The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-04-30
THE UNION PACIFIC AGAIN.

The Omaha Bee puts in general denial
of the assertion that the Union Pacific Rail.
way is discriminating again-t the trade of
Kansas. The Bees explanation is, however,
very transparent, failing to disprove the
charge of discrimination in any particular.
Our Omaha contemporary speaks as fol-
lows:
The Kansas and Missouri papers are stiN
bowling about the outrageous discrimination
by the Union Pacific Railroad in refusing 10
pror,ie with the Kansas Pacific upon freights
and passengers transferred at Cheyenne.
In ,stiticaiion of their course. the Union
Pacific have placed documentiry statements
before Congress which cover the following
points:
Is,. The Union Pacific has always been
ready, and IS now ready. to make rates which
ehali not discriminate against the Kansas
Pacific, but ii cannot prorate mile for mile
on the basis Of its lowest through rates from
Omaha to Ogden because of mountain grades
and curves on the wsst half of lis road and
the greater distance via Kansas Pacific.
%. More than two-thirds OF the through
rate from Omaha 10 Ogden ia earned on the
west half OF the Union Pacific; but it has Of
fered and still offers TO divide the through
rate with the Kansas Pacific on that basis.
That company Refuses the offer, and demands
one-half OF the through rate, or pro.rate
| mile for mile which il more than half the
through rate.
81. The law, if applicable at all in favor
of the Kansas Pacific, (which the Union Pa
cific denies. simply declares the rule OF non
discrimination. One.haif OF the through rate
or a pro-rata mile for mile would he gross
discrimination againt the Union Pacific.
The government loaned on the west half
| three times the subsidy on the east half, on
account Of the increased cost of construction
over the Rocky Mountains. The west half
cost three times as much in construction, and
costs more than twice As much in operation
a the eat half.
To shhw the fallacy Of the Bees argument
We only reed cite the fac that the Union
Pacific carries 4 car load of bacon from On
aha to Ogden, l,03a miles, for S255, and
charges $3.50 for hauling the same quantity
of bacon from the terminus of the X. P.
road at Cheyenne TO Ogden, distance Of
56l miles. 1t seems TO us that the ''moun.
tain grades and curves" mentioned are moi
avoided by the through cars loaded at Oma-
ha and destined for points in Utah and
western Wyoming.
We concede the right of the Union Pacific
to charge some;hing extra for hauling carr
over the mountains, but it is neither just OF
fair to charge more for hauling a car from
Cheyenne to Ogden than lie charged for per.
forming the same service from Omaha to
Ogden, since. both cars run on the same track,
up the same grades, and around the same
curves from Cheyenne westward. The same
rateof discrimination against the Kansas Paci.
fic is maintained in other kinds of freightmuch
tbeIdetriment OF Kansas. and: Missouri. 1t il
nothing new either, the K. p. having com.
planned of it.for years, and adopted every
sensible method outside OF legislation 10 &C.
cure just regard Tor the irteres, of shippers
distant from the msia line OF the Union Pa.
cifc. The bill recently introduced by Sen.
ator Ingalls, deserves to receive the support Of
all Congressman. Ii is simply a measure
compelling the Union Pacific to conform Il
the provisions of the Law under which il Oh
tanned subsidies, privileges and franchises
OF great and lasting value.
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