The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-26

trary, the road would suffer from the
lack of prosperity of the various sec
tions through which it passes, for an
enormous amount of it's business
than suppose-is local and dependent
upon local prosperity.
1T, of course, is suffering in common
with all of the transcontinental roads
from -capitalization-and radical
changes must be effected in that re-
spect through some plan of organiza-
ton. We must bear in mind the fact
that the road was built in advance of
the business requirements of the coun-
try, and that during the period In
which the country along the line was
being settled numerous costly enter
prises for securing business were I'M
dertaken. many of which resulted In
losses, and all of these losses have been
capitalized. These, in connection with
the enormous debt to the government,
prevent formidable but not Impossible
obstacles to its reorganization upon
good business basis. In the meantime
am glad to be able to say that the
roadbed. engines, cars and SHOPS are
being kept in first-clasS condition, ana
there is certainly no deterioration, but
possibly an Improvement in that re-
spect.
Another serious drawback to its pros
perity has been the fact that the orig
inal idea of the government, when 1t
extended its aid to the roads, has not
been carried out. That intention as
expressed in every act of Congress was
that the two roads should form one
continuous line from the Missouri river
to the Pacific ocean. Events having
deprived it of its western terminus
on the Pacific ocean, it was found nee
essary to look to the sections north
and south for trade, resulting in many
costly experiments, but benefittlng
those sections at the expense of the
financial condition of the road.
He further stated that he was more
than ever convinced that the connec-
ton Of the government with the road
was great drawback to its prosperity
as well as to the welfare OF the coun-
try, and that it should be terminated
as quickly as possible.
When asked whether there would be
any action looking to that result at
the next session of Congress, he said
that he feared not, as the Republican
majority in that body would not, on the
eve of a general election, be likely TO
undertake the settlement of the ques-
ton on account of the antagonlsms
that might be excited by any settle
ment that might be made.
The reporter called Mr.. Coombs' at
tention to the report published in
Chicago paper of the reported coal deal
of some of the officials of the road, and
asked his opinion in relation to it.
He replied that he was without any
information other than that published
to guide him in forming an opinion;
that he had every confidence in the in
tegrity of the managers of the road
and was sure that there was much ex-
aggeration in the statement, and that
President Receiver Clerk, who is now
in Salt Lake City, would give all nee
essary information, and if any real
abuses existed, would, in connection
with his associate receivers, correct
them.
Speaking of the coal business, he said
that aside from mining enough of their
own supply he was opposed to the pol
icy of mining by the roads; that they
should confne themselves to the
business of carriers. for which they
were constructed, and leave the pro-
duction of coal to private enterprises.
He added that it was self-evident
proposition that private producers
would always be at a disadvantage in
competing with the roads, as the per-
centage of freight to the cost of coal
at the point of delivery was so far in
excess of the original cost.