Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-04-11
FREIGHT RATES.


Chicago.
Articles of peace were signed by
and between the U. P. and G. p. r.
r., and the o. r. & N. Co., quite re-
Gently, establishing give-and-take
system on overland business, and
combining interests with reference to
the new section of country being
opened up by the o. S. l.. The ar
rangement operated directly against
Wood River by preventing competi-
ton from the G. p. via Kelton, and
yet for the sake of larger interests the
G. P. entered into the contract and
thus raised the rate on freight from
San Francisco to Wood River via
Shoshone 1 cents per pound.
The combination was expected to
break up the heavy teams running
heretofore between .Kelton and Wood
River, and give the U. p. r. r.
monopoly, which permitted very high
rates to all points East from Wood
River. The result was Immediately
felt, and Chicago merchants, finding
that the tariff operated against them
as we'll as against San Francisco, re-
belled, but to no purpose. This
spring bedroom sets of furniture
costing $25 in Chicago, for example,
are, on account of the freight tariff,
rendered so costly that 800 is the
lowest price they can be sold for here,
and other articles in proportion.
A loophole has been found by the
G. P. and 0. r. & N. Co. to evade
this arrangement, and circular letters
have recently been received from the
O. r. & N. Co., issued in combna-
ton with the q. P. r. r., Offering to
contract for freight from either Port
land or San Francisco, as desired, on
the following schedule: First-class
per hundred pounds, $40; second.
class, $1.2S; third and fourth. class,
81. The rates stated are for Boise
City merchants. The freight will be
taken from San Francisco via the
Coast line to Portland, and thence to
the end of the O. r. & N. track now
at Cayuse Station, two miles east of
the Blue Mountains, Oregon, and
thence by teams to Boise City. The
railroad company have teams to
deliver promptly all goods ordered.
The distance from Cayuse Station to
Boise City is 19l miles, and within so
days the terminus viii be moved 16
miles nearer or to within 175 miles of
Boise. The rate from Boise to Hal
ley will be probably $3.50 per hun
dred on teams, distance l4O miles.
The G. P. and o. r. & N. Co. owned
each one-half the stock in the railroad
building between Portland and San
Francisco to the point of connection,
and In consideration of the o. r. &
N. Go. undertaking to complete the
unfinished portion of $50 miles be-
tween Roseburg, Oregon, and Red
ding, California, the c. p. Co. allow
the O. r. & N. Co. two thirds of the
stock, and the gap in that line will be
finished as soon as possible, which will
give San Francisco new outlet with
Portland to the Northwest, indepen.
IDENTITY of the U. p. and o. S. L., as
soon as the o. r. 4 N. Co.'S main line
and connections are established fully.
The reduction in rates to Boise to
II per 100 on third and fourth class
freight from the Coast is a saving of
about one-half in the rate from Chi.
cago. and will divert considerable
trade to the Coast cities, as, in fact,
last week, on the announcement of the
new tariff, the Boise merchants imme.
diately sent heavy orders to Portland
and San Francisco.
It is evident that the Union Pacific
and Oregon Short Line freight tariff
must be reduced without delay, if the
managers Of those companies wish to
retain any considerable portion of the
incoming Wood River carrying trade.
The people Of Wood River are very
we'll disposed toward the o. S. L. as
it is the first railway in here; but that
feeling will change if the tariff is kept
% high Is to retard the development
Of this section-which seems to be