The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-18
Dogs OF WAR TURNED LOOSE
To Chew Up Rates of Railroad
Fare
FIGHT WILL BE TO A FINISH
The Rate Slashing Inaugurated at Port.
land on Friday
FIGHT WILL BE TO A FINISH
voIving All the Great Cross-
Country Lines
Associated Press Special Wire.


Associated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov.17.-The South
ern Pacific company and the Oregon
Railway and Navigation company have
turned loose the dogs of war, and during
the mex. few weeks there will BIZ such a
slashing of rates as was never witnessed
before on the Pacific coast.
The passenger rate war inaupurated by
the two rival line, to Portland was only
started in real earnest On FRIDAY evening,
when the officials of the Oregon Railway
and Navigation company decided to ie-
duce their rates to a figure such as would
enable them to hold what they consider
a fair share of business. But within the
brief yeriod which has elapsed since the
reduced rates via the steamer line we're
announced, both companies have found
themselv called upon to do more rate
siashlng, and as matters now stand II 10
possible for passenger to 90 from San
Francisco to Portland for $3.50, with
berth ami meals thrown IN.
When Vice. President j c. Stubs of the
Southern Pacific com rany read that the
officials of the Oregon Railway and Navi-
CATION com pany had decided to reduce
the steamer rates to Portland from SIS
and S.. so to $40 and S5 he co1Id not have
been more a -toilshed had he been struck
with lightning.
Before the morning was far advanced
the windows and the interior OF the
Southern Pacific compnny's ticket office
were placarded with notices which read
as follows:
Special Notice-Red uced rates for "San
Francisco and Portland special"
Wednesday,, goth, and every fifth day
thereafter: Portland, SIS. first class, in
cludinR sleeper; Portland, $40, second
class, including sleeper.
The rates were made to compete with
the $40 first clsss and So second class
rates on tn steamers of the Oregon Rail-
way and Navigation company.
After this notice was posted by the
Southern Pacific company. E. Mcneil.
receiver ana general manager, and W. H.
Hurlburt, general passenger agent OF the
| pany, held a consultation about sJill
| further reduction, and last evening it was
decided to announces q hrst.class rate of
| IS and secnnd-class rate of " 5O to
Portland and Astoria. Now the South
| ern Pacific is considering the ad VisaDility
of reducing its first class rate to $50
and its second-lass rate to So. with every
prospect of an announcement to that
| effect on Monday.
The Southern Pacific say that since
they have been forced into rate war
| they will stay IN The fight to the bittar
end. This officials of the Ure,on Railway
and Navigation COMPANY, with equal un.
| willingness to claim the distinction OF
having takeu the initistivs ia the rate
war. say that since they have been forced
into tbs fight they will remain in it to
| the bitter end. Altogether :h re is every
| prospect of prolonged struggle between
! the two ON panies, and it is generally
believed in railorad circles that a second
class rate of 81 from San Francisco to
! Portland ant Astoria will be in effect
via the STEAMERS of the Navigation COM
pany before two more sailing days have
| passed.
The reduced rates will go into effect
! on Wednesday next, the day on which
| the steamer Columbia will sail, and tie
| day also on which the portland spe-
| clal" will leave for the orth. The re
duoed rates are as matter Of fact, in
eff ct already, but are not available until
| " Wednesday. The reduced rates announced
| by the Southern Pacific. ahd such other
| reduced rates as may be ammo unced BY
that company from time to lime as the
rate war progresses, will only apply on
! tickets good for transportation on The
! Portland special, as it is called, which
was inaugnrated on October 2lst to leava
on the sailin days OF the steamers.
| Mr.. Stubbs said that the Soutae n Pa
| cific would announce another material re-
| duction in rates on Monday to offset the
| $5 and 81. 80 rates OF the Oregon Railway
aad Navigation company, Dut just how
! large \ re uction he would not say. 1t is
Understood, however, that u $3.50 rate
first-class and a $5 rate senond-class will
be the figures agreed upon.
Tae reduced rates announced by the
Southern Pacific company will affect all
tue Iacal business on the Portland line
between San Francisco and roints nortn
o. Red Bluff, nortb-boUnd, and betwt en-
| Portland and points south of Redding,
south bound, for the reason that passen-
gers bound to intermediate puints, where
| the local IA tie is aigher than the through
rate, can now buv through tickets and
tt vel on them TO their destination. This
| will demoral ze local passenger earnings
of the Oregon line as long as the rata war
! lasts. Another complication which is
likely to be- provoked by the continuation
! OF the rate wa is a transcuntinental rate
! war b. tween the northern lines and the
central and southern lines. If tha soc.
| ond class rail rat to Portland is reduced
any further the effect of such cut will
oe to cut the through rate to Chicago.
| st. Paul and other points from San Fran
cisco via Portland, and for self protect on
tue Santa Fe, Union Pac fic and other
lines which are interested IN that busi-
ness will have to reduce their rates to
hold their share OF the business.