The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-06
OGDEN DEPT,
HERHLD BRHNcH OFFICE.
6I3 UTAH LOAN j. TRUST BUILDIMa.
Ogden, June 6.
A NEW RAILwAY sYsTEM.

When Mr.. Egan takes charge of the
Oregon Short Line, a new system of
railways will be established in this in
termountain country, and to all in
tents and purposes it will be as COM
pletely a new enterprise as though
company had been organized, and
new railroad corresponding in every
way to the present road had been
constructed.
What this will mean to Utah and
the TRANSFORMATION business of the
great west, the best-informed railway
men refuse even to venture an opln-
ion, save that it will mean a complete
readjustment of existing traffic ar
rangements governing business west
of the Missouri river.
Few people realize the Importance
of the change that is about to take
place. or the effect it will have upon
Utah business, and when they 90
come to understand it they will Won
der how it was that they did not take
in the situation when the change was
first proposed.
In the first place, it will center the
great railway interests of the west IN
Utah. and no matter what the outcome
as to rates may be after the adjust
ment, Utah will be benefited, because
conditions will be such that freight
rates cannot possibly be so arranged
that this territory will not be at a dis
advantage as compared with other sec
lions of the western country, unless 1t
be the coast states At the present
time, what is known as the Utah COM
mon point rate is higher than the
Montana common point rate; under
the new arrangement the rates for the
two sections will be the same, with
the possibility of a lower rate for Utah
than for Montana. This will be brought
about by opening Utah to the North
ern Pacific and Great Northern and
Montana to the Burlington. Rock Is
land and other eastern roads.
The reason for the separate receiver
ship was that the creditors or bond
holders of the Short Line and Nor hern
insisted that the earnings of the
roads, if managed separately. would be
much greater. They claimed that the
expense of maintaining the road and
keeping it in repair would be less; ttS t
greater economy in the matter of the
purchase and use of supplies could be
maintained, and that regardless of the
fact that a separate set of officials
would have to be employed and the
expense paid out of the earnings of the
road, a total saving in the matter of
expense now charged UP against this
part of the system could be effected.
In order to make a good showing, 1t
will be the first business of the re-
ceiver to increase the business of his
road, which will then be entirely an
Independent line. To do this. he must
bid for business and naturally he will
accept business from the Northern Pa
cific and Great Northern for Utah
points and with the R. G. w. and other
eastern roads centering in Denver for
Montana points; and as his road will
be the key to the situation, there can
be no doubt about his ability to make
terms that will be greatly to his ad-
vantage.
The Short Line from Granger must
not be neglected, but enough business
can be secured from the Union Pacific
for the coast to make that branch of
the road pay expenses; at least, so
that, altogether, the new system will
certainly prosper, because it is bound
to be a factor the Importance of which
all other roads will readily recognize.
Now, as to freight and passengee
rates, no one can tell Just what will
be the final outcome; but that there
will be a general shaking up there
can be no possible doubt, for the
reason that the new system which
the receivership opens up will be able
eastern roads from Chicago west to
this country and not only t. UtaH,
hut the great northwest region, nt
caTse there will be no Union Pacific
MOI 'hwestern alliance to keep them
out of this rich territory.
OF course the Union Pacific is not 90
ing to remain passive while the other
roads are trying to break through in
to its pasture, and at the same time,
the Rio Grande Western will have to
be on the lookout for it's interests, so
that it goes without saying that the
matter of rates is very much an I'M
known quantity and the only consola-
ton will be that Utah cannot possibly
suffer, but in the end will be bene-
fitted. In general way the change
ought to be a great benefit to Utah
in particular, because it will concen-
trate more business here and improve
the condition of trade as a natural
consequence; all of which will help the
people both directly and indirectly.
So far as Ogden and SAT- Lake
city are concerned, the new system
will greatly benefit both places. and
while from information at hand it
seems to be a settled fact that the
general officers Of the new road viii
be in Salt Lake city. Ogden will be
as much benefited. and probably more
than Salt Lake city, because there is
possible that the real terminal of the
traffic division of the system viii be
here, and a large force of men will
be employed here and shops estab-
lished in this city as a natural cOnse-
quence.