The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-08-27
9RANSCONTINBNTAL RATES
An Effort to Clear Up the
Middle.
THE WESTERN
REFUSES.
Another Change in the Westerns City
Ticket Office.
The Choir's Big Train-A Missouri Pacific
Change-Western Passenger Rates
Sheep and Cattle Shipments
The sanpete Valley Middle.

The transcontinental traffic problem is
the greatest one now before the railways
of the United States, and the person who
can find solution for it will confer a
great boon on the heads of all the rail-
ways in the country. The situation was
further complicated last winter when the
Great Northern, 'Jlm Hills road was
completed from ST. Paul to Seattle and
came into competition with the Northern
Pacific, when great slashing OF rates be-
gan between the two roads.
Rates kept getting lower and lower I'M
til at last the more southern roads
which were hauling transconti-
mental business began to become
aware that they must meet the reduc-
tions. In March a conference was held
at Santa Barbara, CAL, and it was decided
that all southern roads should meet the
cut. On April II the revised tariff went
into effect. Later on, however, the
southern roads faIlnd it necessary TO make
still another Gu: and a tariff went into
effect oniJune 8, which lowered transcon-
tineutal rates fully 80 per cent. below the
schedule OF February Spoken OF in the
circular below.
Finally the war became so hot between
the Great Northern and Northern
GULLY buab uoiGuST IOdu was A11nn
ing any money. Consequently adj
vances were made and graciousiy met
and as last about the 10th of this month
the belligerents buried the Ratchet and
agreed on rate schedule. However, they
found they could not make money unless
the southern roads should make higher
rates. AS consequence the following
circular was sent:
ST PAUL, Mimi, Aug 16, 1893.
GENTLEMEN-We feel that the rate situation
in trauscontinental territory can be very much
improved by conference OF all lines In inter-
est. Will you attend personally or by repre-
sentative fully authorized to act, such meeting
if called, to re-adjust passenger rates on sub
Stantially the following basis: Between Mis-
souri, river and the Pacific coast. fist class S45,
second class S35. tourist sleeping car rates half
first class sleeping car rates. Commissions TO
be uniform and practically those adopted Dy
the Western Passenger association. Restor-
alton of freight rates as near as possible on the
basis adopted by our companies Feb. Is and
subsequently adopted by California lines We
suggest Chicago, Aug. g. Please advise Mr..
Han 4naitss by wire. Respee ct L y,
General Traffic Manager, Great Northern.
j. NJ. HANEAFORD-
General Traffic Manager, Northern Pacific
This circular was sent to the heads OF the
freight departments of the Southern Pacific,
Santa Fe. Burlington & Missouri, Denver 81 Rio
Canadian Pacific, Rock Island, Missouri Pacific
and ST. Louis & San Francisco.
On the 24th supplem entary telegram In
formed the lines thatit was thought desirable
to hold the meeting on the 5th OF September
and request was made that a fnlly authorized
agent of each line be present at that time.
The Associated Press of the Gath announced
that the Canadian Pacific would decline to send
a representative to this meeting, and on that
showing Mr.. Babcock, general freight agent OF
the Rio Grande Western, telegraphed to the
Southern Pacific and found that this line would
also decline to be represented. Other lines,
too, will not feel disposed to have anything to
do in the matter.
On account of the information he thus re-
ceived Mr.. Babcock telegraphed Mr.. Hannaford
yesterday that the Western does not deem 1t
expedient to have representative at the meet
ing
When seen by a HERALD man last
night, Mr.. Babcock was asked-what is
the reason the roads will not go into con-
ference on the matter? In reply to the
question he stated that the question of
trans-continental traffic is one which has
connection with so many diverse inter-
ests that it would be difficult to adjust
everything so that all parties will be
satisfied. The southern roads realize,
too, that such circumference as is sug-
gested will not help them as they feel that
to raise the raise the rates now would
throw a great deal of the transcontinental
traffic into the hands of the "Clipper"
line of Panama steamships.
The northern roads, it seems, will
simply have to grin and bear it. They
played with fire and have been badly
burned.