Montanans hope BNSF deal will cut shipping costs

HELENA (AP)

Montana political and agricultural leaders hope Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s planned purchase of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad will lead to lower shipping costs in Montana, but they doubt much will change. Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a farmer and rancher, said Tuesday he had spoken to both Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, and Matthew Rose, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.'s chairman, president and CEO. "I said to both of them that I look forward to working with both in the future to improve service and shipping costs for our farmers, our miners and our merch...