Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-04
RECEIVER HADLEY'S STATEMENTS.
He Handles the Question Of Will
lamette Valley Freights.
THE 0. 7. NOT STEALING TRADE.
Explanation OF the Visit Of the
Merchants from San
Francisco.

The Oregonian has criticised the act
ton of the San Francisco and William
cite Valley merchants in connection
with the excursion from that city, and
especially the efforts Of the San Fran
cisco people to SECURE trade from the
cities 10 this part Of Oregon.
At Corvallis Mr.. E. w. Hadley, re-
ceiver of the Oregon Pacific, explained
the action In very fair manner. Mr.
Haeley'e remarks were in part as fol-
lows:
"The president Of your board of trade,
Mr.. Jones, has just said 10 reference to
some recent comment of the press re-
ferring to this matter as an attempt on
the part of San Francisco merchants to
steal Portland trade, that you were not
here to steal anything. There has just
been handed to me copy of today's
Oregonian, from which would like to
read you a short extract ia relation To
this excursion. wish to make few
comments on this editorial expression
OF opinion. First want to disclaim
on the part OF the San Francisco
merchants and the railroad which
represent, any desire to divert
Portland's trade. We have simply
invited these representatives OF
the San Francisco board of trade
to come up here and look oyer the val
ley IN the interest of honest competi-
tlon. We haYe not joined hands with
them In any fight against Portland. In
this connection we have been accused
OF what has been called illegitlmate
competition, whatever that may mean
for the reason that we brought goods
from San Francisco TO Albany, and
then trans-shipped them over the
Southern Pacific to points on theil
lines at rates which were lower than
the all-rail rates made by the Southern
Pacific TO the same points. 1 entirely
fail TO see anything illegitimate in such
o proceeding. have never considered
II sound business policy to make rates
on basis that some Of our competitor
do-that is, all the traffic will stand
If by reason OF Its shorter distance an6
the natural advantages which enable Il
to be operated more cheaply, the Ore
gon Pacific 10 able to make lower rates
to points on Its line than that competi
tor can make on its own line, then
claim that we are simply availing our
selves Of the natural advantages of su
perior location, and IL there Is any dis
elimination 1t certainly must lie with
the roads which make such rates thai
Its competitors can step In and out un
der its own line.
"The article In the Oregonian which
] have just read you Quoting from
Henry q. Eckinberger, Of the Port
land chamber Of commcrce) says: The
Oregon Pacific appears to be after .
tariff rather than revenue, and might
make very low rate from San Fran
cisco TO Albany claim that the Ore
gon Pacific has very good reason and
very good rights 10 make low rates. In
fact, claim that 1t IL the 'line OF least
resistance from San Francisco TO towns
In the Willamette valley. IL lei so, firsI
because Its rates are not burden and
a clog TO trade. They are made on q
'live and let live principle. We don't
make four sor hye different rates on
leather, fdf instanoe---rates based upon
it's wdlne-for l must confess that ]
cannot see added cost 10 the railroad
company In transporting roll Of leath-
or worth so cents a pound as against
the cost Of transporting roll Of leather
worth 10 cents pound, Aud l also
claim that all rates should bear a rea-
sonable relation to the cost OF transpor-
tatlon. Second, because II Is the short.
eat line. It may not have occurred To
you that the distance from San Fran
cisco TO Portland by way OF the Ore
e.a Pacific Is forty-five miles shorter
s;ssssss - sny OF lie competitors, that II
Is 250 miles shorter from San Francisco
10 Salem than by any other line, that
Il is lo4 miles shorter to Albany, and
that Il Is n miles shorter to Eugene
than by any competing line. Now the
law Of least resistance eau no more be
svaded than any natural law. II no
obstacles obstruct It's way
.rade must flow through the channel
II least resistance
al believe that a railroad should look
Or ils profits through a light task rath-
= than q large volume Of traffio, and
hat by removing every obstacle 20
rade apd by fostering aud encOurag-