Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-16
FREIGHT RATES.
THE INTERESTING SUBJECT OF
UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION.
General Manager A. N. Towne's
Views Expressed to the Rail-
road Commissioners.

1he 0dn rancisco Chf0'tcte OF yesterday
says:
A. N. Towne, Third President and
General Manager of the Southern Pacific
Companys system, has sent long letter to
Y. w. Gaskill, Secretary of the Railroad
Commission, on the subject of the uniform
classification of freights, which the State
Commission, with the Interstate Commerce
Commissioners, is urging upon the atten-
ton of the railroad companies. In this
letter Mr.. Towne says:
The Interstate Commerce Commission
has given uniform classification much con-
slderation, as have the traffic managers OF
all the lines of the country. These men
have been in conference at different times
for more than year. Meetings have been
held at various places in the East, and
have resulted in failure to reach salts
factory conclusion. The Interstate Com
merce Commissioners have expressed
wishes that a uniform classification be
brought about if possible, and to this end
these traffic men have devoted their best
endeavors. They found the country too
large, the topography too varied, the re-
sources too far extended, the conditions of
trade and commerce too complex and the
railroad interests 100 greatly diversified to
classify and impartiallv measure them bv
fixed and unyielding principles.
There are few or no complaints from
our patrons, who are well and cheaply
served, and l need not add a word to the
universal testimony of the past as to the
prosperity and contentment sure to con-
tinue in the future under our present class
iication. =
Apply the uniform classification prin
ciple to other callings if you will, and take
the press as an example. No two papers
of the country enjoy the same patronage
and circulation, and no two are burdened
with the same character of expenses. Does
anyone believe that this all powerful agency
would not double-lead its columns in re-
sistance to law compelling them, little
and Large in city and hamlet, to adopt
uniform classification of prices, which the
public might enjoy of that which the news
papers have to sell, and further enforce
upon them the requirement that they
should post their rates and classifications
in conspicuous place wherever their pa
pers were for sale, the same as required of
the roads for that which they have to sell
that IS transportation? 1t might be con-
yenient for the great army of business men
and servants seeking places, who might de-
sire to purchase advertising space, to know
that the public classification and rates
should be the same under all circumstances
and in all places, but submit that it would
not be practicable, nor would it be right or
fair to the papers"
Mr.. Towne makes a detailed comparison
between the cost of operating Eastern and
Pacific coast lines, including coal prices,
topography and other conditions. He
shows that at equal fuel prices with those
of the Pennsylvania Railway the Southern
Pacific Company's operating expenses
would have been decreased and its net
earnings increased in the year 1887 fully
S2,000,000. At the Chicago, Milwaukee and
st. Paui's fuel prices there would have been
difference in the same way of 81. SOC, 900;
at the Illinois Central prices, $4,000, 900; at
Chicago and Northwestern prices, s., 200
Southern prices, 50 100000, this difference
being in favor of the Eastern lines in each
case. Mr.. Towne also says:
Certainly no one would say that it was
just to require us to adopt a classification
which is applicable to these great lines,
especially since the traffic per mile of road
is on the Union Pacific 5S01 per cent.
greater than on the Central Pacific
Company's lines; on the Chicago and
Northwestern, S.83 per cent greater
ON the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern,
pa. Ii per cent, ard on the New York Gen.
trail, 1886 per cent. And, on the other
hand, the cost of moving one ton of freight
or one passenger (ether or both) one mile
on the Southern Pacific Companys lines
Pacific system) is 1921 per cent. greater
than on the Union Pacific; 1895 per cent.
greater than on the Chicago and North
western, which carries practically the same
amount of traffic; SO So per cent. greater
than On the Lake Shore and Michigan
Southern, and 81 81 per cent. greater than
on the New York Central"
The General Manager then goes on to
show other differences existing between
the traffic conditions of Eastern roads and
the Southern Pacific, and concludes with
this statement:
Uniformity of regulation without cor
responding uniformity of condition will
necessarily be a failure, since all regula-
ton should have reference to the condi-
ton which makes it necessary or adyis-
able. Completely analogous conditions
cannot exist over widely extended terri
torial area, existing under the same Gov
eminent. Governmental regulation must
therefore adopt itself by wise variation
In conclusion / will add that our
State has grown rich and prosperous I'M
der the classification which was made
necessary in consequence of the arbitrary
and unreasonable low maximum for the
higher classes of goods under which our
charters were granted; and in view of this
and other facts set forth, l am confident
that these reasons will be sufficiently
clear to convince your honorable Board
that there should be no change, and l be-
live that these arguments, founded on
fact, will persuade you to hesitate before
introducing such important innovations"
The uniform classification matter is still
under consideration by the Board, and it
will probably not render decision until
after its conference with the Interstate
Commerce Commissioners in Washington