Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-06
THE RAILROADS.
Present Condition of the
Rate War.
SMALL PROSPECT OF DEEP CUTS
Another Small Reduction Probable
TOaay-Tho Building of the
Road from Milford.

tween tnlS Ooa5b anu Jne EaSt, OUT tnere
has been no increase in the amount oil
the reduction. A telegram from San
Francisco announces that one broker in
that city sold some second-class tickets
at $S5. The cut price is $40, against
$47.50, the original price. The tickets
he sold at this price were over the Santa
Fe and Atlantic and Pacific.
AS the rate from Kansas City to Chi
cago is $3.50, the reduction to $35
means that the limit is reached. The
war started in to stop the Iowa roads,
connections OF the Northern Pacific,
which were giving through passengers
from Portland the benefit of reduction
brought about in local fight. These
roads, it must be remembered, are not in
the association, and their action does
not indicate any probability of the
breaking up of that organization. 1t
ia of course perfectly possible that the
association may go to pieces at any time,
and there is perhaps more chance of q
breakup taking place when rate war is
on, but this particular war is not of q
kind to necessarily indicate its dissolu-
ton. There is much more probability
that the roads in the association will act
in harmony to crush the Iowa roads, and
carry the rate-cutting only to the point
necessary to accomplish this end.
The ten-day rule which the association
has adopted during the last few years,
makes q rate war a much more serious
matter than it was in 1885. If the roads
should get into fight and put the price
down to $5 or 81. by the rules of
the association ten days must elapse
before they could be raised again, and
during 80 long space a great deal
of damage could be done to the finances
of road. The association also has q
rule that a rate cannot be lowered for
three days. If the Santa Fs therefore
wished to go below it's first cut it was
necessary that it should do it by the fic-
tioE Of allowing ticket brokers such a
commission shat they could sell at $35.
If it proposes to make this further cut,
today is the first day on which it would
be possible. 1t may reasonably be ex-
pected that the work will be completed
tnday. and that the rates, instead of $68
and $40, will be $57. 80 and $35. This is
the action which is expected by some
railroad men. When this cut has been
made the limit will have been reached,
unless the association breaks up, which,
as has been said, is not likely to happen.
One circumstance which lends more
to the idea that war is i'm
minent, than any other, is the fact that the
Pacific has taken occasion
while the row was in progress to make q
rate of $40 from Kansas City to Pueblo.
This is outside of the territory where
are in progress and is con-
sidered unjustifable by the other lines in
the association.
President Marvel and Manager Wade,
of the Santa Fe, spent the day yesterday
at San Diego.
United States Railroad Commissioner
Hsssard arrived in the city yesterday
afternoon on the Southern Pacific.
The Southern Pacific has located new
station at Ogilbv, which il just this side
of Yuma. 1t is postal station.
A Warner excursion OF fifty people
came in on the Santa Fe yesterday.
A Phoebe newspaper gives the follow
ing description Of the building of the
road from Milford south toward Los
Angeles:
"The first seventyfve or eighty miles
difficulties whatever; it is nearly as level
as floor and contains but two curves.
The contractors on this part of the road,
delayed by bad weather, are now rush
ing things generally, and the engineers
in charge state that the road will be at
Desert Springs by the middle of April.
No heavy work or grading is encountered
on the line until Clover-valley wash is
reached, where, for about twenty-five
miles before reaching Meadow.v valley
wash, no less than 100 bridges must be
built and eight tunnels run, one of which
is $50 feet in length. One of the bridges
also is upwards of 600 feet long and three
sets of timbers high. Added to this is
an immense amount of side cutting, 30
rough is the country. and the character
of the rock being granite, or con-
glomerate sandstone, difficult to work,
the necessity for large force Of work.
men in order that good progress may be
made can be readily seen.
"Sub. contractors camps now extend
from point about one mile above Glover
valley to Dutch Flat, seventeen miles
from which latter place is but three
miles from Meadow-valley wash. At
present not more than thirty-five men
are working at any of these camps, ex-
cept that Of Daniel Lyons, where $50 or
more are engaged, nearly all at rock
work. Each tunnel will be 1Sx22 feet,
and the roadbed or grade will be Is feet
on top. The wages paid are $50 month
for "skinners," or mule drivers So day
for rock work, and $25 day for face
work. board deducted at $5 per week,
and time checks discounted 10 per cent.
when presented at headquarters. Some
contractors are said to pay only $l.75 per
day, but find it difficult to get men of
any kind at that price. Thus far no
"dsgoes" or Italians have been sent in;
but a crew may soon be looked for, so
pressing is the meet of men.
"The headquarters of the west end of
the present contract are at Glover val
ley, where dozen or more large tents
are pitched, embracing general supply
store, restaurants, Offices, sleeping
places, etc. Meals are so cents, lunch
25 cents, the wants of the inner man be-
ing well provided for, except in the mat
ter of 'fusel oil, of which none is kept
in stock.
''The railroad company has purchased
the right of way through Glover valley
from the settlers. The necessary deeds
passed last week, but the terms were not
made public. All the conveyances were
made to the Oregon Short Line and Utah
Northern Railway Company, though it is
generally understood to be on Union
Pacific capital"