Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-04-24

At an adjourned meeting held in New Yorl
in February, it was proposed to continue tn
association, and an attempt was made to re
adjust the percentages. This failed, and wa
followed by meeting of the presidents ant
general managers at the same place, ant
with the same result of failure to agree.
At these meetings it was urged to continu,
the old association with all its old members
its antagonistic interests and complication
with division based upon previous earn
ings. We could not assent to this, because
the proposed basis was unjust to us inasmucf
as, until December /, we had no line of oul
own into California; and our business wal
carried on under the
| DISADVANTAGES BEFORE ALLUDED
division was therefore proposed to be based
on state of things which had ceased to ex.
list; and the proposition ignored entirely oul
new and independent line and the increased
facilities which it secured to rs for obtain
ing and handling business. We proposed
that the business of southern and northern
California, should be separated. There are
Southern Pacific and the Atlantic 4 Pacific
(the California Southern being considered
as part of the same interest as the latter
and the business of this district should be
pooled between these two interests, their re
spective proportions to be divided with their
eastern connections.
1t is fact that there are in southern Cali
fOrnia only the two roads named. If tine
Central Pacific is to be considered q separ
ate interest from the Southern Pacific then
it ia in southern California only by its con-
nection with the latter, that is, it is there
only as are any of its eastern connections,
immediate or remote.
The Southern Pacific road by virtue of its
Central Pacific division is shorter than our
line between the east and northern Califor
MIA. Our line is much the shortest between
the east and southern California. Hence the
interest of the two companies,
GRANTING EQUAL FACILITIES TO EACH,
is quite different in the two sections, and to
simplify the division and do justice to both
parties the two sections should be consider
ed separately and a separate pool made for
each section.
1t has been said that we refused to accept
arbitration, but that statement is not cor
rect. fact is not subject for arbitration.
and it is a fact that there are only two in
terests in Southern California. How and in
what proportion the business should be di-
vided between the roads is a matter of
Judgment and a proper subject for arbitra-
ton, and this we have frequently offered to
submit to arbitration and abide by the re-
suit.
1t may be we'll to say one word more. The
disruption of the association was no fit rea-
son nor justification for the cutting of rates
and sacrifice of earnings which was inaugu-
rated Immediately and with such reckless
haste.
lam GLAD TO SAY TO YOU
that for this action and the loss of
revenue which has followed it we are not
responsible. We did not begin it, nor
did we follow it promptly, and when we
did it with reluctance and because we found
that we should otherwise lose all our
through business. We then decided it was
our best course to demonstrate our ability
to secure as much or more of the California
traffic as we had claimed for our fair pro-
portion.
No one regrets more than do warfare
in rates and the reduction in revenue which
is sure to follow. The contest has continued
now almost two months-certainly long
enough to prove that peace is preferable as
it may be, costly as war always is, peace
can be bought at too great a sacrifice.
We are looking for an early settlement of
the trouble and upon basis which involves
concessions by all parties.
l bespeak for the board of directors the
same hearty confidence which they have re-
ceived in the past, venture to promise in
their behalf that they will to the best of
their ability manage your affairs mindful
always of the great responsibilities with
which they are clothed.