The herald., 1895-03-08

After all Chairman Caldwell's work it
is not certainty by any means that he
has succeeded in ending the rate war
among the Western trunk lines. The
Herald published exclusively the begin
ming of the war and the ending OF it, or
the suppo ed ending of it, and it now has
reason to believe that the fight will soon
be commenced again. If it is there will
be no $2.5 cuts made as was done before
but rates will be slashed in q way that
will make Mr.. Caldwell howl
The cause of the renewal of hostilities
will probably be found in the East again.
1t was rumored yesterday that the Great
Northern and one or two other lines had
commenced taking passengers at figures
less than the tariff and if the rumor is
confirmed then look out for fun. 1t is a
fact that cannot be denied that both the
trunk lines to California have been haul
ing both coaches and sleepers across the
continent half filled. 1t costs no more to
haul loaded coach than one half loaded
and in consequence the passenger people
want to see rate made that will increase
travel. They say they want no war but it
is nevertheless true that every little
rumor that might form pretext for rate
cutting is promptly run down as soon as
it flies.
But the passenger agents are not having
all the fun to themselves by any means.
The freight men are doing some lively
hustling Just now with the prospect good
for still livelier times. The great rush of
oranges from California to the East this
year has made competition extremely
brisk and the roads, all of them having
Offices here, have worAed hard for their
business. The advent of the Armour line
of refrigerator cars, which will be run ex-
clusively over the Southern Pacific, will
undoubtedly give that road an advantage
for a time. Nine out Of ten of the refrig-
orator cars that go East loaded with
oranges have to be hauled back empty
and it has cost the roads pretty penny
to furnish the cars the crop has demand
ed. In fact the holding of refrigerator
cars in the East in an attempt to secure
freight enough to send them out loaded
came near causing car famine here
Armour has great amount of freight of
his own to ship to Coast points and in
consequence he will keep his new line of
cars moving both ways loaded.
The consolation is that the more the
railroads fight the greater the benefits de-
rived by the public, so let the merry war
go on.
John J. .Byrne, general passenger agent
of the Atlantic and Pacific and Southern
California. returned from his visit to San
Francisco last night.
Travelling Agent Davis of the refrigera-
tor car lines says that from reports re-
celved 1t is estimated that Florida will
produce less than 100, 900 boxes OF oranges
next year as against 5000, 900 boxes, the
average crop of former years. This
means more wealth for Southern Calfor-
MIA
The excursion agents all report good
sized parties coming from the East and
light travel to the East.
A Big Contract
1t is rumored, and the rumor comes
from a most reliable source, that con-
tract was concluded yesterday between the
Southern California Railroad and the
Union Oil Company whereby the latter
will furnish the former for the next
eighteen months all the oil it will use.
The contract is said to be drawn so as to
cover fuel for. oil-burning locomotives if the
railroad company concludes TO remodel
their engines. General Manager Wade of
the Southern California refu sed to either
affirm or deny the story last night, but
said that if such a contract had been
signed the public would know it in due