The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-26
CUT RATE on FREIGHT
Southern Pacific Hits O. X. &
n. Co. a Hard Blow.
REDUCTION so TO TO PER CENT.
Cheap Passenger Rates Make Enor-
nous Travel, and Both Competitors
Claim to Be Making Money.

San Francisco. Nov. E.-vice President
J. c. Stubs and General Freight Agent
c. r. Smurr, OF the Southern Pacific COM
pany, he'd a long conference today, ana
as a result IL was announced that the COM
psny was making a sweeping reducuon IN
it's rates on freight shipments between
San Francisco and Portland. This VIII
take effect Monday next December =
The reductions range from 30 10 81 per
cent. from the existing Coast rates, ana
are calculated 10 make the oregon Kali
way and Navigation Company hustle tor
business IN a way that il has never hustled
before. The reduction in freight rates De-
tween here and Portland is but a new
feature Of the rate war between the South
ern Pacific and the o. r. & y.
After studying the results of the first
weeks operations under the reduced pas
senger rates. Vice President Stuoos became
convinced that the Southern Pacific would
have 70 comp.lcate matters still further
10 win a victory over its smaller competl-
tor. for IL was patent 10 every one mat
the o. r. e. y. could continue the rate
war indefinitely ana carry passengers for
nothing, II necessary, II II could get
enough freight 20 pay the operating ex-
penses OF the steamers. Thus a new fea-
ture has been added to the traffic SQUAD
BILE. TIL Southern Pacific will not now be
content with two-thirds OF all the passen-
ger business, but viii make a vigorous eff
fort 20 get a larger share OF the freight
traffic. If the reduced freight rates do no.
secure this result. the company will put
on a line of freight steamers between San
Francisco and Portland to carry freight az
81 per ton.
San Francisco, Nov. &.-The rate war be
tween the Southern Pacific and the Oregon
Railway d. Navigation Company has, with
IN the brief period of a week. been produc-
tive of some very startling results. The
low rates nnuv nFarof tiay nm thu rail and
steamer lines between Portland and San
Francisco. and also to and from the Sound
ports reached by the steamers Of the Pa
ciic Coast Steamship Company, has made
n lot OF business for the companies interest
ed in the competition. During last week
the steamers Of the Oregon Railway &
Navigation Company carried more passen-
gers than they have carried in the same
length of time for years. Both companies
apparently are getting all the business
they can handle. A careful review of the
weeks operations under the low rates has
been made by the traffic officials of the
Southern Pacific company. and they de-
clare that the Southern Pacific has the
best of the fight. on what they base this
deduction is not clear TO the Oregon Rail
way & Navigation officials. who seem 10
think that the Southern Pacific has suf-
fered a very severe drubbing. Vice Presi-
dent j. c. Stubbs- says that the Southern
racine company IS making money out OF
the rate war. h Southern Pacific has
thus far been unable to get more than one
half OF the business. Mr.. Stubs says he
Will stop not until he has two-thirds. Tax
ing this fact into consideration. and the
additional fact that both companies are
content with the situation SO long as the
rush OF business keeps up. 1t is regarded as
highly probable that the rate war Will
continue for some weeks. When the nov
city of making a trip to Portland for s.
wears off there will be a decrease of bust
ness. and not until then will the two COM
panies come 10 any agreement for a divi-
sion OF the Portland business.