The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-16
THE RAILROAD Trust COMING.
Pushed ON by the Interstate Com
mercc Law, Mr.. Adams Thinks.

BosToS. Dee. H-cberiesF Frsucis Adams,
president % the Union Pacific Railway
COMPANY, addressed the Commercial club
this evening on the subj Ct 0f the pm sent
condition and fends reirs OF fEilroadiug
Ia this country. IL hat been asked
particularly 70 express his views 81 the
interstate commerce at aud its practical
workings. He said IN part since the
interstate commerce act went into offect
TWO wear. ago there has been what might
be called a craze for railroad construction.
li was impossible 10 pool and the long
haul regulated the short hsai- The dis
hopesf method Of rat cutting aud
other means 10 indueuce the
course Of trafic which were resoTiea
10 or devised during the past two years !
in the whole had record Of the pasf. Whcu
asked why do not give Information aad
institute rraF eedings under TIE iaW. may
say that shIle an morally sure that these
iniugs a~e done ] cannot furuisa legal
pro0r Il Is tais absence Of good faith
ghich has brought the railroad svsjegn 10
It's present condition ard tb-VHfeas - carry
IL still. l0wer. To stir hut u 50 the later
state commerce act IS an utier mistake II
that act were totally repssird tomorrow 10
would y oduce but Temporary relief The
railroad system aust hes itself
But ip sayln. whai I have said I do not
mean 10 imply that IN n Judgment the
iateFsfafs act il q harmless. faurh iets
ssrfui, piece af lsgisial iem. On the con
trary ! am yrry sure tdaT a. !. siAuds = -
not IFS present eject and future results
! are exactly those WhieA it. fsaTncEs aever
contemplated The process Of grasiistson
and consolidation. 80 far as the railroads
are concerned. EA. going fssf enough be
| fore. bat the inter state commerce &C; has
1 given lt new impctus Under The opera
mons Of the act the smaller local railroads
I throughout the country are being grolnd
ouI oi exisienee- IL "a the long
I haul Ehich bringS in the profit
I The smaller independent railroads cannot
have ihls and are being taroed. whether
tney ike Il or bot. into the rlass % feS
| great sgstems into which The railroads q
the cnuntry are rapidly cry.'aiiziBg. Thus
I the etEaets OF the act arc being fcit a. TIE
( smaller distributing points, which are dc
! prived Of their markets. for thoss who ios-
merry bought of them eau &c; the sane
/ goods On better terms from larger aud dis
I iant ceuteFs-
CONTRARY to every design Of those who
! framed the act. it, prosisious have ieut a
uex Impetus - jus, thoss forces y vas IL
, tended 10 hold IA eheck, TIE interstate
/ commerce act, acting on tendency OF
natural forces, il rapidly driving rs Tor
4 wsrsi toward some grand consolidation o.
railroad tTast scheme. EFsn this,
I from NJ point Of yleW, cannot
rezard a. a thing 70 be dreaded. ] am
vsry ssre greA. consolidated corporations
o. even trusts can be held 70 far strieser Ee-
E xrorEihil!fy than numerous Smaller and
! souaicsfaK corporations. well devised
railroad eieaFiBg hosse scheme would
prove 10 praegee, whether 20 iuienced or
sot. 10 the direes line OF enforcement Of
! the interstate ecgnmeses net IA 81 Is oet
ter features, snd il sss many such II !
wers sskesi tbls morniEg f0g eonersfe pro
usy.ifious ! w0uIa say deiay, - ieasl for a
| tirae, the present too rapid tendency 10
ward Capitalization 4nd consolidation oy
rspsaling the fe4 nTes Of the inssr-sta;e
{ CONNIE aer shIeh are Trecl Fit2tia
events sr thsl direction.