, March 30. He had been a patient in the John B. Simons Hospital since the accident occurred.

Funeral services were set for 10 a. m. Saturday, with the Rev. John F. Reagan of the Methodist Church in charge and military honors by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Baker, who was employed as a Great Northern carman, had lived in Whitefish 30 years. He is survived by his widow, Anna; a son, John; three daughters, Mrs. Clara Roach, Mrs. Cloyd Lamberson and Mrs. Leonard Doyle, and five grandchildren, all of Whitefish; and a brother, Henry, in Peoria, Ill.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 12 April: Railroad Seeks To Kill Spur

The Great Northern Railway has requested abandonment of approximately 20 miles of line from Kila to Hubbard.

A G. N. spokesman said the traffic for the last three years has not warranted maintaining that portion of the line.

Providing the abandonment is allowed by the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Marion stockyard will be moved to Kila and loading will take place there. The tie loading will also be made at Kila.

Stockmen Protest: Protesting the proposed line at the hearing was Wallace Monk. He spoke for the stockmen who now load at Marion.

The spur line in question was once part of the main line to Jennings, built before 1900. Several bridges in the line would need to be rehabilitated if used, according to the railway.

Stations on the spur are Athens, Marion, Bitterroot and Hubbard.

1952, 15 April: G. N. Asks To Quit 20 Miles Of Track

Washington — Great Northern Railway Company today asked the Interstate Commerce Commission for permission to abandon 20 miles of track between Kila and Hubbard, Mont.

Big Moving Job Three trucks of eight men carted a 24 x 36 foot house from Martin City to Columbia Falls yesterday. Kirkpatrick Brothers construction workers said today the trip took four and one-half hours once they got it rolling on the highway. The trip had to be made via U. S. No. 2 to the LaSalle road then north because of the low overhead clearance on the bridge just southeast of Columbia Falls. Owner of the home is Dudley Greene, Columbia Falls postmaster. [House is shown moving north passing the Great Northern siding of LaSalle which is located between Columbia Falls and Kalispell.]

 

1952, 18 April: Coroner's Jury Rules Fight Death Accidental

A six-man coroner's jury, holding an inquest into the death of George Edward Bone following a quarrel in the Palace Bar early April 8, decided last Thursday that Bone's death was accidental.

Witnesses testified that he had been struck several times by James Joy, 29-year-old section worker, but medical testimony based on an autopsy revealed that the brain hemorrhage that caused Bone's death might have occurred spontaneously.

Dr. John Isgreen testified that the autopsy performed by himself and Dr. Leon Lockridge showed a rupture of blood vessels at the base of the dead man's brain. Such a rupture may occur spontaneously "under serene circumstances," Dr. Isgreen said, in previously healthy persons who have a congenital weakness in that area. The extensive hemorrhage found would certainly cause very rapid death, the physician testified, but it was impossible to state what caused it.

Other witnesses were Mrs. Eva Hansen, barmaid on duty at the Palace Bar when the fatal accident occurred; John Johnson, janitor of the establishment; and Mrs. Rosie McDowell, who was with James Joy. Mr. Joy did not testify, on advice of his legal representative, Glenn Stevens.

Testimony reconstructed the events of the evening as follows:

George Bone was in the bar when Mrs. Hansen, wife of the owner, went on duty at 6 p. m. April 7. He left soon afterward and returned sometime after eleven o'clock. He treated several persons, Mrs. Hansen said MISSING THE REST continued on page 4

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 18 April: Ralph Baker Rites Conducted Here

Funeral services for Ralph W. Baker, who passed away April 8 as the result of an accident in the railroad yards March 29, were conducted at the Catron Chapel Saturday morning at 10 o'clock with the Rev. John F. Reagan of the Methodist Church officiating.

VFW Post 276 was in charge of military honors. Pallbearers were Adel Reitan, Chris Botoff, Ran Shoaf, Jim Shoaf, Dave Manary and Charles Duff. Burial was in the Whitefish Cemetery.

Ralph Westley Baker was born Feb. 21, 1891 at Lacon, Ill. In 1916 he moved to Eureka, Mont., where he was employed as a railroad car repairman for the Great Northern.

Mr. Baker enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1917 and served until his honorable discharge June 30, 1919. For a time thereafter he lived in Rexford and then moved to Whitefish where he was a car repairman.

He was seriously injured while at work in the yards when a switch engine struck him. He was 61 at the time of his death.

He is survived by his widow, Anna; a son, John Baker; three daughters, Mrs. Clara Roach, Mrs. Cloyd Lamberson and Mrs. Leonard Doyle, all of Whitefish; five grandchildren; and a brother, Henry, of Peoria, Ill.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 18 April: Service Here For William O. Howke

William O. Howke, 81, former Great Northern roundhouse employee here, passed away April 9 at Anaconda where he had lived since 1944.

Funeral services were held at the Catron Chapel last Monday afternoon with the Rev. Hugh Garner of the Presbyterian Church officiating.

Vocal selections by John McKee were accompanied by Mrs. T. W. Hiatt at the piano. Mr. Howke's four sons, Arthur, Emmett, Otto and Dale, acted as pallbearers. Burial was in the Conrad Memorial Cemetery at Kalispell.

William Oliver Howker was born Feb. 20, 1871, in Parsons, Kansas, and spent his early life in that state and Oklahoma. On Christmas day, 1893, he was united in marriage to Anna McBroom, who preceded him in death Jan. 8, 1915.

Mr. and Mrs. Howke came to Kalispell in 1901, and he engaged in farming and carpentry work. He moved to Whitefish in 1920.

Survivors are four sons, Arthur, of Coram; Emmett, Otto and Dale, of Whitefish; two daughters, Mrs. Edith Mofford of Portland, Ore.; and Mrs. Leona Spear of Whitefish; 19 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, a brother and three sisters. A son, Dick, preceded Mr. Howke in death.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 18 April: Find Man's Body Near R. R. Tracks

The body of an elderly man was found Monday afternoon on Great Northern property just north of the beginning of O'Brien Ave. by young people returning from a hike.

Two high school girls and a Cadena boy found the body where it had apparently lain for many months on the Great Northern right-of-way. They notified Bill Murr, who was driving by, and he called police officers.

No identifying papers of any kind were found on the body of the man, who was described as being about six feet tall and past sixty years of age. The only items in his pockets, Undersheriff Ernest Baker said, were a 50-cent piece that looked as if it had been burned, a cigarette lighter and a cheap watch.

The man was lightly dressed as for summer, in overalls and shirt, and may have fallen or laid down to sleep sometime last fall. The body was taken to the Catron Funeral Home.

Two Whitefish women, recalling that an itinerant railroad worker named Harry Courville had not been seen here since sometime last November, viewed the decomposed body at the mortuary and made a tentative identification based on the clothing, height and apparent age.

Harry Courville was in Whitefish from July until sometime in November, and was said to have been in poor health when last seen here. Acquaintances here recalled that he was part Indian, and accordingly Coroner Harry Campbell contacted the Indian agency at Dixon, Mont.

The name of a sister, Delilah Bladen, was learned at eth agency, but her present address was not known there.

Harry Courville was born in 1897 so his age would check with the presumed age of the man found dead.

Courville last worked for the Great Northern on an extra gang at Stryker Sept. 25.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 18 April: Fare: One Pint Of Blood

As a public service, Great Northern Railway has provided the American National Red Cross a special car for collection of blood for our country's Armed Forces.

The Red Cross - Great Northern blood procurement car, named in memory of Private First Class Richard Vincent Whalen, first employe of the railway to give his life in Korea, was put into service on April 2 for as long as America's fighting men need life-saving blood.

The Richard Vincent Whalen has been provided and will be operated by Great Northern without cost to the Red Cross, which will staff the "blood center on rails" in its extensive tour of communities throughout the railway's territory.

Operation of the car will give thousands of citizens their first opportunity to give blood for the Armed Forces, and will be directed and supervised only by the Red Cross. Although the Red Cross plans to utilize the car throughout Great Northern's 8,300-mile system, first operations will be in Minnesota and the Dakotas.

The Red Cross has advised Great Northern that the blood procurement car cannot be scheduled for every city and town on the railway. Delivery of blood to processing laboratories in the shortest possible time after collection is vital to its utilization by the Armed Forces, so the Red Cross will operate the procurement car only where connections can be made daily with Great Northern trains to speed the refrigerated whole blood to laboratories in the East.

The Red Cross will work through its local chapters in mobilization of donors and enlistment of voluntary services of physicians and other personnel. Your home town newspaper, always a dependable ally of the Red Cross, will do its part in achieving the most effective use of the Richard Vincent Whalen. And, so will Great Northern people wherever the Red Cross sends the car.

Eight times more blood is needed than now is being received by the Red Cross. Blood means life to the Armed Forces, and the Red Cross - Great Northern car is dedicated to increasing the flow of it to fighting Americans.

Fare on the Richard Vincent Whalen is one pint of your blood.

GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY

--- Whitefish Pilot

Richard Vincent Whalen In the months ahead the Red Cross - Great Northern car shown above will play a stirring role in the lives of hundreds of communities throughout the railway's territory. Dedicated to the procurement of life-saving blood for the nation's Armed Forces, the unique car is a self-sustaining "blood center on rails," with reception lounge, donor room and canteen area adequate to accommodate 120 donors per day. Pfc. Richard Vincent Whalen, a Great Northern maintenance-of-way employe before his enlistment in the Army, Private Whalen lost his life in Korea in 1950. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent I. Whalen of Florence, Minn., who were first blood donors on the car named for the young soldier.

 

1952, 18 April: Park Fire Trucks Put Out G. N. Fire

Two Glacier National Park fire trucks April 10 were called out to extinguish a fire in a carload of lumber at the Belton Great Northern depot.

A "hot box" ignited the car, Rangers Stan Spurgeon And Adolph Opalka answered the first call with a truck. Ranger Dave Stinson joined them, and the second engine was brought over from headquarters by Myron Collier and George Beaton. The Coram Great Northern section crew unloaded the car and the fire difficult to extinguish was finally put out.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 25 April: John H. Hess Found Dead

John Hess, about 50, an extra gang worker who had lived at a local hotel, on and off, for about six years was found dead, fully dressed, lying on his bed at the hotel Thursday morning. He had been in poor health for some time, and had been attended by a local physician. Death was due to natural causes. He had evidently come to his room< sometime during the night and lay down on the bed. He has no known relatives other than an aunt who lives in South Carolina./p>

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 25 April: Two Homeless Men Buried In Demersville

The bodies of two men whose relatives could not be found by authorities were buried last week in Demersville Cemetery.

One was George Bone, who fell dead of a cerebral hemorrhage during an altercation in the Palace Bar April 8. The Catron Funeral Home notified a brother of the dead man, believed to be living in Ohio, but no reply was received. The name of a sister has since been learned from papers among his effects, and a message has been sent to her.

The body of the other man, tentatively identified as Harry Corville, a transient section worker, was found April 14 in tall grass near O'Brien Ave., where it had apparently lain since sometime last fall. Coroner Harry Campbell, following up a statement by acquaintances of Corville here that he was part Indian, learned from the Flathead Agency at Dixon that he had a sister. Her present address remains unknown.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 25 April: Lumber Shipments Hold March Level

Lumber shipments from Columbia Falls during April are continuing at the March level, according to D. D. Lind, acting Great Northern agent. March shipments totaled 131 freight carloads.

Mill slowdown as a result of the spring road breakup is hampering local lumber production despite the continuance of blue sky days.

Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. is preparing to log its recent 21,400,000 board foot purchase of state timber above Whitefish lake. Logging will start in June. Currently there are three tractors, one Stoltze unit and two contracted from Charles Jellison, improving the county road from Resthaven on Whitefish lake to Smith creek in preparation for log hauling.

The Stoltze mill has an adequate supply of logs in the pond for operations into mid-June. There are 100 men on the payroll.

Superior Buildings Co. in Columbia Falls has 25 men working with both sawmill and planer operating. Logging on Coal creek up the Flathead river’s North Fork is expected to resume in May.

Rocky Mountain Lumber Co. is running its planer and will begin saw mill operations in May, with a number of jobs opening up in a few weeks. Rocky Mountain is also interested in negotiating with loggers and truckers for bringing logs from a state purchase near Olney.

At Plum Creek mill the log shortage has resulted in the sawmill going down last week, the planer next. There will be no layoff. Plum Creek employes 75 men at the mill and operated through the winter.

Underway at Plum Creek is building a 30-foot extension to the sawmill, and installing a new horizontal band resaw and trimmer. A log splitter will be installed later this summer. The mill pond is being enlarged, and there is general overhaul and cleanup.

Plum Creek expects logs in mid-May from state timber contracted by William Boseley, Ferndale; from its own purchase from Flathead national forest on Crane mountain near Bigfork, and from forest service land on Hungry Horse creek.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 30 April: Plywood Plastic Material May Relieve Freight Car Shortage

New York — A serious shortage of freight carrying vehicles is threatening the free movement of vital goods on both the railroad and highways of the United States.

In many places, production is jamming up and clogging our nation's supply lines, impeding the defense effort and interfering with orderly distribution.

But there may be a solution. A time-tested principle of construction, using plywood and high-strength plastics, which is entirely new and unique in the land transportation field, may spell the answer to the serious transportation problem that is tying up America's production machine. This idea may perhaps overcome the gnawing shortage of metals.

This construction principle is called Unicel. It uses cellular laminates, a relatively new material made by laminating strong plywoods grain-against-grain with specially formulated super-strength plastics.

The laminated sections are then subjected to high frequency heat, applied under tremendous electronic pressures, to form a single unit cellular structure, stronger than steel in the freight car and trailer applications.

Every Unicel freight car means a saving of about 11 tons of precious steel. The, of course, the plentitude of plywood compared to our stock piles, production rate, and capacity of war-short metals is an important consideration.

Another big stumbling block to getting enough freight cars rolling over the rails is the railroads' generally lowered ability to pay for the cars they need. The weakened financial position of the railroads has been brought about by low freight rates, mounting operating costs and excessive regulation and taxation.

All of these factors have reduced earning power and a continuance of this trend will ultimately affect railroad credit adversely and credit is necessary for equipment purchasing.

So, one the one hand, we have a physical inability to produce more steel cars because of the shortage of steel, and on the other hand, we have the possible financial weakness of the railroads. Unicel is expected to play a big part in helping to make up for the first part of this double scarcity. And come of the best brains in the nation have been at work for long on the second problem.

The possibility of further freight rate increases that might be granted by the Interstate Commerce Commission will allow a little more income for the railroads' treasuries. The constantly improving financial housekeeping of the railroads' managements will undoubtedly bring worthwhile economies.

On the highways, the financial situation is somewhat easier. But here again, the steel and aluminum shortage is acutely pinching the supply of the big cargo-carrying truck trailers we need. The recently-introduced Unicel truck-trailer, made just like its railroad counterpart, saves two tons of war scarce metal.

And, like the Unicel freight car, the Unicel trailer can be built more speedily, a most important factor in today's transportation picture.

Both on the rails and on the roads, many minds and hands are wrestling with the mighty problem of how to keep our raw materials and our finished goods moving freely to and from production lines and to consumers the world over - in the field in Korea, in the NATO nations, and here at home. It is the nation's need and it will be served.

1952, 02 May: Track Laborer Found Dead

Raymond Kenneth Olson, known as "Swede" Olson, was found dead in a booth at the Palace Bar Tuesday afternoon. He had been ill for the past three weeks and had recovered sufficiently so that he had planned to leave on No. 28 to resume work on a Great Northern extra gang. His place of residence was the Sunshine Rooms.

Great Northern records show that he was born Feb. 11, 1906, in Chicago. His only known relative was an aunt, Ida Johnson, in Chicago, who has been notified of the death by the Catron Funeral Home.

Mr. Olson was a veteran of the second world war. Railroad personnel records show that he first went to work for the Great Northern here June 24, 1941, and returned several times after absences. Records dated 1950 indicate that he was not married.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 08 May: G. N. Passenger Traffic Upped By Streamliners

Operation of streamliners has gained for Great Northern Railway a larger share of passenger business in its territory, John M. Budd, president, has reported to the company’s more than 32,000 shareholders.

Great Northern’s income from passenger service in 1951 was almost $24.50 for each $100 of passenger revenue received by all other railways in the Northwestern district. That compares with less than $19 for each $100 in the five years preceding 1947, when Great Northern began operation of the first transcontinental streamliner between Chicago and Seattle. In the years 1947 thru 1950 the company’s passenger income averaged better than $21 for each $100 taken in by all other lines in the Northwestern district.

Commenting on inauguration of a completely new fleet of Empire Builder trains in June, 1951, Budd said in the company’s annual statement to shareowners: "There is no question but that the new Empire Builder equipment has secured for Great Northern a larger share of the railway passenger traffic in its territory."

The company’s net income last year was nearly 24 million dollars – 4 million less than in 1950, although operating revenue was the highest in Great Northern history. Operating revenues in 1951 were 248 millions, an increase of 20 millions over the preceding year.

However, in spite of the lower per share earnings, dividends were increased to $4 per share in 1951 as compared with $3.50 in 1950.

The decrease in net income last year was attributed to substantially higher wages and taxes, in addition to increased prices for materials and supplies. Great Northern’s payroll in 1951 was in excess of 118½ million as compared with nearly 102 million in 1950.

Great Northern’s tax bill in 1951 approximated 37 million, or 2½ million more than the preceding year. The largest single increase was in federal income tax, which was 1 million higher than in 1950.

The company’s statement observes that industrial development is expanding in the territory served by the railway, and that 212 new industries were located on Great Northern trackage in 1951.

Approximately 30 million was spent in 1951 on property improvements. About 19 million of that amount was expended on new diesel locomotives and other rolling stock.

1952, 10 May: Affray On Train Ends In Death

Libby, May 9 — Three crewmen in the diesel locomotive cab of a fast-moving Great Northern freight train were attacked without warning Friday by a knife-wielding transient whose companion said he went berserk when angered by the noise of the diesel's booming horn.

The assailant, identified as Dennis Francis Mahoney, about 35, of Lake Charles, Minn., was struck and killed 15 minutes later by another freight train after the crewmen overpowered him and threw him to the ground, train police reported.

The attacker emerged from a trap door in the nose of the diesel's rear control cab and began stabbing at the engineer, fireman and brakeman. Engineer S. Swanson of Whitefish, Mont., set the swift train's controls at halt while Firemen K. W. McDowell and Brakeman Fred Hamilton, both of Whitefish, grappled with the man about 25 miles west of here above the Kootenai river.

The crew, gashed and bleeding from knife wounds, threw the transient from the train after a struggle of a few minutes.

Harold Shoemaker of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, who stowed away in the westbound diesel with Mahoney, told authorities at Troy, Mont., that Mahoney "had too much wine to drink" and was infuriated by the blowing of the train's horn. He quoted the berserk man as screaming, "If that damned engineer blows that horn once more, I'm going up there and kill him."

Mahoney opened the trap door and lunged at the crew the next time the whistle blew, Shoemaker said. Shoemaker, who was released after questioning, said he was unable to stop the attacker.

The crewmen were not seriously hurt and the freight train resumed its trip, train police said.

The dispatcher's office at Spokane said the engineer suffered a chest wound and "a bite on the arm," but that his condition was not believed serious.

--- Billings Gazette

1952, 10 May: Man Attacks Train Fireman

Whitefish, May 10 — A man who knifed a fireman aboard a Great Northern freight train was found dead on the tracks at Ural yesterday, seven hours after he had been put off the train, the G. N.'s chief dispatcher reports.

The dispatcher, who refused use of his name, said the body carried papers identifying the man as Dennis P. Mahoney of Lake Charles, La. His age was estimated between 35 and 40.

The fireman, J. W. McDowell of Whitefish, was only scratched by the knife.

The dispatcher said Mahoney was hiding in the rear nose of the diesel engine at the front of the train. When the freight stopped for inspection Thursday night at Ural, 50 miles northwest of here, Mahoney came out of hiding and told the fireman he "couldn't stand the noise of the whistle," the dispatcher added.

McDowell ordered Mahoney off the train. Then, according to the dispatcher, Mahoney pulled a knife and lunged at McDowell. The fireman was scratched in the chest and bitten in the arm.

Brakeman Fred Hamilton of Whitefish and the fireman put Mahoney off the train, the dispatcher said.

The dispatcher said McDowell and Hamilton "gave the man a good beating before they put him off the train," which was stopped at the time.

Coroner Harry Collinson said today that he plans no inquest.

"He apparently went to sleep on the tracks after he was put off the train." the dispatcher said, "and then was run over by another train."

--- Independent Record

1952, 11 May: Freight Train Crushes Man At Ural Yard

Libby, Mont., May 9 — The body of a man who had been thrown out of the cab of a west-bound Great Northern freight train engine was found under an east-bound freight near Ural Friday, but details of his death remained shrouded in mystery today.

Identity of the transient is believed to have been established as Dennis Francis Mahoney, about 35, of Lake Charles, La.

However, accounts of the death today appear to be conflicting.

One account of the accident claims the transient died 15 minutes after he was tossed from the cab of a Great Northern diesel.

But Sheriff - Coroner Harry Collinson of Libby says he was called to Ural, scene of the accident, Thursday night where a man, (Mahoney) was reported gone berserk. Collinson said it was 4 a. m. Friday morning when he first learned of the death by telephone call from Ural. He said the east-bound freight was waiting for clearance to move the dismembered body of Mahoney from under the train.

Three trainman aboard the earlier west-bound freight said they removed Mahoney from the cab after he had attacked them with a knife.

A Whitefish railroad dispatcher said Mahoney lunged with a knife at Fireman J. W. McDowell of Whitefish and bit him on the arm. The dispatcher gave this account of the incident: Mahoney was hiding in the rear nose of the engine with another transient when it stopped for inspection Thursday night. McDowell and Brakeman Fred Hamilton of Whitefish are said to have given the man a good beating before they put him off the train.

No relatives of Mahoney had been located by burial time Saturday and he was buried in the Libby cemetery. Sheriff Collinson said one woman had called from Helena saying she was expecting a man from Lake Charles, La., although she would not give her address.

1952, 14 May: Kalispell Agent Ends Rail Job After 49 Years

James M. Montgomery, 74, Kalispell agent for the Great Northern has retired, effective today. Montgomery began Great Northern service January 1, 1903 and began as Kalispell agent April of 1913. He is being relieved by Reno Scheider who began work today.

1952, 16 May: G. N. Telegraphers Here Not Western Union Employes

"Telegraph operators in Whitefish are not on strike because they are not employed by Western Union. They are employees of the Great Northern Railway," stated Don J. Robertson this week in explaining the connection between telegraph service here and the Western Union, whose employees have been on strike since April 3.

No Great Northern telegraphers are involved in any way in the Western Union dispute, Mr. Robertson explained. He is manager of the Great Northern relay telegraph office here and also local manager for Western Union.

Under normal conditions, Great Northern telegraphers here handle Western Union messages in addition to their regular work in much the same manner that Great Northern agent H. G. Decker handles express.

Mr. Robertson explained that Western Union has an arrangement whereby railroad telegraph offices handle telegraph business at points where Western Union does not have its own offices. This arrangement permits the handling of business for a vast number of small towns that would otherwise be without Western Union service. The only Western Union offices in the Kalispell Division are at Browning, Kalispell, Libby and Sand Point. All of them are downtown, separate from the Great Northern.

Western Union messages are handled by Great Northern employees in railroad offices in addition to their regular work.

Mr. Robertson asked that this fact be kept in mind by persons who wish to send telegrams after the Western Union strike ends. Usually, Great Northern employees are too pressed for time to take Western Union messages by telephone.

He added, "I invite any suggestions or questions and will be glad to adjust any complaints that might infrequently arise."

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 16 May: Found Dead On Track

A man who knifed a fireman aboard a Great Northern freight train was found dead on the tracks at Ural last Friday, several hours after he had been put off the train.

The body carried papers identifying the man as Dennis F. Mahoney of Lake Charles, La.

The fireman, Wayne McDowell, was scratched by the knife.

Mahoney was said to be hiding in the diesel. When the train stopped at Ural, he came out of hiding and said he couldn't stand the noise of the whistle. When McDowell ordered him off the train, he lunged with the knife.

He was put off the train forcibly and at 3:30 a. m. was found dead on the tracks. Apparently he had gone to sleep there and had been run over by another train.

No inquest was held.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 16 May: Retired Great Northern Freight Agent Recalls Early Kalispell

James M. Montgomery, retired Kalispell agent for the Great Northern Railway, says he remembers when the old Kalispell freight office burned in 1921.

Even earlier he can remember when the big fires burned in this area in 1910. In 1909 he remembers the opening of the Indian reservation.

The veteran railroad worker retired this week after nearly 40 years at the Kalispell agent's post. During that time he has made his home over the present depot.

His future plans are indefinite although he and his wife say they will stay in Kalispell and probably build a home. Montgomery's records show he began service with the Great Northern Railway in May 1901 on the old Breckenridge division at Danvers, Minn. In September of 1907 he joined the Kalispell Division and was employed at Rexford, Browning and Columbia Falls before coming to Kalispell.

In the early days of his railroad career, Montgomery began work under J. M. O'Neil, then superintendent, Ellis Dickey, still living in Kalispell, was then chief clerk in Whitefish.

Montgomery's early entry to Kalispell was not early enough to catch the division point still there as it had been moved to Whitefish three years prior.

When the veteran railroad worker first remembers Kalispell it was a town of about 4,000. Circus grounds were then about where the Bell's Firestone station is today.

Montgomery was married at Devil's Lake, N. D., in 1902. The couple now have six children, three boys and three girls. A son, Arthur, is rate and revising clerk at Kalispell; Lloyd is traveling city agent for Great Northern at Spokane.

1952, 20 May: Accident Occurs 7 Miles West Of Glasgow

Glasgow, May 20, (A.P.) — A Great Northern "streamliner" train hit a broken rail at 50 miles an hour early today and 10 of its 12 cars left the rails with a jolt that injured five women passengers but failed to awaken others in their berths.

Only the diesel engine, baggage and crew dormitory cars of the "Western Star" stayed on the mainline tracks seven miles west of Glasgow. The train was enroute from Seattle to St. Paul.

Hospitalized here with apparently minor injuries were: Mrs. Francis Wallace, 33, Clinton, Ind.; Mrs. Julia T. Schafer, 61, Wenatchee, Wash.; Mrs. Jack Wofford, 64, Priest River, Idaho; and Mrs. Dorothy Radosevich, 32, enroute from Boulder, Mont., to Bemidji, Minn., to take a new job.

A fifth woman was treated at the hospital and released.

Sam Gilluly, Associated Press string correspondent and editor of the weekly Glasgow Courier credited the lack of more injuries to the recent Milk river flood.

He said high water had lapped at the railroad embankment and softened the adjacent ditch into which five of the cars rolled. Two other cars stopped on the bank of the muddy ditch and three remained on the ties.

Gilluly said crewmen told him there was "no panic, no excitement" as the train left the tracks about 3:50 a. m. (MST) and split into two canted sections that came to rest about five car lengths apart. They said some passengers had to be awakened afterwards.

Engineer J. V. Hunt of Havre was able to bring the engine and first two cars into Glasgow. Crews from Havre and Williston, N. D. were expected to have the track cleared by 6 p. m.

The planned to repair the tracks, torn up for three or four car lengths, after pushing the derailed cars out of the way and leaving them temporarily in the ditch.

A special train, being made up at Williston, was to come here and take the passengers eastward. The passengers were brought to Glasgow by bus.

Gilluly told the Havre Daily News that Conductor William Hullett of Havre said that there were approximately 90 passengers aboard the train and that it was "a miracle" that there were no serious injuries. Most of the passengers he interviewed said that they were fast asleep or dozing at the time of the accident. They reported that dining car crews "were wonderful" in providing fruit juices and sustenance while awaiting transportation into Glasgow.

Mrs. Schafer was apparently the most seriously injured person and had to be carried on a stretcher. She evidently hurt her back. Mrs. Radosevich was accompanied by here son, Jimmy, 13. She injured her side when thrown from her seat. Enroute home after visiting her parents at Sweet Grass, Mrs. Wallace was struck on the right leg by falling baggage and received treatment at the Glasgow Deaconess hospital. Mrs. Wofford was enroute to Wisconsin and bruised both knees. She also sustained a blow beneath her right eye. Dr. Philip Smith of Glasgow was the first physician at the derailment which took place near Paisley.

Western Star Derailment Here is an over-all view taken near the head end looking west of the Western Star derailment which occurred early Tuesday morning on the Great Northern Ry. main line six miles west of Glasgow. Ten cars were derailed. Six of the cars on the front end were off the tracks with about a block of space from four more cars on the rear end off the tracks. Five women suffered minor injuries.

 

1952, 26 May: Rail Ties Blaze At Whitefish

Two Great Northern Railway cars of creosoted ties, burning in a tricky wind, Sunday caused lively activity before it was brought under control.

Whitefish volunteer firemen attacked the blaze about 10 minutes after it was sighted by Dave Helbert and William Shanahan, Great Northern workers.

Surveying the damage today, Henry Shapleigh, superintendent, estimated the loss between $1,500 and $2,000. Shapleigh said he wished to thank Whitefish firemen "who did a creditable job of extinguishing the hot fire."

Direct Attack Blocked: On their arrival the firemen found a load of logs in front of the burning ties had been unoccupied but the boiling inferno of burning creosote made direct attack difficult.

A high wind that changed four times hampered firefighting efforts. The dense black smoke was swept across firemen and spectators when a quick change of wind caught them off guard.

After exhausting the water supply in their pumper tank the firemen switched to big railroad tank cars to complete the job.

Shapleigh said the fire was caused from a "hot box" on one of the cars of an east-bound freight. No trains were delayed by the fire as cars were put into a siding.

Control of the fire was reached about 5 p. m. although Great Northern Railway workers guarded the smoldering ties until 7 p. m. Damage was to the ties and to the decking of the cars.

1952, 30 May: Lumber Shipments Down

Lumber shipments from Columbia Falls dipped down to the 100 freight carload mark for May, lowest for far this year, according to H. J. Mustell, Great Northern agent.

This low figure reflects the May shutdown of sawing in the area before road conditions permitted log hauling.

Mustell expects June shipments will exceed 150 freight carloads.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 02 June: G. N. Puts New Bus Service Schedule In Operation Today

A new Great Northern bus service schedule between Great Falls and Havre went into effect today. The new schedule, which provides connections with the Empire Builder trains Nos. 1 and 2, cuts from 15 to 20 minutes off previous times.

Principal purposes for the change is to speed up route time and give a little better service, C. N. Rasmussen, Superintendent of G. N.’s Butte Division, said.

The south-bound bus left Havre at 12:45 p. m. and arrived at Great Falls at 3:36 p. m. under the new schedule. Departure times at stops enroute include Laredo, 1:05 p. m.; Box Elder, 1:18 p. m.; Big Sandy, 1:35 p. m.; Chappell, 2:10 p. m.; Fort Benton, 2:33 p. m., and Carter, 2:53 p. m.

Under the old schedule the bus left Havre at 1:15 p. m. and arrived in Great Falls at 4:15 p. m.

The north-bound bus left Great Falls at 9 a. m. and arrived at Havre at 11:45 a. m. Departure times enroute include Carter, 9:35 a. m.; Fort Benton, 10 a. m.; Chappell, 10:18 a. m.; Big Sandy, 10:53 a. m.; Box Elder, 11:30 a. m., and Laredo, 11:23 a. m. Laredo, Box Elder, Chappell and Carter are flag stops. The bus left Great Falls at 8:30 a. m. under the old schedule, arriving at Havre at 11:45

A Greyhound bus still is being used on the run, Rassmussen said, but G. N. officials Hope to have their own new bus in service by June 10.

G. N. Vetville For Vets Great Northern Railway employes holding their annual "Vetville for Vets" meeting in Columbia Falls last Friday called on Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mann who have built a home in the 72-acre addition just northwest of Columbia Falls. From left to right are Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Walden, Great Falls; Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Boyles, Minot; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Steles, Glasgow; hosts Mr. and Mrs. Mann in doorway; Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Ferguson, who also have a new home in Vetville; Mr. and Mrs Thomas King, Williston; John Dillard, who is building a home in Vetville, and Ray L. Hinricks, Havre. In front is Billie Jean Walden. The Great Northern Vets re-elected E. M. Boyles, Minot, and A. H. Hopkins, directors. Boyles is also secretary. Organization president is H. C. Kreis, Havre. The Columbia Falls land was purchased in 1946 to provide homesites and summer cabin sites for retired Great Northern railroaders.

 

1952, 10 June: Rail Express Hike Granted

Helena — Montana's Railroad Commission has granted an increase of about 27 cents a shipment of express over 1951 rates but refused a number of other increases on which a boost would be "unreasonable or intrastate traffic."

The board authorized Railway Express Agency an increase in intra-state rates and charges to match two previous Interstate Commerce Commission orders, but excepted these request:

"All increases in the minimum rate on class and commodity traffic and returned empty containers; increases in commodity rates, except in food and drink to the extent that they exceed 22.5 cents a shipment or 100 pounds; all increases on nursery stock, including floral designs, and other floran pieces, such as cut flowers.

Also granted were: A 25 per cent increase for return of empty containers, cancellation of the 10-cent charge for each shipment effective a year ago, increases in terminal and switching charges and in church containers.

1952, 11 June: Goat Gleanings

G. N. Promotes Grinde To New Job In St. Paul


• Robert Grinde, formerly chief dispatcher for the Kalispell Division of the Great Northern Railway, with office in the Whitefish G. N. depot, has been assigned a new job. Promoted to assistant general superintendent of transportation with headquarters in St. Paul, Grinde left this afternoon for that city.
  
  Beginning his employment for the Great Northern Railway as an extra gang laborer while in high school, his next job was that of a telegrapher. Grinde broke in as a dispatcher in 1942 and assumed the duties of his recent position as chief dispatcher last year.
  
  A graduate of Whitefish High School with the class of '38, Bob has lived here all his life. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Grinde of Essex, were former residents of Whitefish. Mr. Grinde's wife is the former Miss Leora Akey. The couple has two boys, one seven months old another almost two years. The family will travel to St. Paul later on.
  
  Grinde's advancement meant a similar promotion for Kenneth Knapton, G. N. dispatcher. Knapton will take over the job of chief dispatcher in this area Sunday, according to Superintendent Shapleigh.



• Wayne McFAdden, former G. N. yard clerk, returned to Whitefish last Sunday. Wayne has received a medical discharge from the Army and will resume his duties at the G. N. yards within the next few weeks.



• Mrs. Wayne McFadden is taking her annual vacation from her job in the superintendent's office. Miss Irma Kastella is working in here absence.



• R. D. Young, representative of the United States Railroad Retirement Board, will be in the Whitefish City Council Chamber, Thursday at 1 p. m., June 12. Information regarding unemployment benefits, sickness and death benefits, and retirement annuities can be received at that time.

--- Daily Inter Lake

1952, 13 June: G. N. Veterans To Meet In Minneapolis

Approximately 1,800 persons are expected to attend the annual meeting of the Veterans' Association of the Great Northern Railway in Minneapolis on June 14.

The visitors - each a Great Northern employe continuously for 25 years or longer - will come from throughout the United States but principally from the 10 states the railway serves.

During the forenoon business session at Hotel Radisson, Mrs. Oliver Holcomb of Kelly Lake, Minn., will present an oil portrait she painted of James J. Hill, "The Empire Builder" who founded Great Northern and was its head for many years. Mrs. Holcomb is the wife of a Great Northern locomotive engineer.

The portrait, to be placed in the Great Northern station in Minneapolis, will be accepted for the railway by V. P. Turnburke of St. Paul, vice president, executive department.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 13 June: Lumber Shipments Holding Up Well

H. J. Mustell, Great Northern agent, reports shipment of 55 cars from Columbia Falls for the first 10 days of June. All of the cars were lumber or timber products.

Business has been reported as somewhat slack on the west coast, but it is holding up well here so far this year, Mr. Mustell says, with the annual business for Columbia Falls close to the million dollar mark.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 18 June: Goat Gleanings

Great Northern Railway Worker Ends Service


• Larry Smith, 70 years, retired effective June 7 from employment as boilermaker's helper for the Great Northern Railway. Smith has been a Great Northern employee since 1918 and will reside at his home on Karrow Avenue in Whitefish.



• Miss Paulette Robetorye, daughter of engineer and Mrs. A. J. Robetorye of Whitefish, returned Sunday from Vista, Calif. Miss Robetorye has been attending Palomar Junior College and living with her grandparents.



• Mr. and Mrs. Wayne McFadden returned from Yellowstone Park Sunday, June 15. Mrs. McFadden was on her annual vacation from her duties in the Superintendent's office of the Great Northern here.



• W. K. Schultz, roundhouse foreman at Essex, left Monday for Spokane to receive medical treatment. Schultz is well known among Whitefish residents.



• T. G. Hooker, assistant to master mechanic and Mrs. Hooker are taking his annual vacation.



• Clell Scott, machinist helper at Essex, underwent surgery at the J. B. Simons Hospital. Scott will be absent from his job until early August. He is well known in Whitefish.

--- Daily Inter Lake

1952, 18 June: Great Northern Sued For $150,000

Butte — A $150,000 damage suit against the Great Northern Railway and two of its engineers has grown out of a collision of two G. N. trains at Fort Belknap siding April 4.

The suit was filed here by Haakon Ekland of Shelby, assistant mail clerk on one of the trains. He said the injuries he suffered in the collision disabled him permanently.

Besides the railroad, defendants are Jens, Olsen, engineer, and Richard Chellander, traveling engineer.

James C. Haines, engineer, and Henry Brazer, fireman, died in the collision.

--- Daily Inter Lake

1952, 20 June: G. N. Train Schedules Change

Slight changes in arrival and departure times of three trains were announced last week by P. G. Holmes, Great Northern passenger traffic manager.

All changes will be effective next Sunday, June 22.

No. 1 west-bound Empire Builder, will be 10 minutes earlier, arriving and leaving here at 6:05 p. m.

No. 3 west-bound Western Star, will be five minutes earlier, arriving at 3:10 p. m. and leaving at 3:20.

No. 28, east-bound fast mail, will be 20 minutes earlier, arriving here at 5:25 p. m. and leaving at 4:35.

The Great Northern bus connecting with No. 1 will leave Whitefish at 6:05 p. m. and arrive at Kalispell at 6:35 p. m.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 20 June: Announce New Train Schedule

Effective next Sunday a new schedule for Great Northern trains will be in effect with minor time changes.

Train No. 1, Empire Builder, west-bound, will leave Whitefish at 6:05 p. m. The Columbia Falls train schedules include Western Star train No. 3, west-bound, leaving at 2:57 p. m.; east-bound train No. 4, Western Star, leaves at 2:52 p. m. and train No. 28, fast mail train east-bound, leaves at 4:50 p. m.

Present schedule (in effect until Sunday) is train No. 1, 6:15 p. m., Whitefish; with the Columbia Falls schedule including train No. 3, 3:01 p. m.; train No. 4, 2:54 p. m.; train No. 28, 5:10 p. m.

New time tables for June, July, August, and September, dated effective June 22, are to be available about June 20, when forwarded to offices.

H. J. Mustell is the local agent.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 22 June: Miniature Train To Begin Runs Today

An exact replica of a Great Northern streamliner will be put into operation by the Flathead Coca-Cola Bottling Company today at 1:30 p. m. It carries 16 children.

The Coca-Cola Company purchased the miniature train at a cost of over $5,000 and plans to take it to different towns in Northwestern Montana.

At the present time it is set up on North Main Street across from the bottling plant and will remain there for the next several weeks. The track is laid out in a large triangle measuring about 100 feet on each side.

Miniature Train To Begin Run Today Round and round she goes, only Robbin Hough knows where this one's going to stop. He's the man at the controls of the Coca-Cola Company's new miniature train which will be unveiled this afternoon in front of the bottling works at 451 North Main Street, Kalispell.

 

1952, 04 July: Ship 177 Cars

June lumber shipments over the Great Northern railroad from Columbia Falls climbed to a total of 177 freight carloads, according to H. J. Hustell, local G. N. agent.

The represents 77 more cars than for May, the spring breakup month.

All Columbia Falls lumber mills are taking a three day holiday over the July 4 weekend. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. will also be down next week for their annual summer vacation period.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 18 July: Cherry Packing Starts Thursday

Packing the Flathead's bumper 1952 sweet cherry crop started Thursday morning at the cherry warehouse in Kalispell.

Nat Boyd, sales manager for the Flathead Cherry Growers expects that Kalispell warehouse will handle about 2,000,000 pounds compared to the last big crop of 1,750,000 pounds in 1949. There was virtually no crop in 1950 and 1951. The Polson warehouse will handle about 750,000 pounds this year.

There is thought that this is the largest payroll in Kalispell. Next week there will be 292 girls working as packers with 50 men loading and crating. Peak of the three week season will see a night shift.

Flathead Lamberts and Bing cherries (95 per cent are Lamberts) are exceptionally large and firm. These are the last cherries to reach the big markets and command a premium price.

Cherries provide an industry that keeps money in the Flathead. There is income for the fruit grower, and then payrolls for packing. Boxes are made in Libby.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 23 July: Goat Gleanings

Great Northern Railway Head In Whitefish


• Ira Pool, vice president of the Great Northern Railway, in charge of operation, is spending a few days in Whitefish.



• Mr. and Mrs. William Hankins are spending their annual vacation in Peace River, Canada, with relatives.



• Claydon Dickson is taking several days vacation from his duties in the G. N. superintendent's office to be with his son, Bob, who is home on furlough from the Air Force.



• Mrs. Emmett Helm, wife of fireman E. V. Hlem, is recuperating at her home on East Second Street. Mrs. Helm underwent surgery in June for a back injury and will be confined to her bed for several weeks.



• Donald Hall, employed in the division engineer's office of the G. N. depot, has joined his wife in Seattle. Hall is on vacation since Friday and will return to his duties on July 29.



• James A. Minnich, G. N. carman at the repair track, has retired effective June 6. Minnich is 71 years old and has worked for the railway 10 years.



• Mrs. Vining, wife of chief clerk A. L. Vining, is a medical patient at the Whitefish Hospital since Friday, July 18.

--- Daily Inter Lake

1952, 25 July: Lumber Shipments

July lumber shipments from Columbia Falls over the Great Northern are expected to total about 180 freight cars according to H. J. Mustell, local Great Northern agent.

June shipments were 177 cars containing more than 4,000,000 board feet or enough lumber to build 400 average homes.

Early July shipments from Columbia Falls were down as a result of the three-day July 4th holiday and the Stoltze mill being closed for their annual week's vacation. Late July shipments have been running ahead of June.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 28 July: G. N. Discovered

Stopping recently for dinner at the East Glacier Hotel we had dinner with a representative of one of the nation's largest industries.

His business takes him repeatedly across the nation, but, he told us, in his many years of rail travel he had never before been along the route of the Great Northern Railway.

He was enthusiastic about the food, train service and scenery offered by the G. N. He said the G. N. had, in his opinion, more to talk about than the other major trans-continental railroads.

We asked why he had never tried the Great Northern before, and he replied that he hadn't realized what the G. N. offered the traveler.

It has long been our belief that the Great Northern is too quiet and too reluctant im promoting travel to is scenic show spots such as Glacier National Park.

Other railroads are stealing the tourists by aggressive promotion programs.

--- Daily Inter Lake

Railroad Work Horse This big freight diesel with Lester Regan at the throttle pants day and night while not in use. Railroad crews keep the engines going constantly because of the low fuel consumption at idling speed and because it takes so long to warm them up after they are once stopped. The four units in this diesel were sidetracked at the Whitefish roundhouse of the Great Northern Railway.

 

1952, 30 July: Engineer Ends Great Northern Rail Service

Whitefish — Paul Kutzman, engineer, retired from the Great Northern effective July 27. He has been in the employment of the G. N. for 45 years, 40 years and two months of that time was spent running as an engineer.

The first five years he was a fireman. His last run was on the Kalispell transfer last Saturday, July 26.

Kutzman was born in Evon, Minn., and was raised on a farm. When he was 20 years old and his brother, Frank, was 18 they decided to leave the farm and travel. They finally came to Whitefish and both hired out on the road. They married sisters and in 1917 Frank Kutzman moved away.

Kutzman recalled the Whitefish of 45 years ago. The for the residents was hauled from the lake in barrels and the downtown area of today was once nothing but stumps. Kutzman's brother Frank, is visiting Whitefish at present. He is also retired and lives in Ely, Nev. Kutzman has made no definite plans for the future as yet.

--- Daily Inter Lake

Inside Of Diesel Inside the Great Northern freight engines the engineer sits about 14 feet from the ground. At the controls is Lou Regan - a hostler. A hostler is a railroad yard worker that moves the big engines around the yard for servicing and repair.

 

1952, 30 July: Milwaukee Cuts Off 2 Passenger Trains

Helena — The Milwaukee Road Tuesday won the right to discontinue two daily passenger trains between Great Falls and Harlowton via Lewistown.

District Judge A. J. Horsky said that a Montana Railroad Commission order calling for continuation of trains No. 117 and 118 was "unjust and arbitrary."

He ordered the commission to permit the railroad to abandon the two runs at once.

Horsky found that operation of the trains was resulting "in a substantial operating loss" for Milwaukee.

--- Daily Inter Lake

1952, 31 July: N. P. Plans Office At Missoula

The Northern Pacific railway will erect a new $32,500 yard office building in Missoula.

W. W. Judson, vice president, operating department, announced today that a contract has just been awarded to the Lowe Construction Co. of Billings. Work will start at once and is scheduled for completion by December 31.

The new building will be one story, 24 by 76 feet, with precast concrete block exterior walls on concrete foundation and floor. It will house modern offices, and service rooms for yard crews, with an automatic heating plant.

1952, 03 August: Western Star And Freight Collide Near Summit

The east-bound Western Star Great Northern streamliner and a west-bound freight train collided near Summit Saturday evening. One train was stopped and the other moving at a slow rate, or there would have been more serious damage to the equipment. About a dozen passengers on the streamliner were shaken up with minor injuries. The freight train was supposed to have been in a siding according to reports. The Western Star had 14 cars.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 04 August: Trains Collide Near Summit

Eleven passengers aboard the sleek Great Northern passenger Western Star reported minor injuries from a head-on collision with a west-bound freight Saturday night.

The two trains met near Summit when one was stopped and the other moving at slow speed.

No damage was reported to either train, according to Merle Knapton, chief dispatcher at Whitefish.

The two trains met on a curved track although neither left the track by the impact. The east-bound passenger engine pulled 14 cars and the freight 33 loaded cars and two empties.

The freight train was scheduled to have been in a siding.

1952, 08 August: Falls Lumber Shipments High

August's first week saw the Great Northern Railway handle 48 cars of lumber and two cars of cedar poles from Columbia Falls. July lumber shipments from Columbia Falls, according to H. J. Mustell, local Great Northern agent, totaled 196 freight cars or approximately 5,000,000 board feet, enough lumber to build about 500 homes.

Working in local mills or in nearby logging enterprises are about 500 men.

Local mill developments include Plumb Creek Logging C. in Columbia Falls expecting to start using its new city block sized concrete walled millpond Monday. The pond now has five feet of water obtained from one of the mill's two wells.

Logs for Plum Creek are currently coming from Crane mountain near Bigfork and Hungry Horse creek, both national forest service purchase. Total delivery is about 140,000 board feet a day.

The new Canyon creek purchase by Plum Creek of forest service timber will see the start of logging operations about September 1, 1952; objective is to bring out 2,000,000 of the 28,200,000 board feet.

William Bosely, building road on the sale, has already pioneered 4½ miles. This extends from the old Canyon creek road.

At Superior Buildings Co. the new double saw splitting mil is expected to go into operation by early September.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 10 August: Engine Derailment Blocks Main Line

Malta — The main line of the Great Northern Railway was blocked for eight hours Friday night after an engine tipped over when two freight trains side swiped at a switch one mile east of here.

There were no injuries and the engine of train No. 462 was the only part of either train to leave the tracks. The other freight was No. 666.

The accident occurred at 6 p. m. and the tracks were cleared at 2 a. m.

1952, 13 August: Great Northern Forest Loads High In July

Whitefish — The july report from Great Northern car distributor, George Brennan, shows an increase of 175 cars of forest products shipped over G. N. lines eastward as compared to July of 1951.

A total of 1,350 cars of miscellaneous forest products and 440 cars of logs were transported from this western area last month. A year ago 1,175 cars of forest products and 390 cars of logs went through the local station.

Five hundred and ninety cars of general wood products and logs filling 220 carloads have passed through for August, an increase again of 30 cars and a decline of 25 when compared to the same date for August of 1951.

These figures also exceed the forest products for July by 170 cars and the number of carloads of logs by 125. The contrast is attributed to the shutdown of operations in several of the area lumber mills last month.

Miss Phyllis Richards has resigned as chief clerk's stenographer in the G. N. superintendent's office to accept a position in the Columbia Falls school She is being relieved by Mrs. John Carlson.

A. A. Strom, assistant chief clerk, is being relieved by C. S. Poorbaugh while taking the month of August off.

Don Carpenter, G. N. dispatcher, is on his annual vacation since August 9. He will resume his duties on the 23rd.

1952, 15 August: Columbia Falls Getting New G. N. Depot

The Great Northern Railway will start construction of its new Columbia Falls depot this fall.

Columbia Falls follows Libby as principal lumber exporting town on the Great Northern system in Montana. Columbia Falls lumber shipment last year totaled 1,700 freight cars.

The new depot is to be on the site of the old, and information as to construction comes from Charles W. Moore, St. Paul, executive assistant in charge of public relations, and H. M. Shapleigh, Whitefish, division superintendent, as well as from L. E. Wagner, Kalispell, Great Northern passenger agent.

87 x 28 Feet: The new structure will be 87 feet long by 28 feet wide with exterior siding of white painted cedar. All trim will be green with gable ends of varnished cedar. Estimated cost will be about $50,000.

Happy man at word that construction will actually be underway this fall is veteran agent, H. J. Mustell. He's been with the Great Northern for 47 years, and Columbia Falls agent since April 10, 1918. Mustell has often said he wanted to put his feet under the desk in a new Columbia Falls depot before he retired.

The Columbia Falls depot force also includes Mrs. Amy Maher, D. L. Lind, Theo. Tillett, D. G. Olmstead and Betty Card.

Also Lawn And Grass: Other details as to the construction of the new building include a green shingled roof, outside platforms of concrete, and a planting area for lawn and flowers.

Interior of the depot will have a concrete floor throughout with asphalt tile in the waiting room, office, toilets and rest room. Walls of the waiting room and office will be knotty pine and Nu-wood tile ceilings.

Glass blocks are to be installed on both sides of the entrance door as well as in the freight section of the station. There will be an oil-fired hot water heating system.

The Great Northern is planning a dedication ceremony with the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce to participate.

Construction will be done by a Great Northern crew.

A set of blueprints for the new station may be viewed at the Hungry Horse News office. (please see editorial page 2)

--- Hungry Horse News

Bonner's Ferry Depot New Great Northern depot in Columbia Falls to be started shortly will be virtual twin to new depot at Bonner's Ferry. Structure has white cedar siding, green trim, varnished cedar gables.

 

1952, 20 August: Goat Gleanings

• Mr. and Mrs. A. Brownson and family were in Whitefish visiting friends last week. Mr. Brownson is an agent for the Western Fruit Express Company in Grand Forks, N. D. He was employed in the same capacity in Whitefish before his transfer to Grand Forks in 1951.



• Claydon Dickson, assistant enginemen's timekeeper, is on his vacation, during which time he will attend Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. in Helena on Aug. 18, 19 and 20.



• John McCauley, Great Northern carman in Kalispell and formerly of Whitefish, retired effective Aug. 1. McCauley is 65 years old and has been employed by the Great Northern Railway since 1922. He is living in Kalispell.



• W. J. Jerrow, division master carpenter, is taking his annual vacation and will return to his duties on Sept. 1.



• Ralph Krona, district roadmaster, is on his annual vacation starting Aug. 18 to Sept. 1.



• In the superintendent's office, Lee Klem, assistant personal record clerk, is on his annual two weeks' vacation and Wayne Dirksen, superintendent's stenographer, returned from his annual vacation this week. Dirksen spent some time in Iowa.



• R. W. Mickelson, assistant chief dispatcher, is on his annual vacation and will return to his duties on Aug. 31.

Aluminum Plant Site Great Northern semaphores can come down now for the Flathead's aluminum plant to be built at this location, on Teakettle Mountain bench above the Flathead river, near the entrance to Bad Rock Canyon. A number of side tracks are to be built. Plant will be on mainline.

 

1952, 22 August: Miniature Train To Run On Falls Square

Youngsters of Columbia Falls and neighboring communities, Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons and evening will be able to ride a miniature streamliner on the town square.

Flathead Coco-Cola Bottling Co. is bringing up their $5,000 baby streamliner that is patterned after the Empire Builder.

There are 300 feet of track, and engine, two coaches and an observation car. The train will haul 16 passengers plus the engineer, and travel all of 10 miles an hour at regular half speed.

Engineer will be Tippy Clark. The train was made by a miniature train manufacturer in Indiana, and purchased last spring.

Train fare will be six bottle caps from Coca Cola, Nesbitt Orange, Full-Flavor, Drink Up or Dad's Root Beer. The train is expected to run from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 22 August: Army Engineers And Geological Crews Checking Railroad Relocation Sites

In connection with the proposed construction of the Libby Dam, crews working under the Corps of Army Engineers have been doing preliminary work up the Kootenai river east of Libby concerning proposed sites for the huge dam, that will dwarf the Hungry Horse Dam.

Rail Re-Location: It seems very probable that the dam will be built at some future date, and this will make necessary the re-location of the highway, and of the main line of the Great Northern Railway.

Word from Libby is to the effect that a crew of geologists in charge of Geologist T. E. Ward is making a geological profile of the proposed routes relative to the railway relocation. It is expected that this work will be completed in about 30 days, according to Engineer H. S. Barksley.

When this re-location proposal was first made there were some six or seven proposed new routes. As late as December 1950 when the Army Engineers held a hearing here on the proposal there were three routes under consideration. The number of routes under consideration at present has been reduced to two, and these are the routes now under survey by the geologists. Two of the three routes under consideration in 1950 have been abandoned, and one of the original six or seven revived.

The two routes that have been selected for final consideration are approximately as follows with each of them leaving the present main line of the Great Northern between Olney and Stryker, some 20 to 35 miles west of Whitefish:

Alternate Route A - from present main line at Stryker west towards Fortine Creek thence up Fortine Creek to Wolf Creek, thence down Wolf Creek to the Fisher River, thence north down the Fisher to just south of Jennings, thence west to a junction with the present right-of-way near Libby.

Alternate Route B - From the present main line at a point just north of Olney, thence south to Tally Lake, thence west to Wolf Creek and from there on following the same route outlined in Alternate Route A.

Crews are engaged in foundation probing operations for the dam itself. There are four proposed sites starting about 2½ miles this side of Libby and then upstream toward Libby.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 22 August: Body Found In Jungle Identified As E. Nyberg

The body of a young man wearing nothing but shorts was found in the brush of a hobo jungle behind the Western Fruit Express Company ice houses here last Friday morning.

The man's identity was established Tuesday after much searching and study by Great Northern special agents, Coroner Harry Campbell, the sheriff's staff and Whitefish police.

Bud Newell came upon the body at about 9:30 a. m. Friday. It was clad only in shorts, and thorough search of the area failed to disclose any other clothing at that time.

The dead man, apparently in his late twenties, had light brown hair and blue eyes and was about 5 feet 6 inches tall. His upper front teeth had been extracted and the gums had healed. Arms and legs were heavily marked with partly healed red scratches.

Coroner Harry Campbell estimated that the body had been there about 24 hours when it was found.

A possible clue appeared when three strangers offered a small camera for sale. John Flansburg bought it and, noticing that there was a film in it and three pictures had been taken, turned it over to Whitefish police. Two of the pictures showed two young men in work clothes standing by a railroad flatcar, and the other picture showed nothing. Police Chief Les Clover said he did not believe the camera had any connection with the dead man.

On Monday, a pair of shoes and black jeans were found by Mel Thompson under a pile of timbers about 50 feet from where the body had been. There is still a mystery about the clothing, because a thorough search had previously been made there. There was no shirt with the other items.

In the jeans, officers found 15 cents and three time slips carrying the name E. E. Nyberg and Elmer E. Nyberg. Railroad records showed a man by this name working at Essex, and special agents investigated.

Photographs of the dead man were shown to a timekeeper and a cook at Essex. Both identified him as Nyberg, who had been wearing black jeans, logger's boots and a yellow shirt. Investigation disclosed that Nyberg had fallen off a train in Great Falls and afterward suffered severe headaches that sometimes caused him to wake up screaming. He came to Whitefish on a pass with the intention of consulting a doctor.

A fall in cinders would account for the many scratches on his arms and legs and for a small cut on the back of his head.

The coroner said death was probably caused from a cerebral embolism, a blood clot, following a fall from a train. The body was sent to Nyberg's mother, Senja Nyberg, in Michigan.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 29 August: Lumber Shipments 200 Cars A Month

Monthly lumber shipments from Columbia Falls over the Great Northern Railway are continuing near the 200 freight cars a month level, according to H. J. Mustell, Great Northern agent.

July shipments totaled 196 freight cars or about 5,000,000 board feet. August shipments through August 27 totaled 177 cars of lumber and 4 of poles. Mustell expects month's total to be 200 cars.

In addition there is some trucking of lumber from local mills.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 05 September: Falls Prepares For President's Visit

As the special train bringing President Truman to the Flathead for the October 1 dedication of Hungry Horse dam, comes to a stop in Columbia Falls, there will be a western greeting by members of the local Rocky Mountain Riders saddle club, and participation by the Columbia Falls high school band, boy, girl, cub and brownie scouts.

The president's special train coming over the Great Northern is scheduled to arrive in Columbia Falls from the east about 10 a. m. From here the presidential party will proceed by automobile caravan to Hungry Horse dam, and then to Kalispell by caravan where the main address will be given in the Flathead county high school. The presidential party is to then go to Whitefish where the special train will be boarded, bound for Spokane.

Working in close conjunction with arrangements to get President Truman to speak in the Flathead has been Congressman Mike Mansfield.

Details of the ceremony by which the president will officially start the first of four 71,250 kilowatt generators at Hungry Horse into power production are being worked out.

Don Treloar, president of the Flathead Citizen's committee, is coordinating plans for the day, working with the Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls chamber of commerce and other civic groups.

On the Columbia Falls Chamber of Commerce committee for the event are H. J. Mustell, chairman; D. G. Caley, Charles Hetzer and Dulane Fulton.

Hungry Horse, Martin City, Coram and West Glacier are being asked to participate in the Columbia Falls part of the program.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 12 September: Clearing And Track Work Slated

Railroad track extension and clearing is expected to be underway this coming week at the new Anaconda aluminum plant site two miles east of Columbia Falls. No major plant construction, however, is scheduled until next spring.

Anaconda officials were in session with Great Northern representatives Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. Result of the conferences are that a 1,500 foot long service track joining the Great Northern mainline's west-bound track on both ends will be started next week. Newell Balch, Great Northern division roadmaster, will be in charge of the grading and track laying.

Information on the track was obtained from H. M. Shapleigh, Whitefish, Great Northern division superintendent. Also discussed was spurs for the plant that will come out of the service track. Another question is an underpass for the North Fork road in order to eliminate hazards of crossing the Great Northern mainline to the plant.

Clearing 120 Acres: Scheduled to start this coming week is clearing 120 acres in addition to land already cleared in Larking fields for the plant. The contract is to be awarded locally, and bid opening is in progress.

Erection of a large sign on the Larkin oat field pictured in last week's Hungry Horse News is scheduled this month. The sign will read "Site of Anaconda Aluminum Co. Reduction Works."

Temporary offices are not being set up in Columbia Falls as yet with mail for H. G. Satterthwaithe, the plant manager, to be addressed to the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. plant at Great Falls.

The Anaconda company will serve as its own general contractors in building the plant. The aluminum plant itself will not provide jobs until the spring of 1954 when actual production of the metal starts.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 12 September: G. N.'s Safety Record To Receive Nat'l Recognition

Great Northern Railway's safety record in 1951 will receive national recognition at the annual award dinner of the American Museum of Safety in New York City on September 17.

The railway will be presented the E. H. Harriman Memorial Certificate of Commendation for its safety leadership among Class A lines in the nation's western district. A Class A railway is one operating 10,000,000 or more locomotive miles of service yearly.

President John M. Budd will receive the certificate in behalf of the railway and its employees.

Others attending from the railway will be:

C. L. LaFountaine, St. Paul, general safety supervisor in 1951, now retired; H. J. Surles, St. Paul superintendent of the Dale Street shops, which had a perfect record without a reportable injury all year; M. A. Lukoski, Superior, Wis., roadmaster of the Mesabi division, which had the best track department safety record, and R. R. McEnary, Klamath Falls, Ore., roadmaster and division engineer for the Klamath division, where track, bridge and building employes had an outstanding record.

Awards are based on Interstate Commerce Commission records of passenger and employe safety. Railroads are ranked in three groups, according to their size, in western, eastern and southern districts of the United States. A gold medal goes to the national winner in each group. Nine certificates of commendation are awarded - to leaders in the three groups in the three districts.

Gold medal winners for 1951 were Class A, St. Louis - San Francisco; Class B, the Canadian Pacific's lines in the United States; Class C, Colorado & Wyoming Railway. Besides Great Northern, certificates in the western district will be awarded the Denver & Rio Grande Western in Class B and the Texas Mexican Railway in Class C.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 15 September: ACM Rail Spur Work In Week

Work is scheduled to begin on the spur line into the Teakettle ACM aluminum site, according to H. M. Shapleigh, division superintendent of the Great Northern Railway.

A crew of from 20 to 25 men will install the 1,500 to 2,000 spur line on the north side of the Great Northern right-of-way through the plant site.

Plans for additional track through the area have not been made although they will extend from the siding. Track spur building to begin next week will be primarily to provide a line to unload any plant materials this fall.

Anaconda Aluminum Company Here is a northerly view toward Teakettle Mountain showing the cleared portion of the 750-acre Anaconda Aluminum Co. site where, next Tuesday at 10 a. m., plant construction will officially get underway. The AAC field office is at the edge of the tree wedge at the left of the picture. Near here is where first construction will start Tuesday. Note two G. N. mainline tracks, and new mile long service rails for plant that parallel main line on the left and lower.

 

1952, 24 September: Railroad Spur Line Work Not Started

Great Northern spur line work into the ACM aluminum plant site has not yet begun this week.

Railroad crews were scheduled to start work Monday on the spur line for unloading, but the work has been delayed.

1952, 26 September: Lumber Shipments Hold

September lumber shipments from Columbia Falls are expected to be about 200 freight cars, reports H. J. Mustell, Great Northern agent. The figure will approximate the 207 cars shipped during August. Lumber shipments from Columbia Falls during a month now total about 5,000,000 board feet the equivalent of what is needed to build 500 average sized American homes.

--- Hungry Horse News

Engineers Map Plant Location Last Friday, Saturday and until mid-Sunday afternoon, the Anaconda Company had nine mining engineers from Butte making a contour map of their new aluminum plant location. Crew chief was David Piper. Frank Traversoni and Sam Ash are at the transit and alidade with Bob Hamilton holding the range pole. Men worked 12 and 14 hours a day in field and over drafting boards.

 

1952, 28 September: Relocation Of G. N. Is Studied

Seattle — Possible relocation of as much as 100 miles of the Great Northern Railway line in western Montana because of the Libby Dam project was discussed here this week by G. N. officials and Army engineers.

The Libby project contemplates establishing a dam on the Kootenai River, a few miles upstream from Libby, Mont. It would flood the river north of the Canadian border.

The proposed relocation, conferees said, may require a completely new line between Libby and Whitefish over a more southerly route.

Rail officials said the government is expected to pay the cost of relocation, but they added that a new line might not be as good or as economical to operate.

1952, 03 October: Truman Whistle Stops Through Flathead

Harry Truman, President of the United States, came through here Wednesday to board his special train at the depot. In a short speech on the platform he gave his opinions of the Republicans and recommended the election of candidates on the opposing ticket.

Lots of people lined the streets to get a look at the President and the Whitefish High School band, directed by Leonard Hetrick, played "Hail to the Chief" and other selections down at the depot.

Mrs. Freda Shanahan, vice chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, introduced the local delegation to Mr. Truman at the train. Mrs. F. C. Bradley presented a bouquet to the President's daughter, Margaret, in behalf of the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce.

Mayor John Carpenter presented the President with a large colored photograph of the Garden Wall, in behalf of the railroad unions.

Mayor Carpenter and Willard Reeves rode in the caravan of cars that accompanied Mr. Truman from Columbia Falls to Hungry Horse Dam, Kalispell and Whitefish. Mr. Reeves represented the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Sillers were among the persons who sat on the platform during Mr. Truman's political speech in Kalispell.

A group of small boys on Central Avenue held a banner reading "Welcome Harry and Margaret."

The parts of Second Street and Central Ave. along which the official caravan of cars passed were kept clear of parked cars until after the President's train left. The streets were all swept clean and polished and grass had been cleaned from along the sidewalks leading to the depot.

Dozens of special deputies were assigned to control traffic and crowds, which were quiet and well behaved the whole time. Deputies included state, county and city police officers, including those who had worked all the previous night, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Volunteer Fire Department and the Flathead County Sheriff's Posse, resplendent in gold-colored satin shirts on handsome horses.

Mr. Truman is the third president who has passed through Whitefish and the only one who made a speech here. Teddy Roosevelt came through many years ago. He stepped out on the platform with a coat over his sleeping clothes and greeted the citizens with a big grin, old-timers recall.

F. D. Roosevelt also passed through but did not make an appearance.

The Great Northern Railroad co-operated in every way to insure the safety of President Truman. No freight trains were permitted and for passenger trains, meets were arranged so the President's special would not be delayed.

William Touschette was conductor of the President's train coming from the east, with conductors Robert Luke and Lester Silliker acting as brakemen.

West-bound from here, Jess Dewar was conductor, with William Vaughn and Homer E. Payne as brakemen. Mr. Payne is also a conductor.

Engineer coming in was M. T. Hove, with John Lumpkin of Havre acting as firemen. Outbound, engineer was Conrad Weber, with J. E. Harrison acting as fireman. All four are engineers.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 06 October: Man Decapitated By Freight Train

Butte — Authorities have identified a man decapitated by a freight train here Saturday as Curt Willie Oehler Jr., 25, who came to Butte from Longview, Wash., in August.

Coroner Rudy Sayatovic said Oehler apparently boarded the 45-car train after telling his land lady he was leaving town. He slipped and fell beneath the wheels when the train was being moved by a switch engine.

Oehler, who leaves the widow and one child in Longview, was dragged 250 feet. His head and one foot were severed.

Clearing Plant Site Wixson and Crowe, clearing contractor, has completed knocking down trees and brush on about 130 acres of the aluminum plant site land for ACM. About two dozen stacks of trees now dot the area. Whitey Fields, clearing superintendent, said his crews are about two-thirds finished with the clearing job.

 

1952, 08 October: Train Passenger Fined In Whitefish

Whitefish — Saturday afternoon Great Northern special agents were called to meet train No. 3 and arrest Charles Foor for drunkenness and disturbing the peace on the train.

Foor pleaded guilty to the charges before Justice Robert Hunter and was fined $15 and cost of court. Sunday he was allowed to resume his trip to Portland.

Building Service Track Building service track for new aluminum plant was underway this week. Great Northern dozer operator is Art Slocum while five of 20 in extra gang taking a hand with ties include Foreman Joe Lavorato, Otto Stern, Mike Novak, Kenneth Henry and Jim Sample.

 

1952, 10 October: How President Truman's Train Went Through

President Truman's special train - coded POTUS Special - traveled by Great Northern all the way from St. Paul to the West Coast. Great Northern took lots of precautions to keep the train on its tight schedule.

Two weeks in advance, special agents in all divisions, directed by Chief Special Agent R. J. Murray, worked out details for the President's safety and the control of crowds. Co-operating with them were scores of law enforcement officers and Secret Service men.

Direct telephone and telegraph communications with Washington, D. C., were set up in advance at every point where the President would stop for any length of time.

For two days ahead of the movement of POTUS, freight trains ran at reduced speed. Roadmasters and section men patrolled the track thoroughly. No freight was permitted to be less than 12 hours ahead of the special, and switches were spiked so nobody could open them.

Thirty minutes ahead of POTUS went a two car pilot train carrying the general managers C. O. Hooker and T. A. Jerrow.

Each division superintendent rode the special with the President's party as it passed through his own division. Supt. H. M. Shapleigh of this division heard Mr. Truman make speeches at Shelby, Cutbank, Belton, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, Eureka, Libby, Troy, Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint on the loud speaker in the special train.

At each station where the special stopped for Mr. Truman to make a political speech, special agents made arrangements, with rope barriers on the platform, for the control of crowds and the safety of the President.

Railroading is a complicated business when POTUS Special is on the move. POTUS stands for President Of The United States.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 10 October: How Truman's Train Went Through

Security measures for President Harry Truman's ride from St. Paul, Minn., to the West Coast aboard a Great Northern Railway train code named POTUS Special began two weeks ahead.

Truman gave political speeches in Shelby, Cut Bank, Belton, Columbia Falls, Whitefish Eureka, Libby, Troy, Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint vial loud speaker.

Chief special agent R. J. Murray worked out the details, which included setting up direct telephone and telegram lines to Washington, D. C., at each stop two weeks in advance.

Two days ahead of the special train, Great Northern freight trains began to run at reduced speed, and roadmasters and section men began to patrol the track.

Freight traffic ended two days ahead of the POTUS Special. Switches were spiked 12 hours in advance of Truman's train to prevent them from being opened.

A two-car pilot train ran two hours ahead of POTUS Special carrying general managers C. O. Hooker and T. A. Jerrow.

Special agents set up rope barricades at each stop for crowd control.

West Glacier Crowd Greets President West Glacier residents listen to the President speak briefly during the "whistle-stop" at Belton last night. Greeting the President there were the leading Democrats of the community. Mr. Truman drew large, friendly crowds all along the route as he crossed Montana. Covering The President The newsmen that covered the President's Montana tour concentrated in a special railroad car. Even before one talk was finished the newsmen began typing or writing their Western Union dispatches to their papers. Greeting The President Jim Hall, Liberty County attorney at Chester, greeted the President as he stepped from the presidential special. Hall was first in line among the politicians that greeted the President. Margaret was presented with a large bouquet of long stemmed roses shortly after. Traveling Telegraph Station Carroll S. Linkins, Western Union representatives aboard the presidential special, receives transcripts of the President's speech. Messengers spotted along the railroad tracks permitted periodic tossing of the message bundles from the train.

 

1952, 20 October: More Freight Cars Loaded In August

Helena — Over 4,000 more cars of freight were loaded at Montana points during August then in the same month last year, the State Railroad Commission reported Friday.

The August, 1952, total was 39,657 carloads, compared with 35,379 carloads in August, 1951.

1952, 22 October: Goat Gleanings

Rail Conductor Retires After 35 Years Work


• Ethyl A Bronson, age 65 years, has retired from service as a Great Northern Railway conductor effective Oct. 5. Bronson has been employed by the G. N. since 1917. He will reside at his present home on 550 Central Ave.



• Tom A. Boorman, G. N. section laborer, ended 22½ years of employment Oct. 1. Boorman is 73 years old and lives at Eureka.



• James E. Kohmer retired Sept. 30 as G. N. carman. Kohmer has been a railroad employe since 1942 and is 70 years old. He lives at 319 Dakota Ave.



• Ervin H. Howery, G. N. section laborer at Devon, Mont., retired effective Oct. 17. Howery has been in service for nine years and is 65 years old.



• C. S. Boorbaugh returned Sunday from his annual vacation which he spent in the eastern U. S. and Pennsylvania, visiting relatives. He is material clerk in the superintendent's office.



• Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Lee have returned from a week-end trip to Seattle where they attended Homecoming and visited their daughter, Helen. Lee is bridge and building clerk.



• Dispatcher and Mrs. T. R. Hendershot arrived in Whitefish Sunday after a week in Seattle they visited Mrs. T. R. Hendershot Jr., whose husband is in Japan with the U. S. Navy.



• Dispatcher and Mrs. Ira E. Kell returned Friday from a trip to Fairfield, Mont., where they visited their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John F. Fraser, and family. They also spent some time in Great Falls to visit friends and in Malta with Mrs. Kell's sister. Upon his return Mr. Kell set out for Swamp Creek to do some hunting and pass the last week of his vacation.



• Great Northern personnel were saddened to hear of the death of fellow worker Frank M. Yale who died last Saturday night while on a hunting trip. Yale was employed as G. N. machinist and had ut in 30 years of service at the time of his death. He was 49 years old. He is survived by his wife, Jewel, and two daughters, Mrs. Donna Sooji of Lewistown, Mont., and Mrs. John Rooney, Longview, Wash.; four grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Peter Sofie of Everett, Wash.

--- Daily Inter Lake

1952, 24 October: This Is One Way To Get Bus Service

Since the Great Northern bus between Whitefish and Kalispell is not permitted to do local service, but can carry passengers with rail tickets only, some people have solved the problem from Kalispell to Whitefish by buying a ticket from Kalispell to Columbia Falls, and riding the bus to Whitefish and eliminating the remainder of the trip. Only catch the other way is that you would have to go to Columbia Falls and buy a ticket to Kalispell. At the best it's a sort of confused situation.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 05 November: Half Box Car Apples Liked

East Lake Shore — Word has been received by E. C. Carpenter that 350 boxes of Red Delicious apples which he shipped to a Stockton, California concern last week by auto transport had arrived there in good condition. The shipment was equivalent to one-half a carload.

So pleased was the California buyer that he asked for two full carloads of apples to be shipped immediately.

Carpenter, who operates a large sweet cherry and apple orchard on the south shore of Flathead Lake, was unable to fill the additional order from California. Arrangements had already been made, he said, to ship a full carload of mixed Delicious and McIntosh apples to a Minneapolis concern on Dec. 1.

1952, 05 November: Whitefish Goat Gleanings

• Arlan Evey, assistant chief dispatcher for the Great Northern Railway here, is taking his two weeks annual vacation, as of last Thursday. Plans include a trip to Seattle with his wife this Saturday for the university football game. At present they are hunting at Swamp Creek.



• Ira E. Kell, dispatcher, returned Tuesday from his two weeks' annual leave. Most of that time was spent at Swamp Creek hunting.



• Ray Slocombe, chief clerk in the yard office, returned to his duties Monday after a week's vacation spent here in Whitefish.



• Russell Nieskens is back to work as assistant road clerk here after a week's vacation ended Monday. His second week off begins next Monday and will be spent at home with his parents in Blackfoot, where he will do some hunting.



• A special representative for the B. A. of R. E., Kelly Gossard of Missoula, was in Whitefish on business last week. Gossard is employed by the Benefit Association for Railroad Employes, located in Chicago and an insurance company for persons working for the railroads.



• A representative for the Railroad Retirement Board will be at the Whitefish City Council Chambers at 1 p. m. Thursday, Nov. 6. Those wishing information regarding sickness benefits, survivor, employment, or unemployment benefits can contact him there or at the Cadillac Hotel.

1952, 06 November: Four Railroad Workers Retire

Whitefish — Three former Great Northern Railway employes have retired, effective Nov. 1, and a fourth ended his employment Oct. 31.

John B. Mass, G. N. engineer, has turned in his retirement after 47 years service for the railroad. Mass is 65 years old and will continue to live in Whitefish.

William D. Brewer, stationary fireman at Blackfoot, completed 33 years employment for the G. N. Brewer is 70 years old and will reside in Blackfoot.

Jiro Masuoka, 333 Second Ave. W., Kalispell, has retired as oiler and brasser on the G. N. repair track at Whitefish after 33 years of service. He is 74 years old and will live in Kalispell.

As of October 31st, Olaf J. Jenson, carman, G. N. repair track, has retired. He is 66 years old and has worked for the railroad for 26 years. He will live in Whitefish.

1952, 13 November: Whitefish Goat Gleanings

• Mrs. Evelyn Carlson has taken the position of stenographer for the Great Northern chief dispatcher here, effective Wednesday. She is filling the vacancy left by Miss Pat LaPlante who resigned to accept employment by the G. N. in Seattle.



• Starting Wednesday, Mrs. Isobel Metcalf assumed the duties of chief clerk stenographer replacing Mrs. Carlson.



• Claire J. Evey, G. N. rules examiner for lines west, arrived in Whitefish from Spokane on company business. He will remain for a couple of days.



• O. K. Redman, station clerk at Kalispell, has returned to work after a long leave of absence due to illness.



• Dispatcher and Mrs. Arlan Evey returned from Seattle Monday where they attended a university football game, and visited their son, James Evey and family, and a daughter, Miss Barbara Evey.

1952, 14 November: G. N. Taxes Down Along With Dist. 6

Flathead county's largest taxpayer, the Great Northern Railway will pay $226,757.82 in two payments this November and next May.

Other large Flathead county taxpayers, according to Merlyn Emmert Taborsky include the Mountain States Power Co., $79,924.49 up from $56,042,72 two years ago; Kalispell Mercantile Co., $16,919.99 up from $13,773 two years ago; Kalispell Lumber Co. $11,914.73; General - Shea - Morrison, Hungry Horse dam prime contractor for personal property, $27,254.27.

The Great Northern tax bill decreased from $274,416.62 last year to $226,757.82 this year. Most of the railroad's mainline right-of-way is in school district 6 between Columbia Falls and the continental divide.

Its lower tax bill largely results from the 27 per cent cut this year in the Columbia Falls to Summit tax levy dropping from 104.645 to 75.84 mills. Other taxpayers of the district also noticed the decrease. Columbia Falls town property taxes dropped 17.6 per cent.

The county treasurer commented that tax payments are ahead of last year for the Flathead. Comparative figures early this week were 2,978 first half payments and 2,020 second half payments this November so far compared with 2,811 first half and 1,822 second half payments at this time a year ago. A total of 9,012 first installments were paid last year.

Total tax bill is about $2,000,000 in the Flathead.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 14 November: Christmas Tree Harvest Underway In This Area

The big business of shipping Christmas trees is booming again. First of 20 cars from Brown Bros. Tree Yard in Whitefish was shipped to the Middle West last Saturday. Trees have been coming in since Oct. 15, and the next two weeks will be the peak of the season. The heaviest business is for arrival at destination the first week in December.

C. A. Munz, Kansas City florist and nurseryman, left for home on the Great Northern streamliner Sunday morning after shipping two cars of trees and decorative greenery from the Brown Bros. Yard. Mr. Munz, owner of Midwest Flower and Nursery in Kansas City, Mo., comes out here every year to buy trees. He likes the country so well that he brought his family out for a summer vacation on Whitefish Lake two years ago.

There is a big demand in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Illinois for Christmas trees of a type that people around here usually ignore - lodgepole pine. Mr. Munz colors a lot of these and finds white the most popular.

He has developed a market for another variety about which he is enthusiastic - Ponderosa pine, with needles as much as 8 inches long. This year he bought 100 of these, first ones ever shipped from the Brown Bros. yard.

"The only place I could get them before," Mr. Munz said, "was from northern Canada. You've got millions of them around here."

He intends to ship four cars of trees next season. Ponderosa also called yellow pine and bull pine, keeps its needles until summer if people want to have a Christmas tree around that long. It looks fine with decorations on the branches, Mr. Munz says. He recommends blue lights.

He also buys cedar boughs, Kinnikinnic and loose cones by the pound for decorative purposes. He sprays cones with dye in various colors including silver and bold.

Brown Bros. will ship 20 carloads of trees by Great Northern this year, according to Henry DeVall, tree inspector, with about 1,000 bales to a big auto boxcar. They are coming in by truck from the Swan River country, the South Fork drainage, Flathead Lake and even from Eureka, the Christmas tree capital of the world.

George Brennan, Great Northern car distributor, estimated that between 400 and 450 carloads will travel by rail from the Kalispell Division this season. This includes shipments from here, Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Eureka, Libby, Fortine, Rexford, Troy, Bonners Ferry and Newport.

Among workers at Brown's tree yard this season are Dale Barber, Donald Persicke, Bob Phillips, Mrs. Raymond Probert and her son Edwin.

Brown's trees are going out this year with a new label carrying the brand name Big Mountain. Each tree is labeled, with the label color designating the size. Number of trees in a bale varies according to size, from eight of the 2-foot length to one 12-foot tree. About 1,000 bales make a carload.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 16 November: Christmas Tree Shipping Begun

Whitefish — The Great Northern terminal here has already sent on their way three carloads of Christmas trees for points all over the U. S., according to reports from the Great Northern car distributing office.

The initial load of yuletide trees went out on Oct. 31 followed by two more cars on Nov. 4. The Christmas tree shipment will get into full swing around Nov. 10. These trees have been coming from Kalispell and Eureka with the Whitefish crop due out soon.

The monthly log shipments totaled 540 cars for October compared to 350 for September. The number of loads of forest products also increased from 1,785 for last month to 1,285 in September. October, 1951, only 285 cars of logs, and 1,415 of forest products were sent.

1952, 21 November: Final Services For Dr. W. W. Taylor

Dr. William W. Taylor, for 50 years a practicing physician and surgeon in this area, passed away Nov. 14 in Kalispell at the age of 80. He retired last year.

He was born Oct. 18, 1872, in Mantorville, Minn., to Robert and Pamelia Lord Taylor. His father, an attorney, had been a Civil War chaplain.

William W. Taylor received the degree of bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan in 1896 and the M. D. degree from the University of Minnesota medical school in 1900. After a year internship in Asbury Hospital, Minneapolis, he was employed as physician and surgeon for the F. Augustus Mining Co., in Butte, Mont.

He came to the Whitefish area July 26, 1903, to interview Dr. W. O. Dutton, contract doctor for the crews that were building the Great Northern's cutoff from Columbia Falls to Rexford. Dr. Taylor was hired to work at the railroad's temporary hospital at the head of Whitefish Lake and hastened back to Butte for his wedding, July 27, to Mary Ward Wickes, in Boulder. The couple's first home was a shack at the contractor's camp at the head of Whitefish Lake.

In November they moved to Kalispell, where Dr. Taylor engaged in general medical practice and served as local surgeon for the Great Northern.

Ten years later, Dr. Taylor was appointed Kalispell Division surgeon for the railroad with headquarters in Whitefish. He succeeded the late Dr. H. E. Houston in that position, Dr. Houston moving to Kalispell.

Dr. Taylor maintained a large private practice here from 1914 to about 1948, after which he continued as Great Northern medical examiner until he closed his office in July 1951. Among his souvenirs of his long association with the railroad were all the annual passes he had received through 48 years.

He was aligned with almost every notable development in the life of the community. He was active in the Whitefish Boosters Club of the early 1920's and in the Kiwanis Club, which was maintained from 1925 to 1935. He was a charter member of the Rotary Club in 1937 and served as president. He was a member of the school board for many years.

Dr. Taylor left an enduring and visible mark with his hobby, architectural design. The first plans for the high school gymnasium were his work. He was the original designer of the Presbyterian church building at Central Ave. and Third St. and chairman of the building committee that engineered its financing and construction about 30 years ago.

The Mary Wickes Taylor memorial organ in the church was largely a gift of Dr. Taylor and his sons at the time of Mrs. Taylor's death in 1949. The historic silver communion set, which dates back to pre-Civil War days, the baptismal fount and other church worship accessories are also gifts of the Taylor family. Dr. Taylor served on the Board of Elders, official ruling body of the church for 38 years.

Dr. Taylor was a member of the Montana Medical Assn. for 50 years and for six years was president of the Great Northern Physicians and Surgeons Assn.

Funeral services were held Nov. 18 at the Whitefish Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Hugh Garner officiating. Mrs. Garner played the organ. Pallbearers were Dr. Taylor's three sons and Dr. A. T. Lees, Dr. George H. Johnson and T. W. Hiatt. Burial was in the Conrad Memorial Cemetery, Kalispell.

Dr. Taylor leaves a brother, Robert, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his sons, William W., Spokane; Robert W., Great Falls; and Richard L., Kalispell; and five grandchildren.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 21 November: To Open Sawmill At Fortine

Howard Goodwin of Fortine, who was injured Oct. 31 when a log struck his back, was in Whitefish on business Monday Mr. Goodwin and a partner are going into the sawmill business when their equipment arrives.

Mr. Goodwin, who formerly lived near Kalkaska, Mich., is a graduate of a school that most people don’t' know exists - a school that trains professional auctioneers. He attended the Reisch Auction School in Mason City, Iowa, which holds two week sessions three times a year in a hotel with about 80 pupils registered each session.

When 40 or 50 student auctioneers are all practicing at once, Mr. Goodwin says, you can't hear yourself think. Pupils are in school from 7 a. m. to 10 p. m. When they get through they can sell anything from livestock to antiques. A few women take the auction course, he related, although none were there when he was, in 1950.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 23 November: Pioneer Doctor Served 50 Years

When a hole for the town of Whitefish was chopped from the trees shortly after the turn of the century, Dr. W. W. Taylor was there to see the first tents pitched, the first railroad ties placed and the first trains pass through but more graphically, he was there to doctor the pioneer railroad builders.

Dr. Taylor's death Nov. 14 has closed the door on 50 years of Montana Medical Association membership. He came to Whitefish in 1903 from Butte and lived in Whitefish and Kalispell since that time.

The early Montana doctor first came to the state in 1901 when he was employed as physician and surgeon for the F. Augustus Mining Company.

He first saw what is now Whitefish when he made a quick trip here arriving July 26, 1903. The railroad construction crews were then engaged in building the new cutoff from Columbia Falls through to Rexford and had their camp at the head of Whitefish Lake.

In quest of a job he was interviewed by Dr. W. O. Dutton, contract doctor for the railroad construction crews, and got work at the railroad's temporary hospital.

The day after he got his job he hurried back to Butte, picked up Mary Ward Wickes and married her at Boulder. The first home of the newlyweds was in a shack at the contractor's camp at the head of Whitefish Lake.

In November of that same year he moved to Kalispell where he served as local surgeon for the Great Northern Railway. He also served in general medical practice in the community. Dr. T. A. Lees succeeded him as physician for the men who were building the railroad.

After 10 years in Kalispell he was appointed surgeon for the Kalispell Division of the Great Northern Railway with his headquarters to be in Whitefish.

Dr. Taylor spent the remainder of his active life in this community. He worked as Kalispell Division surgeon and maintained a large private practice from 1914 to 1949, after which he continued as a Great Northern Railway medical examiner until July, 1951 when he closed his office in downtown Whitefish and went into retirement.

The pioneer doctor completed 50 years of medical service. During his long years of practice he had been President of the Great Northern Railway Physicians and Surgeons Association for six years before, during and after World War II. His railroad service began 48 years prior to his retirement and in his collection were all of the annual railroad passes he received yearly during that time.

By stature, Dr. Taylor was a small person. His keen sense of humor and quiet manner won him a host of friends.

1952, 24 November: Negotiating New Park Hotel Contract

In progress in St. Paul this week are negotiations between National Park service and Glacier Park Company representatives regarding visitor facilities in Glacier National Park.

The Great Northern 20-year contract for operating hotels, cabin camps and stores in the park expired Dec. 31, 1951, and was renewed for one year taking care of 1952.

Mentioned for the park are new cabin camps and a new hotel on Lake McDonald.

A Great Northern Railway subsidiary, the Glacier Park Company has operated in the national park since founding days of 1910. The railroad helped bring about creation of the area as a national park.

Meanwhile rail traffic that once accounted for virtually all park visitors now figures at approximately 1 per cent of the present park traffic total. Glacier in 1952 had a record 630,949 visitors.

While automobiles bring park visitors, the railroad still provides transportation for the carless and those who don't care to drive.

Federal policies did not encourage large investments in national park facilities, and this along with other factors results in the Great Northern today providing less visitor accommodations than it did before World War II.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 25 November: Railroad Ends Marion Branch

Kila, Mont. — The Interstate Commerce Commission Monday authorized the Great Northern Railway to abandon the 20-mile branch line west of here, according to the Associated Press.

The portion from Kila to Marion was once part of the original main line that was re-routed about 40 years ago. The Hubbard line was built during the days of heavy logging in that area.

H. M. Shapleigh, Great Northern superintendent, said salvage of track from the line will likely begin next spring at the same time erection of the Kila stockyard will take place.

Under existing arrangements the stock is loaded at Marion from the stockyards there. Shapleigh said the line has been used this fall for a few loads of pulpwood.

Salvage Set For Spring: A good set of scales will be placed at the Kila yard along with water supply, truck unloading chute and the customary holding pens.

Any material that can be salvaged from the three or four existing trestles will be removed in the spring, according to Shapleigh. Ownership of the right-of-way land will remain in railroad hands.

In ICC hearing conducted at Kalispell this fall several stockmen appeared to protest the abandonment. In their request for line closure the Great Northern spokesman said recent revenues from the section were too small to warrant its continuance.

1952, 26 November: Whitefish Goat Gleanings

• John E. Miller, formerly a locomotive engineer for the Great Northern here, retired effective No. 15. Miller has been employed since 1913 and is 65 years old.



• Kenneth Knapton, G. N. chief dispatcher, is taking the remainder of his annual vacation beginning today and will return to his duties on Dec. 1. Knapton had his original leave shortened when he was called back to assume the office left vacant by the promotion of Bob Grinde, now in St. Paul.



• Mrs. Harold Dalen, wife of fireman Dalen, and Vernon Torgerson, brakeman, have gone to Auburn, Wash., where they will attend the wedding of their brother on Nov. 27.



• Edwin Kamarainen, G. N. telegrapher formerly employed at Priest River, Ida., has been transferred to the Whitefish relay office. Kamarainen and his family are now living in Whitefish.



• Miss Roberta Stieg, telephone operator in the Whitefish relay office, left yesterday, Nov. 25, for Billings, due to the death of her uncle.



• Henry Irwin, road clerk in the superintendent's office, is taking his annual vacation this week.



• Raymond Finney, yard clerk, is at home on leave due to illness.



• Mrs. Swan Swanson, wife of engineer Swanson, returned from Seattle Tuesday.

1952, 27 November: Great Northern Seeks Bus Line Between Towns

The Great Northern Railway on a request to establish local service between Whitefish and Kalispell will be heard in the Kalispell city hall Dec. 4, according to Lincoln Wagner, traffic agent.

Persons who desire bus service to Whitefish but not farther, have been without transportation since Oct. 11 when the Hungry Horse Coach Lines suspended service.

At the Dec. 4 hearing a representative of the Montana Railroad Commission is scheduled to hear arguments in favor and against the proposed new bus service.

Wagner said all of the five runs daily to meet Whitefish trains would be used as regular bus runs. The bus to be used would be the big combination freight and bus vehicle that is now in service.

HH Lines Suspended: Erwin Garding, Hungry Horse Lines manager, said his line has been suspended to about April 1st. When in operation the Hungry Horse line made three trips to Whitefish daily and four to Columbia Falls, Hungry Horse, Martin City and Coram.

The Hungry Horse line began operation in 1946 in blue busses that became familiar until the end of service this fall. Garding said the operation failed to pay its way therefore it was discontinued.

Five Trips Daily: If the new Great Northern bus service is allowed it will be operated on the present bus schedule. The five trips that are made daily to Whitefish meet six Great Northern trains.

Prior to the Great Northern bus service between Whitefish and Kalispell the "galloping goose" carried passengers from Columbia Falls to Whitefish.

Under existing circumstances a trip to Whitefish on the Great Northern bus can only be made if the ticket extends beyond Whitefish so that rail service is required. Some desperate travelers between the two points have purchased a ticket to Columbia Falls from Kalispell or visa versa.

The permit for hauling mail between the two points is under a separate contract.

1952, 28 November: New Falls Depot Slated For Start

Construction of Columbia Falls new 87-foot long, 28-foot wide Great Northern depot is scheduled for "a start" soon with six to eight men working.

Materials for the new building are being received here.

Plan is to cut off the west waiting room of the old depot, and move it out of the way, according to William Jerrow, Great Northern master carpenter. The new building will be immediately west of the old depot at the head of Columbia Falls Main street.

Structure to be erected will be a virtual duplicate of the Bonner's Ferry, Idaho depot, according to information from Great Northern offices in St. Paul and H. M. Shapleigh, Whitefish, division superintendent. Exterior of the local depot will be white painted cedar with green trim and gabled ends of varnished cedar.

There will be a green shingled roof, outside platforms of concrete, and a planting area for lawn and flowers.

Walls of the waiting room and office will knotty pine, asphalt tile floors, Nu-wood tile ceilings, and both for decoration and convenience there will be glass blocks on both sides of the entrance door as well as in the freight section of the structure.

Heat will be provided by an oil fired hot water system.

Total cost of the new building is estimated at $50,000.

Lumber is Columbia Falls's principal export with 1,700 freight cars shipped out last year by the Great Northern. The new Anaconda aluminum plant is expected to increase local freight and passenger requirements.

The present depot, though it has electric lights, is a historical relic of early days in the Flathead.

--- Hungry Horse News

G. N. Carpentry Crew Great Northern carpentry crew first built partition so that west waiting room of current depot could be complete four-walled room to be moved and serve as storage shed for building materials. New depot will be at head of Nucleus Avenue with its east end built on space now occupied by waiting room to be moved later this month. In Foreman Vern Hedman's crew (he's second from right) are left to right: L. B. Howard, M. D. Smith, Fred Wagener, Bob Sutcliffe and Mel Thompson on end. Platform rail at extreme right is called President Truman's. It was built just before President's train arrived here.

 

1952, 28 November: Lumber Men Eat Turkey At Home

Thanksgiving was a holiday with men home from the four Columbia Falls lumber mills.

Plum Creek and Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. were down just Thursday, while Rocky Mountain and Superior were down for the whole weekend.

The cold snap has curtailed operations at Superior with the mill pond frozen.

November lumber shipments from Columbia Falls over the Great Northern through Tuesday night were 109 cars, according to H. J. Mustell, agent. In addition two freight cars of pulp and two of poles were shipped.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 28 November: Kalispell Bus Service Is A Possibility

People who want to go back and forth between Whitefish and Kalispell are holding their breath until Dec. 3, when the Public Service Commission will decide whether there will be bus service.

Buses operated by the Great Northern Railway have operated between the two towns ever since the dinky train from Columbia Falls to Kalispell was discontinued. Great Northern buses, however, were permitted by state authorities to take only railroad passengers.

A Hungry Horse bus that made trips to Kalispell was discontinued a few weeks ago. Since then, Kalispell people who wanted to come to Whitefish got around the restriction on Great Northern buses by buying tickets to Columbia Falls and not using the rail portion of the fare, but getting from here to Kalispell was strictly rough.

If the railroad's application to take non-rail passengers on its buses is approved by the Public Service Commission, transportation between Whitefish and Kalispell will be a snap. Buses from Kalispell meet all passenger trains here.

It is possible that the bus that meets both No. 3 and No. 4 here in the afternoon may not take non-rail passenger to Kalispell, however, according to H. G. Decker, G. N. agent. That bus is usually filled with railroad passengers.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 28 November: Tells Story Of Town Of Nyack

Last winter we had an inquiry from California regarding the origin of the name Essex for our town. We were unable to obtain any information for the California man. I have a letter from a lady, Mrs. Emma Conance, Nyack, N. Y., regarding the naming of our little town of Nyack here in the Middle Fork valley. She encloses a clipping from an eastern newspaper in which it states that Nyack, Mont. was named by James U. Sanders, son of one of Montana's two first U. S. Senators, in memory of his pleasant association in Nyack, N. Y.

In the early 1880's he traveled in Europe with New York friends and later entertained them in his Helena home. The name comes from the Tappan Indian language. The syllable 'ni' meaning fish and 'ack' meaning place. The spelling was later changed to Nyack. The Nyack Mont. post office was closed in 1941 and the Great Northern Railway station was renamed Red Eagle, so Nyack, Mont. is really a town of the past.

1952, 05 December: Ben Tracey Retires From Railroad Work

After 28 years of service with the Great Northern Railway, Ben Tracey is retiring for health reasons.

For the past 16 years, Mr. Tracey has worked as watchman in Bad Rock canyon. His duty there was to see trains were not derailed by rocks or slides, greasing curves, and patrolling his beat. For rocks or slides too large for him to handle, he called out crews. Previous to that he worked between Coram and Whitefish.

Many hunters as well as fishermen coming through the canyon have stopped for a chat with Mr. Tracey and have hot cup of coffee.

The new Anaconda plant is located just off Mr. Tracey's beat. Part of the land purchased for the plant was from him.

Early this spring, Ben took a sick leave because of his acute rheumatic condition, and was advised to go where it was warmer during the winter months. He left November 22 for Mexico City.

Ben spent Thanksgiving in Denver and commented it was 14 degrees below zero between Denver and Albequerque. He asked about Flathead weather. He planned to leave that evening for El Paso, hoping to reach Mexico City in time for the inauguration ceremonies of their new president, Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, December 1.

Meanwhile his son, Bob, had moved to Salt Lake City, so when Ben returns to the Flathead in the spring he will probably visit him.

--- Hungry Horse News

1952, 05 December: Budd Tells Chamber G. N. Will Miss Kalispell

Ashley Creek line not feasible. The main line of the Great Northern will not be any closer to Kalispell after Libby Dam is built, the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce was told Tuesday night by John M. Budd, G. N. president, guest speaker at a banquet.

Mr. Budd said it would not be feasible to locate the line along Ashley Creek, west of Kalispell. Building of the proposed Libby dam, for which no money has yet been appropriated, will flood 55 to 60 miles of present trackage west of Eureka.

The relocated line may take off near Stryker and to west along Wolf Creek and on to Libby, Mr. Budd explained.

The speaker, who was division superintendent here in 1942, addressed 300 persons, including delegations from Columbia Falls, Hungry Horse, Missoula, Polson, Somers and Whitefish. Present from here were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lindlief, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Sillers and Mr. and Mrs. Willard Reeves. Mr. Lindlief is president, and Mr. Sillers vice president, of the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 07 December: New Bus Service Welcomed

Very few valley residents were surprised by Great Northern President John Budd's announcement that the railroad would not move closer to Kalispell, but everyone should be pleased with Friday's announcement that the Great Northern will re-establish bus service between Kalispell and Whitefish.

The new inter-city bus service will be available to the public as soon as the tariff rates are approved. Lincoln Wagner, G. N. agent, said this approval will be given within the next two weeks, or by the first of the year at the latest.

The new bus service will serve Kalispell and Whitefish with four trips between the two cities each day. The fare will be 50 cents one way and 90 cents round-trip plus 15 per cent tax.

Public transportation between the two neighboring cities is a vital element to the progress and prosperity of both Whitefish and Kalispell.

There will be many people who for lack of automobile transportation or from choice will welcome the new bus service.

The Great Northern should be complimented for its additional service to the two valley cities of Whitefish and Kalispell.

1952, 03 December: Whitefish Goat Gleanings

• Mr. and Mrs. John Mass will leave Thursday for California where they will visit their daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Larson. Mr. Larson expects to be transferred soon from Pasadena, Calif., to San Francisco. His parents are Great Northern telegrapher and Mrs. Henry Larson of Whitefish.
  
  The Mass plan to spend the winter in Texas visiting relatives and old friends. He was formerly a G. N. engineer having retired Nov. 1, 1952.



• Mr. and Mrs. Jess O. England are in Spokane where Mrs. England will undergo surgery Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Hospital. Mr. England is a clerk in the Roadmaster's office.



• A representative of the U. S. Railroad Retirement Board will be in the Whitefish City Council Chambers on Dec. 11.



• With the shipment of trees for Christmas nearly over, it is evident that this year's figure will be considerably smaller than that of 1951 according to figures released by the G. N. car distributing office. To date, 349 cars have left the G. N. yard here compared to 465 in 1951. this is a difference of over 500,000 trees.
  
  The length of the 1951 season exceeded 1952's by nearly two weeks beginning on Nov. 8 and ending Dec. 10. Shipping started good Nov. 12 and ended before Dec. 1 this year.
  
  A little less than half of the total number of cars of trees have come from the Eureka area. Kalispell has sent out more than any other town in this division. Some have also come from Libby, Bonners Ferry and Newport though the last two are small in number. Libby, on the other hand, is increasing its shipments each year.

1952, 03 December: Engineer Ends Railway Duty

John E. Miller, engineer who first rode the big steam engines of the Great Northern then switched to the sleek diesel in about 1940, has retired to his home on Haugen Heights near Whitefish.

Miller, 66, intended to finish his 40 years next March but health forced his retirement Nov. 15.

From his hillside home overlooking Whitefish and Whitefish Lake, Miller and his wife have one of the finest views in the county. There he can sit by his living room window and watch the evening pink on Columbia Mountain or the snow as it continues to get deeper among the spruce and poplar near his home.

Miller's service as an engineer dates from 1919 when he was promoted to that rank. His birthday was last Sunday.

1952, 04 December: Railroad Commission Opens Hearing

Montana's Railroad Commission opened a hearing in Kalispell this morning with three cases scheduled to be heard.

Applicants for motor carrier permits are Arvin G. Anderson of Kalispell, to haul heavy machinery and industrial equipment within a radius of 75 miles of Kalispell; Murray Giles, Columbia Falls, to haul all types of wares within a radius of 20 miles of Columbia Falls; and Great Northern Railway Co., to transport persons, baggage and express on U. S. 93 between Whitefish and Kalispell.

1952, 10 December: Falls G. N. Depot Salvage Begun

Dismantling of the west end of the Great Northern depot in Columbia Falls is under way.

Work started Monday with a wrecking crew cutting the west end from the existing station. Once the section is removed the crew will begin basement excavation and erection of the new building, leaving the rest of the old depot intact until the new one is completed.

Columbia Falls Depot Monday saw Great Northern crew start dismantling old Columbia Falls depot to be replaced with new 28 by 87-foot modern structure. In this Tuesday final picture of the old depot is H. J. Mustell, Columbia Falls Great Northern agent since 1918, and Great Northern employe for 48 years. One of Mr. Mustell's great hopes has been to sit behind a desk in a new Falls depot before he retired.

 

1952, 10 December: Whitefish Goat Gleanings

• Thomas A. Scott, Great Northern roundhouse laborer at Essex, retired effective Dec. 5. Scott is 71 years old and has been employed with the G. N. since 1922. He will continue to live in Essex.



• Jacob B. Dean, section laborer at Dean, Wash., ended 23 years of service for the G. N. as of Nov. 28. Dean is 69 years old and will reside at Colbert, Wash.



• William A. Malstrom, cashier at Shelby, will retire effective Dec. 16. Malstrom is 66 years old and has been employed since 1936. He will live in Whitefish.



• Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Smith will leave this week for Los Angeles to spend the winter. Mr. Smith, before his retirement, was a clerk in the Master Mechanic's office.



• O. P. Jenson and J. A. Minnick, retired Carmen, departed from Whitefish for points in Arizona and Mexico where they will remain this winter.



• H. H. Potter, enginemen's timekeeper in the superintendent's office, underwent surgery at the John B. Simon's Hospital Tuesday.



• L. O. V. Erickson, conductor is absent from his duties due to illness.

1952, 14 December: Jesse James Tries To Rob G. N. Switch Engine

St. Paul — An eight-year-old boy brought back the days of Jesse James — at least for a little while — when he stopped a train here Friday at high noon by standing on the tracks with drawn six-shooters.

Larry Meredith, 1482 Taylor Ave., dressed in cowboy boots and hat, explained to trainmen: "I'm playing Jesse James."

The "big train robbery" occurred on the Great Northern tracks at Snelling and Hamline. The train was a switch engine which was hauling cars of coke.

After a stern lecture at police headquarters Larry was taken home.

--- Daily Plainsman

1952, 14 December: Whitefish Railroad Center Shows Million And Half Trees Shipped

Whitefish — Cars for a million and a half Christmas trees have been dispatched from the Kalispell Division point of the Great Northern Railway here.

The trees were packed in 374 railroad cars and sent to points all over the United States. The shipments are still under those of last year when 465 cars were shipped.

"The trees are pretty well cleaned up now although one car went out yesterday" said George Brennan, car distributor.

Scattered truck shipments are still going out from Olney, Kalispell, Eureka and Libby although the bulk of the trees is already on its way.

The million and a half trees shipped does not include an estimated three-quarter million more taken out by trucks.

Unusually dry and mild weather during the fall this year permitted cutting crews to get the tree harvest in earlier than normal. Cutters usually start in October and end by mid or late November although this year the cutting was done a week or two ahead of schedule.

Once trees leave Northwest Montana they go to mid-western points largely where a buyer takes them to his retail tree yards.

Again this year Northwest Montana led the state as a tree shipping center. The Missoula area follows in number of trees shipped.

1952, 14 December: Great Northern President's Visit Pays Off

Great Northern president John Budd may have disappointed Kalispell Chamber of Commerce members when he told them at their annual banquet that the main line would never return to Kalispell, but his visit to a similar Chamber of Commerce dinner at Cut Bank had a happier ending.

Last week the west-bound Empire Builder swung from the north track onto the new track cross-over at Cut Bank and pulled up to the station on the south track, thereby enabling passengers west-bound to board the train from the depot for the first time.

According to the Cut Bank Pioneer Press, this and several other improvements there came about through the good will of President Budd. After he spoke at the Cut Bank Chamber of Commerce dinner a year ago, a committee from the Chamber urged him to consider the cross-over. He indicated then he would do his best to provide the "excellent improvements now enjoyed by train passengers," the paper reports.

Maybe, even though we couldn't get the main line back, Kalispell could have asked for something while it had a crack at the forth-right G. N. president.

1952, 15 December: Heat Assists Wreck Escape

An unusual escape from a ditch was made Sunday by the Great Northern bus between Kalispell and Whitefish.

A car coming from behind hit the bus and forced the front end into a ditch. The bus was making the regular Whitefish-Kalispell run.

Passengers were taken to Whitefish by car.

About a half hour later the driver was able to back the bus from the ditch under its own power because the heat from the pancake engine and diesel exhaust had melted the road bare.

The bus is in service today and it was not damaged.

1952, 15 December: G. N. Whitefish Bus Run OK'd

The Great Northern Railway yesterday received permission from the Montana Railroad Commission to begin transporting passengers and baggage over U. S. 93 between Whitefish and Kalispell.

A hearing before Austin Middleton and Leonard Young of the Commission was held in the Kalispell City Council chamber at City Hall from 10 a. m. until after 3 p. m. yesterday. The Great Northern application occupied only a few minutes.

The application filed by the railroad asked that permission be given to make four round trips daily for commuter service. The railroad carried passengers on the route previously, but only if they were planning to use the railroad for continued trips to the east or west of Whitefish.

The fifth trip daily between Whitefish and Kalispell connects with the main through train each day. Lincoln Wagner, G. N. agent, said this bus is usually too crowded with train passengers to allow for commuters, but that the other four busses daily would be open to traffic just between the two Flathead towns.

Tariffs Still To Be Set: Busses will leave Kalispell daily at 5:50 and 10:30 a. m. and 3:50 and 5:20 p. m. The return trip will be made from Whitefish at 6:40 and 11:30 a. m. and 4:35 and 6:05 p. m. Service will begin in the near future, Wagner said.

All bus trip times are based on train connections at Whitefish.

1952, 15 December: Whitefish Bus Service Begins

Passenger service between Whitefish and Kalispell on Great Northern Railway busses will begin immediately, Lincoln Wagner, G. N. general agent, announced this morning.

The immediate service beginning was made possible by the approval of passenger tariffs submitted to the Montana Railroad Commission recently. New fares on the line will be 50 cents for travel in one direction between the towns, and 90 cents for a round trip.

Four Trips A Day: Four busses will leave Kalispell each day on which passengers not making a continued trip on the railroad may travel. The fifth bus connects with the main through train each day, and Wagner said it is usually too crowded for passengers to ride unless they are making connection with the train.

The four busses will run on a schedule set by G. N. train arrivals and departures at Whitefish.

Leaving Kalispell at 5:50 and 10:30 a. m. and at 3:55 and 5:20 p. m., the busses will return from Whitefish at 6:40 and 11:30 a. m. and 4:35 and 6:05 p. m.

1952, 19 December: G. N. Announces Kalispell Bus Service Now Available

Effective at once, Great Northern buses will take passengers between here and Kalispell, H. G. Decker, G. N. agent here announced this week. Up to now, the railroad's buses were permitted by state authorities to transport only railroad passengers. Now they can carry anybody to Kalispell or back who has 58 cents, 8 cents of which is tax. The round-trip fare is $1.04, including 14 cents tax.

Buses leave Whitefish at 6:40 and 11:30 a. m.; 3:15, 4:35 and 6:05 p. m., arriving in Kalispell 30 minutes later.

They arrive here at 6:20 and 11:00 a. m.; 2:15, 4:25 and 5:30 p. m., leaving Kalispell half an hour earlier.

Rail passengers will be accommodated before local passengers, but the only trip on which crowded conditions are expected is the 3:15 p. m., south-bound, Mr. Decker stated.

--- Whitefish Pilot

1952, 19 December: River Pollution In Whitefish

Flathead count sanitarian George Fielding reported on his extensive survey of Whitefish River pollution at a Rotary Club luncheon.

"Conditions of water pollution are bad, he said, especially from the mouth of Whitefish Lake to the dam south of town. As a result, river water was only used for irrigation and livestock."

Fielding said the pollution came from city sptic tanks, Great Northern Railway and about 150 homes outside of town, some of which, the speaker said, permit sewage to flow directly into the river.

1952, 21 December: Glasgow Driver Killed By Train

Glasgow — A west-bound Great Northern passenger train collided with a pickup truck Saturday afternoon and threw Royce Biddle, 66, 125 feet to his death.

Biddle, a Valley County commissioner, was alone in his pickup truck and on his way to town from his farm when the collision occurred at a railroad crossing, one mile west of here.

Engineer Walt Zaer of Havre said his train was going at 40 mph. The train pushed the main part of the truck 1,000 yards up the track before coming to a stop.

County Coroner Callie K. Peterson was planning an inquest.

1952, 24 December: I. C. C. Suspends Motor Freight Rate Change

Great Falls — The Interstate Commerce Commission has suspended a motor freight rate change which would have substantially increased rates on minimum shipments from east of Chicago to Montana, Harry C. Cooley said Tuesday.

Cooley is president of the Montana Citizens Freight Rate Association, which protested the proposal of the motor carrier industry.

The suspension means the I. C. C. will set the matter for hearings at which the truckers will be required to justify their proposal, he said.

$1,000 A Day: Minimum shipments are those of 100 pounds or less, Cooley explained, adding: Suspension of the proposal will mean a minimum saving of about $1,000 a day in the state.

The association last November said the I. C. C. should "not be expected to consider, much less approve fundamental changes in the basis for computing minimum charges, as drastic as the one sought, after anything less than the full and orderly hearings and discussions which such matters deserve."

1952, 24 December: Winter Wheat Crop Poor

Helena — A federal report Tuesday said Montana's winter wheat crop, to be harvested next year, may be the smallest since 1937.

The Bureau of Agricultural Economics said that as of Dec. 1, the crop is forecast at 14,490,000 bushels, about half the 28,818,000 bushels crop harvested 1952.

Acreage seeded last fall was 5 per cent under a year ago, but slightly above the 1941 - 1950 average. The poor crop forecast follows "extremely heavy abandonment from poor germination and winter kill."

Winter wheat seedings covered 1,610,000 acres. The bureau added that rye seedings in Montana were on 27,000 acres, the same as a year ago but far below the average of 42,000 acres.

1952, 24 December: Great Northern Tree Shining

You'll have to take a drive and see these along with all the other decorated homes in town. Don't forget to see the Great Northern tree that is shining for it's 15th Christmas. We have been told that when it was just a tiny tree it was growing near the old lunch room that once stood near but then the depot was remodeled and the tree was left to keep on growing. Then the late Supt. I. E. Manion in 1937 saw to it that the tree was strung with lights every Christmas and it has been part of Christmas for the Great Northern ever since.

1952, 24 December: Whitefish Goat Gleanings

• Great Northern conductor, L. O. Erickson, returned from Great Falls Tuesday where he had undergone surgery.



• A. J. Fontana, general clerk in the superintendent's office, is on his annual vacation until Jan. 5.



• Lloyd A. Combs, switch foreman, returned from Rochester recently where he underwent surgery. He is convalescing at his home on Kalispell Ave.



• Several Great Northern employes here have left to spend the Christmas holidays elsewhere. Miss Ruth Jorgenson, clerk's steno in the superintendent's office, left Dec. 20 for her home in Williston, N. D.
  
  Mr. and Mrs. Henry Irwin left today to spend Christmas with their daughter and family in Spokane. Mr. Irwin is G. N. road clerk.
  
  Russell Nieskens, assistant road clerk and Frank Davis, assistant timekeeper, will spend the holidays with their respective parents in Blackfoot, Montana.



• Mr. and Mrs. Otto Ost are in Whitefish to enjoy the holidays with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Jerrow and Mr. and Mrs. Chris Ost.



• Mr. and Mrs. Roy Arnold Jr. and family have arrived from Cut Bank to visit their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Donahoe and Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Arnold.



• Mr. and Mrs. John A. Fraser and daughter arrived here Dec. 23 to spend the holidays with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Fraser and Mr. and Mrs. I. E. Kell. They will remain until Jan. 4.



• Retired effective Nov. 22 is William Hunter, age 65, and a former district gang laborer. Hunter has been employed with the G. N. since 1946 and will reside in Whitefish.

1952, 24 December: Freight Loadings Off In October

Helena, Mont. — October freight carloadings in Montana were off 3.6 per cent from those of the previous October, the Montana Railroad Commission reported.

October, 1951, loadings totaled 44,829 cars, compared with 42,699 last October. Principal decreases, by cars, were: 270 commercial coal, 799 company coal.

Gains, by cars, were shown in : 285 logs, 1,801 ore, and 202 sugar beets.

1952, 28 December: Montana Crop Goals For 1953 Spring Slated

Bozeman, Mont. — Montana's 1953 acreage and production goals for five spring-seeded crops were announced this week by R. J. McKenna, chairman of the State Agricultural Mobilization Committee.

The goals approved by secretary of Agriculture Charles F. Brannan with 1952 goals:

Corn: 200,000 acres, 2,896,000 bushels (210,000 acres, 2,940,000 bushels).

Oats: 525,000 acres, 11,667,000 bushels (550,000 acres, 12,265,000 bushels).

Sorghums: 5,000 acres, no production goal (5,000 acres).

Flaxseed: 23,000 acres, 150,000 bushels, (55,000 acres, 375,000 bushels).

Dry Beans: 15,000 acres, 175,000 hundred weight (15,000 acres, 170,000 hundred weight).

Tame Hay: 1,600,000 acres, 1,979,000 tons (1,450,000 acres, 1,815,000 tons).

McKenna said the 1953 goals are in line with these recommended by the committee, made up of heads of federal and state agricultural agencies in Montana.

1952, 28 December: State Rail Rate Expert Resigns

Helena — Edwin S. Booth, secretary-counsel for the Montana Railroad and Public Service Commission since 1946, Saturday announced his resignation, effective Jan. 30, so that he may enter private law practice here.

During his seven years with the commission, Booth participated in several actions which reached the U. S. Supreme Court.

One Still Pending: The Aero Mayflower case resulted in a settlement of the state's right to collect fees from interstate motor carriers and made collection of $50,000 in back fees possible.

Another action was abandonment of the Montana Western Railway Co. and division of fees between that firm and the Great Northern Railway.

A case involving intrastate rates for Montana was won before a three-judge Federal Court in Helena last summer and now is before the U. S. Supreme Court.

1952, 28 December: Columbia Falls Waiting Room Goes For Short Ride

Construction progress for Columbia Falls new 28 by 87 foot Great Northern depot this week included removal of the west waiting room of the old structure.

The waiting room has been disconnected from the rest of the old depot, and temporary walls erected. Next step was placing rollers under the waiting room, and Wednesday it was moved away to be used for storing materials during the construction period.

Columbia Falls new Great Northern station will be at the head of Nucleus Avenue, the town's main street, with the new depot's east end located on space vacated by the old west waiting room.

--- Hungry Horse News