Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-06-30
rye re1CrEs CenPAREs

rive POLICIES COMPARED
Assuming the uttsrancss Of Mr.. John
Muir, General Traffic Agent OF the
Northern Pacific Railroad. to have been |
correctly reported in the interview with
an Oregosion reporter, Published In TINS
paper yesterday. opportunity 10 afforded
for q comparison Of the publicly an
nounoed policy Of that company win
that instituted and enforced by the man
aosment OF the Central Pacific Kali
ROAD. Mr.. Muir says distinctly and IN
eouivocally that freight rates iron
points in the East 10 points between o1
p.uI and tidewater on this side the Cas-
osdes. shall not exceed the rates charged
over the whole line Of the Northern Pa
cific. In other words, that freight rates
IN points in the interior shall not be
greater than through charges to the Sea
hoard. Obviously this ID the correct
principle, and ID based upon justice to
interior and so-called non-competitive
points. Il will result in fostering and
developing the growth Of trade censsrs
in the treat section between this coast
and the navigable waters OF the Mis-
seui and the great Lakes, facilitate
production, establish manufactures and
stimulate trade all along the line OF the
great artery Of commerce now about 70
b opened. II will place cities situated
upon tidswater, or at the head OF navi-
cation on this side the continent, on
equal terms Of competition with those
similarly situated on the Atlantic SLOPE
and vill In NO event result in an abnor-
NAL and unjust building up OF coast
cities at the expense Of interior produc-
tiou. Il will enable cities In the center
Of the continent TO grow and aourish'
make Wholesale business possible In q
dozsn different localities, and place the
sitizsns Of the interior on an equitable
footing both with each other and reia-
lively to points on tidswatsr. The
theory ID Just, practical and evidence OF
fsr-sesinR business sa9aoity and viii de-
velop good fruits. Its enforcement will
moreover take away from the public
Who are 70 be served by the Northern
Pacific any reasons for complaint Of
hostile and unjust discrimination In
favor of alleged competitive points.
The policy Of the Central Pacine
Railroad has been exactly the reverse
From tho time its hrst freight tariff
vas published up 10 the present day the
practical result of it, theory of trans
portation service has been to build uE
the terminal points Of its line at the ex-
pense Of all intermediate localities
Whsn II FIRST began 10 haul freiRhts
ssrou the continent IL established
through rates from New York to San
Francisco and Sacramento. 1t also
hxsd local rates between points on it,
line In connection with those on the
Union Pacific. These local rates were
% much In excess Of reason that citi-
Gems Of Utah and Nevada were pre-
cluded from buying any supplies in
Eastern markets. They then attempted
20 get their supplies under through
rate tariff by shipping goods to Sacra-
mento from New York and Chicago,
With the intent TO have them dropped
al points along the line in the interior.
Immediately they we're met BY the
reply that this c,uld not be done; that
freight consigned to Sacramento must 90
70 that point and be hauled back to the
place Of ultimate destination, local tar
ID rates being added TO the through
rates back over the same line to the
place Of delivery. And for time this
was actually done. Car loads Of freight
consigned to points In Nevada, 600
miles east of Sacramento, were hauled
right past the place Of ultimate oonsign-
mont, over the summit of the Sierra
Nevada mountains - Sacramento, and
then hauled back again over the same
road with local charges, exceeding the
total through rates from Now York to
Sacramento, added. representations
and protests were unavailinR, and only
after earnest solicitation, and humble
prayer on the part Of Nevada oonsiRnees
was Q ooncession made. And this con-
csesion, vrung from the tyrant robbers
Of that road Was this: 1--WE will drop
your carload Of freight At its ultimate
destination without hauling IL 10 Sacra-
mento bat you must pay 40 Just the
same, !. .. you must pay m local rates
from Sacramento 10 your town, although
we do not pull the car q mile Of the dis
tanos charged for" For fourteen years
this has been the policy Of the Central
Pacific Railroad Company toward In
terior points upon is line Of road. The
result b ssen today Ill along that line.
Lands are unsettled. immigration ID
unknown, businsas ID at q standstill and
prosperity banishsd. Not q thriving
town exists on tho nearly 100 miles Of
road between Ogden and Sacramento.
N0t . Wholesale house. mot . successful
manufacturing company in the whole
6tats OF Nevada. For fourteen years
the psopls Of that State have been CON-
PEELED 70 pay double prices for all i'm
ported articles. The result has been
iupovsrishmsut, and NOT only that but
diseouraasment and q hatred unto
death Of their opprsssors-
II needs no argument 10 show the i'm
policy of system which robs and de-
atroys communities, helpless because Of
their location; q tariff which makes il
suicidal 10 live in the interior. which
drAgs from these unfortunates, whoss
prosperity Il should share, not only their
earnings bat mortgages THAR future.
The policy % frequently announced
bv The Northern Paci3c management il
bassd upon common sense and q rsooe-
milton Of the fact that the permanent
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