The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-27
SLASHING RATES.
The Southern Pacific Is
in the Field.
MEETS THE SANTA FE CUT.
A $40 Rate to the Missouri River
Announced.
DETERMINED WAR IN PROSPECT
1t Will Only Cost $3z.5o From Chicago
to the Coast and Return.
May Go Lower.
DETERMINED WAR IN PROSPECT

Iator while the Santa Fe slashes the east
and west bound rates was distinctly proven
yesterday when the officials OF that road
met and decided to meet the rates estab=
lished by the Santa Fe recently between
Missouri River points and Southern Cali
fornia. Not only does the Southern Pa
ciic propose to do this, but it cuts a wide
swath in new direction by making the
rates applicable to all common points in
the State, both north and south.
The rates now offered by the Santa Fe
are. from the Missouri River to Southern
California points. $40 one way or $50
for the round trip. Under present condi-
tiOns the Santa Fe labors under disad-
vantage as regards business coming to San
Francisco, as it will be compelled to pay
the 81 IS local rates charged by the
Southern Pacific from Mojave TO this city.
While the determination 20 make the re-
duetion was practically settled by the
Southern Pacific officials yesterday it will
probably be day or two before it Will be
definitely announced to the public, as there
are yet several necessary steps tn be taken.
1t will be INDISPENSABLE, of course, that
some one of its Eastern connections out of
Ogden shall go into the cut with it in order
to give an open rate to the river, and that
matter had not yet been settled when The
CALL reporter left the railroad Office yes
terday.
However, that is minor matter, as it is
already ascertained that a road out of
Ogden has indicated its willingness to par
tlcpate in the fight, and if one road goes in
all the rest will be compelled 10 as mat
ter OF self-preservation.
It will readily be seen whatthe cut mem
toned means to through business from the
East From Chicago, for instance, the
RTQSQnf IN fiao ri fs
So so, while rOund-trip ticket costs $50
over the same route. This added to the
rate now made BIZ the Santa Fe, and to be
made by the Southern Pacific in a few
days, would make the cost of trip from
Chicago to California common points $50 so
one way. or S55 80 for the round trip.
The Southern Pacific officials say that
they will be governed by the action of the
Santa lie as regards the time limit on the
new tickets.
Inquiry at the local Office of the Santa
Re IN this city yesterday developed the
fact that the new tickets are to be sold un-
der the slXty-day limit from date of pur-
chase, good only for continuous trip.
We labored for long time recently try
ing 10 make an $50 round-trip rate" said
General Passenger Agent Goodman yester-
day, land think the $50 30 rate ought to
suit our friends"
But if surface indications count for any,
IL
present cut is merely the beginning of
war that will be far-reachlng in its results
Every railroad man knows that a road in
the hands OF a receiver is ''hard object TO
oppose" as one Of them expressed it yes
terday. The Santa Fe is in this position.
and no one questions the fact that il is
going into the war for something more
than fun. so far as the position of the
Southern Pacific is concerned President
Huntington yesterday gave an insight into
the feeling which actuates the officials in
the matter when Mr.. Mills asked him what
the company would do il the Santa Fe
made still further reductions.
Il think we can stand as low rates as
anybody" said he, ''and we are not going
out of business, but will be found at the
old stand.'
Another fact that goes to prove that the
hight will be long one is the aggressive
attitude manifest in Santa Fe's present
management. Advices from trustworthy
source received In this city yesterday stated
that the road was prepared to make fur
ther reduction just as soon as the Southern
Pacific showed its hand. One official of
the hrst-Damed road is said to have re-
marked, While discussing the subject that
the Santa Fe would haul people from
the Missouri River to California for SIS il
1t became necessary.
There is at least one department of the
Southern Pacific road which views the
coming war with complacency and that is
the one presided over py William III. Mills
He thinks it will afford the people having
large land.holdings in The State an IN
equaleu opportunity to dispose f The same.
ana that the experience of Southern Call
fornia during its big boom will prove bene-
hclal. In that section individuals who
owned land refused to part with it when
the opportunity came, but held on until
the bubble burst and the demand ceased.
There Is no use in bringing people out
here unless we can offer them some in
ducement to stay" said he. ga great
many banks now hold lands upon which
they find it difficult to realize. | know of
one estate WHICH holds over 100000 acres
ana OF one individual in MERGED County
who owns over 100000 acres. These are
put random Instances, but if these people
Will put Inc land in the market at a reas-
enable price they Will not only make
good Investment, but will aid largely in
mat development which is bound to come
sooner or later. Men have been buvinp
lands for speculative purposes for wears
aud there Is now an opportunity for them
10 place these lands in the hands of peo-
pie who Will do something with them.''
AS mas been stated, the rates over the
two lines VIII reach every point of i'm
portance In California, but the rule max
Ing the tickets good for only continuous
trip will neresstate a person paying local
fare from this city or Los Angeles to apv
interior point which he might desire to
visit.
The new turn in events leaves the ticket
brokers In an embarrassing position.
Many OF them are said to have loaded mn
with return tickets under the old rate. and
the question now will be with them how
to get the original amount invested out of
their purchases. This will be all the more
difficult as the new rates are much lower
than the amounts paid out by the scalpers.
ID. w. Hitchcock. general agent of the
Union Pacific in this city, arrived home
Yesterday from weeks visit In Los An
geles.
Manager Leeds of the Traffic Associa-
ton yesterday, in lengthy review of
transportation conditions or this coast, ha d
the following to say regarding the present
helplessness of the public in the absen ce
OF competition:
The fact that the overland roads were
aole by the control Of the local transport
alton and every avenue of through trans
portatloD. by the payment of subsidies
aGd otherwise, and were able to assess the
cost OF such subsidies along with the bur-
den OF interest charge of an enormously
oyer-capitaliZed property upon the com
merce OF the State and collect it for a long
series OF years, IN spite of protest and re-
peafed efforts in legislation md otherwise.
very clearly dem angtratee tha laoI- - -