The morning call., 1893-03-05
THE BLIND HOG POLICY.

The following concerning tho value of
railroad competition is taken from the San
Diego Sun:
Apropos OF competition: II permanent com.
petltOr OF the Santa Fe between here and Los
Angeles could be brought Into play and the fare
considerably reduced II would be a godsend to
the city. The Santa Fe Is pursuing the same
policy toward San Diego that the Southern Pa
elnc held toward Los Angeles before the Santa
Fe got 10 there II is rs much in dread and ter
rOr OF competition as the Southern Pacific was,
yet the presence Of competitor here would be
as beneficial to Ihe santa Fe as the Santa Fe was
TO the Southern Pacific. Great hogs, blind hogs
these railway companies. The Southern Pacific
moved heaven and earth and The PIutouan re-
gons 10 keep the Santa Fe out OF Los Angeles,
but in the i've or six years the Santa Fe has
been running there on its own line the popula-
tiOn Of Los Angeles has more Than doubled and
The volume Of the Southern Pacific business
there and in Southern California multiplied in
leaps and bounds.
One of the differences in men is in their
foresight. There are men so constituted
that they want all there is in sight, whether
that ali be much or little. If anybody else
makes anything they consider the fact
reflection upon their sagacity. The South
ern Pacific has pursued this blind hog
policy ever since it became power In the
railroad world. With road east from the
central counties and one from the southern
1t considered itself entitled to all the trans
continental business. Instead of trying to
build up this State its principal object
seemed 10 be 10 get out of business here all
the profit possible. 1t entered into con-
tract with the Pacific Mail Company by
which. according to the testimony given be-
fore the Panama investigating committee,
IL was enabled to get from $4,000, 900 to
SIG, 100000 a year for a service that would
have been fairly remunerative at from
So, 1000. 900 TO S6.00O,OOO The first result was
that business in this State was depressed
The transportation companies took all the
profit OF business that passed through their
hands. II they found that GER
tain product paid something more than
the cost. they would advance the rates
of transportation. Farmers maDufac-
turers. merchants and business men
generally saw the pr6fts OF their indus try
go to the railroad monopoly. The blind
hog policy found its greatest triumph in the
combination between the Southern Pacific
and the Pacific Mail. The TWO transeonti-
mental railroads in conjunction with the
Pacific Mail could charge what they plea sed.
What they pleased, as is well known, was
all the traffic would bear. The Sun shows
how competition has improved business in
the southern counties. The Southern Pa
cifc tried hard TO keep the Santa Fe out
but has profited by its coming In. The
monopoly it has established over the other
parts of the State Is now partially broken
Clipper ships and an independent Panama
line will bring to this city the bulk of the
goUds we can find market for. The South
ern Pacific will be compelled to meet re-
duced rates or lose its business. With out
doubt when it finds that IL must it will re-
duce rates. 1t will probably try to get even
by excessive charges on local traffic. 1t
might be we'll to bear in mind, however,
that it was excessive charges which created
the existing competition in transconiinental
business. 1t VIII be comparatively easy
thing to provide against extortiou on local
lines. The blind hog policy is in fact played
out.