The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-17
THE SITUATION
O. R. g. N. Complications From
All StandpOintS.
NO DANGER OF MONOPOLY
New Factor in the Field in the
Great Burlington" Road
Local Views.
NO DANGER OF MONOPOLY

what appears to be excellent authority
that the Burlington has positively taken a
part in the reorganization scheme OF the
o. r. and N. Co., and that the Southern
Pacific, in order to secure possession of
the Oregon road, will have to fight this
great corporations influence. The Bur-
lington does not seek to purchase the
Oregon road, and, 1t is said, will not make
an effort to control 1t; but in the rtorgani-
zation 1t will play strong hand, which
will make its influence felt beyound the
question of doubt. In this case the South
ern Pacific may find itself checkmated,
and Mr.. Huntington may have to retire
from the field and postpone his efforts to
bottle" Portland to some future time.
President c. E. Perkins, of the Burling-
ton system, and Chairman ]. NJ Forbus,
of the executive board of the Bun lington
system, are heavy stockholders in the 0.
r. and N. Mr. Perkins is the largest in>
dividual holder of the o. r. and N. ST. ok,
so 1t is reported and believed, and Mr..
Eorbus is the next largest indil idua &C
holder. Mr.. Perkins and Mr.. Fo bus, to-
gether, undoubtedly control enough stock
to make their influence felt, and 1t is
claimed that they have more power than
any other faction among the stockholders.
Their Influence, too, with the bond hold
ers, whose will is almost absolute in these
panicky times, is direct and powe full
So 1t can easily be seen what influence
the Burlington will have in the reorgan-
iation Of the o. r. and N. Co.
The Burlington will not be known in the
o. r. and N. Co. matter as a corporation
railroad or enterprise of any kind. Bur-
.lington officials. however, are expected to
take part; headed by President Perkins
The Burlington as corporation cannot
acquire property detached from the main
system of its road, The corporation has
an iron-clad law in It's articles or incorpo-
ration to that effect. So there Is no pos
sihility Of the o. r. and N. being merged
into, sthe Burlington system, because its
farthest Eastern Terminal is several hun
dred miles from the farthest Burlington
Western terminal. Hence, the Burlington
will do all in its power to maintain the
independence of the Oregon road, and it is
known that Mr.. Perkins and Mr. Forbus
have given notice to other roads to this
effect.
The Burlington system extends from
Chicago to Denver. and from Chicago to
Billings, Mont. At Denver it connects
with the Union Pacific for Portland bus
mess, which road transfers to the Ore
gon Short Line at Granger, fhe latter still
being under lease to the Union Pacific,
which in turn connects with the o r. and
N. at Huntington The Union Pacific
exacts unfair percentages, so 1t is con-
tended, for all business passing through
the ogden gateway" and, in conse- \
quence, every road connecting with 1t for
Western business has had an lax" out
for some time. The Burlington, of all
other lines would like to get a whack at
the Union Pacific, and force open the
barriers at Ogden. This, 1t is now said,
will be done by the reorganizat on o. the
o. r. and N. Co., with the Burlington at
the helm of all deliberations The Union
Pacific will thus be forced to make con-
cessions.
Mr.. Huntington, meantime, 1t is ar
gued, is not going to sit idly by and let
the Burlington aid in reorgan zation Of
the Oregon road. Mr.. Huntington has
started out to get his grip on the o. r.
and N, and will not desist very Ie1d ly,
even for so powerful an influence as the
officials. Fears are entertain
cd that he may yet be successful, and
that It will not be very long before the
Oregon road is operated at San Francisco
The Union Pacific is still in the fight |
for control of the o. r. and N, and this
fact must not be overlooked by these who |
are interested in the maintenance of the |
Oregon roads independence, A rail Dad |
man in this city yesterday said that he
had received information which rade him |
believe that the Union Pacific stood a bet
ter show than any other outside COM
pany to get control Of the o. r. and N.
81 know" he said. "for dead GER
tainty that prominent Union Pacific Off
cials are figuring on the time VIII they
will be operating the o. R. and N. from
this CITY,"
In ar interview with Mr.. T. II. Cur tbs,
president of the Northwest Construct on
Company, now building the Asst ria -Goble
road, and an accredited Huntington man,
that gentleman said that he was satisfied
Mr. Huntington did not want the o. X.
and NJ, and could not get 1t IL he did.
From what little l know about ra es,"
he said, land from what / see in the
Mr. Huntington is carr ying !
on the present rate war with the O. r.
and N. for principle. like many another
rate war before II. l understand the o. II.
and N. made the first low rates and
after both companies have lost
many thousands OF dollars they VIII p tch
up the differences between them. ! think
IL is safe to say, however. that 1t is not
probable that Mr. Huntington wants the
b. r. and N property There seems to
be a desire on the part Of others 70 get
hold Of 1t, and they may succetd. but l
can see no good reason why Major Nc
Neill should not be successful In reor-
ganIzing the property on an indep ndent
basis and maintaining it as an ind pend
ent line, open TO all connections alike"
Another well posted railroad man In
the city said yesterday concerning the
same subject, that 'it would be sorry
day for Oregon should the state fall into
the hands of single railroad company,
but that he thought the entire scare was
without foundation In fact, though the
people could not be too careful. As lar
as we In Astoria are concerned. IL is a
matter OF little moment which Of the big
companies. the O.. Union Pacific, or Great
Northern, gels the o. r. and ~. cr
whether II remains independence. so long
as we get our road to Goble. AS TO that
line there need be no fear Of Huntington.