The San Francisco call., 1895-10-17
CALIFORNIA TO Be HEARD.
THE TRANS MISSOURI RAILWAYS
AFRAID OF A BOYCOTT BY
LOCAL SHIPPERS.
THE TRAFFIC ASSOCIATION MAKING
A FIGHT FOR THE STATE
IN UTAH.

The Traffic Association is vigorously
prosecuting its work on behalf of San
Francisco merchants who are struggling
against almost insurmountable odds for
the trade of Utah. With the purpose of
making convincing showing for Its side
of the argument, Traffic Manager Curtis
has in preparation a schedule of rates be-
tween California and Utah, which, from
his long experience as traffic expert of the
Southern Pacific Company, he believes to
be equitable, and in fact absolutely neces-
sary for California to compete with the
East in Utah.
There will be a meeting of all the trans
Missouri lines leading into Utah, at Salt
Lake City on the 2Sth inst. The object of
this conference is to settle the rate dis
putes in Utah. in which the Union Pacific,
Denver and Rio Grande, Rio Grande West
ern, Colorado Midland, Burlington, Chi
cago and Rock Island Pacific, Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe and the Missouri
Pacific are deeply interested. These lines
constitute what is known as the Trans
Missouri Association. 1t is to their inter
est to keep all the freight business of Utah
away from the Pacific side-that is, to
make rates calculated to give Eastern or
Western cities monopoly of the business
The Central Pacific can only go as far as
Ogden, Its most easterly terminus, beyond
which point joint rates have not been
made in favor of California shippers.
But theses transMissouri lines have
been very unpleasantly reminded from
California of the possibility of boycott
In this they are said by railroad men and
shippers TO be exceedingly vulnerable
They haul the greater portion of freight
between California and Eastern points,
getting good income from California
nrnGnHtS 10 EaSfart, lot
| from merchandise coming from centers of
production beyond the Mississippi to this
State. So much of this remunerative busi-
ness can be diverted to other lines by Cali,
fornians that the Missouri roads saw
the necessity OF making some amicable ar
rangements with the Central Pacific
whereby California may have q fair chance
in the Utah competition.
That the Traffic Association might re-
celve all the assistance possible from the
merchants, the following circular was sent
out yesterday by Traffic Manager Curtis
To Aen,bers-Attention is called to the pres
ent unsettled condition ofrates from San Fran
cisco TO Utah.
This association is taking the question up
actively and seeks 10 have these rates reduced
and placed on stable basis. With this end in
view tariff is now being prepared carrying
such rates as would from our standpoint be
consistent.
In order that all may receive proper repre-
seHtalou IL Is ssheu tnat each member OF this
ASSOCIATION state IN q communication to the
undersigned what the articles are which Won
now do or which under more favorable rates
you could ship TO Utah III competition with the
East 1t Is also absolutely necessary that YOU
state with what point in the East You com pete
as the tariff from san Francisco will be based
on that competition Ii is necessary that you
take mp and handle this subject promptly as
all the data must be in and Systematized in
ample time TO permit proper presentation OF
our case before a meeting OF the railroads in
terested 10 be held in Salt Lake CITY Utah the
2Sth day of this month.
Your replies should therefore be in my hands
not later than the 10th inst. Yours truly
WILLIAM BoSTwICK CURTIS,
Traffic Manager.
Mr.. Curtis will probably go to Salt Lake
and present the Traffic Association tariff
and arguments in person.