The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-09-22
TELEGRAPHIC
WESTERN RAILROADS.
Trying to Form a Pool.

Trying to Form a Pool.
San Francisco. 2O.-A conference Of
railway managers Of roads west of the
Missoul river, opened at the Palace hotel
this morning. The following lines were
represented: Central and Southern Psci.
fc, Galveston, Harrisburg & San An
tonic, Union Pacific, Atehison, Topeka,
s. Santa Fe, Northern Pacific, Burling-
ton s. Missouri, Texas & Pacific, Denver
s. Rio Grande, Atlantic s. Pacific. The
vice president of the Chicago, BurlinR-
ton s. Quincy read was also present.
The total milesge represented was thirty
thousand miles. The meeting wss called
to order by General Manager Towne, of
the Central Pacific; 81. M. Hoxie, vice
president and general manager of
Gould's southwestern system, was elected
chairman. as it was decided that the
meeting be Held in secret, g committee
composed of Vining, of the Union Paci-
fc, Near, of the Northern Pacific, and
Goddard, of the Atchison. Topeka s.
Santa He, was appointed to furnish the
newspapers such Of the proceedings as in
ii cir opinion was Of public interest.
Tie immediate object Of the con-
lOIOICo 6buBC0 ny OIO Va
the general managers to- 8
representative Of the Associated Press,
is not 10 make any alteration of the pres
ent fares or freights, but if possible, to
agree upon pro rata distribution of the
same between the several railroads lying
between the Pacific and Missouri river,
so as to prevent cutting rates. The sdop-
ton of this would have the effect of
breaking up the contract system with
shippers hitherto enforced By the Cen.
trail and Southern Pacific companies.
Freight, therefore, will be assigned to
each proportionately. It was evident
from the start at the meeting this morn
ing, that none present had any c ear idea
of what they were going to get. They
only knew that il they were not allotted 8
certain minimum proportion they would
Jump the conference. With the excer-
ton then of the appointment of press
committee, the whole day up to O'Clock
was occupied by managers in setting
forth tie capabilities and possibilities OF
their respective roads, none venturing
any claim as to what proportion of the
gross pooled earnings they felt en-
titled to. Some are ssnguine
that basis Of agreement will eventually
be reached. Others predict otherwise.
Prominent among the latter are the
Northern Pacific representatives who it
is believed will claim larger share Than
the Central Pacific will concede. It is
generally acknowledged that the prin-
cipAl difficulties will be between these two
roads, the Central Pacific having the whip,
and it is confidently affirmed that Vii
lsrd's instructions to his representatives
were that il such a proposition as he
named could not be obtained to with
draw from the meeting, and immediate
steps would be taken to construct an
Independent branch line to this city. As
an indication Of this feeling John Meier,
the Northern Pacific, stated
that If each road gets what it wants, it
will take 400 per cent. to go around. The
only important feature the days pro-
ceedings has developed is that an ander.
standing exists between the Union and
Northern Pacific that they will mutually
sustain each other against the Central
Pacific. If this is adhered to it Is safe to
predict that the result of the conference
will be nil,