The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-09-07
IN RAILWAY CIRCLES.
A Big Fight Over Western Passenger
Business.
Il Is Result of the Old Feud Between
the Northern Pacific and
Great Western.

Concerning the request made by the
Union Pacific that is rate OF SIS be made
the basing rate by roads in the Western
Passenger association, the Denver Repu6-
tscdn has this to say:
Yesterday the Burlington railroad an
nounced at its Missouri River station that
It would today put on an SIS rate to
Ogden. The announcement was at once
met by the pugnacions santa Fe with
promise that no cut would be made that
was not instantly met by that road, and
the chances are that a most vigorous rate
war is imineDt and that it will be about
- each way from Denver to Salt Lake and
Kansas City.
The fight is the result of the old feud
between the Northern Pacific and Great
Northern railroads, when Pacific coast
rates were 50 disastrously slashed. For
some time this went on without recogni-
ton from the Union Pacific, which road
was directly concerned, since the three
roads made the same points, but as its
business all but left it, the last named
road was forced to take action, and ac-
cordingly twelve days ago the Union Pa
chic notified the chairman of the Western
Passenger association that it would meet
the Northern cuts and make an sis rate
from the river to Montana points.
This notification no sooner became
fact than the Santa Fe was once more on
the alert, and it filed notice with Chair
man Caldwell that it would protect its
patrons and not only make an SIS rate
over its western line and connections,
but use it as basing rate out OF Chicago.
This took away the breath from the Bur-
lington, the Rock Island and the Missouri
Pacific, and after hasty consultation an
agreement was drawn up and presented
to the Santa Fe, whereby the through
rates were not to be tempered with. the
Union Pacific to be permitted to make the
fight alone. Accordingly, there was no
change made in local rates.
But then came problem. The Union
Pacific, with its S18 rate to Montana
points, was able to lay down passengers
in Ogden for the same money, and all
this time the other roads were sticking
for the regular rate of S34. 90 and getting
nothing. This went on until four days
ago, when the Santa Fe people again
came to the front and said they would
stand it no longer, but would meet the
cut. To offset this determination Mr..
Caldwell was urged to call an immediate
meeting of the lines under his iurisdic-
ton, which he did, setting next Tuesday
as the day for meeting in Chicago. Now
the Burlington comes in and precipitates
the row before that meeting is held, and
it is not supposed that the other lines will
stand aloof day.
This cut is in second-c class tickets only,
but ii will scarcely make any difference.
as neither the Missouri Pacific, Rock
Island or Santa Fe run second-clasS cars
during ordinary times. 1t is not yet
known with what line the Burlington has
made its arrangements, although it GER
tainly must have arranged 8 pro rata with
some western one. General Passenger
Agent Hooper of the Denver d Rio
Grande, said yesterday that no notice of
the cut had been served upon him, and he
declined to say what course his road
would pursue in the event OF the Burling-
ton announcement being true.
1t is not for moment supposed that
The Burlington is standing this whole cut
alone, as this would mean only g for its
haul from the Missouri river to Denver
The rate at present from Denver to Ogden
Is SIS, and this, with through rate of
SIS, would leave only 50 for the eastern
haul.
The next important point to the naming
of this rate is to discover the western road
which is participating in the fight. In all
probability it will be found to be the
Denver & Rio Grande, as there are but
three lines running to Ogden, that road,
the Santa Fe and the Union Pacific
These last two named roads certainly
would not accept any business from the
Burlington at the cut, and everything
points to the Denver & Rio Grande being
in the deal, despite Colonel Hooper's dip
lomatic denial With a line running
from Grand junction clear through to
Chicago, the Santa Fe certainly seems to
be master of the situation, and the only
adversary which could stand against 1t
would be a combination between the Bur-
lington and the Denver & Rio Grande.