The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-07-16
What Does It Mean ?

Has the Southern Pacific a
cinch upon Oregon as 1t has upon
California; This the question up
permost in the minds OF many
Oregonians since the sale of the
o. r. & N. last Thursday. Of
course it is possible that the facts
will not warrant such a conclusion,
but there are many potent reasons
for believing that the railroads of
Oregon, with one exception-the
Q. G. & E.-are under the control
of the Huntington system. II this
is so, it is a matter of regret and
matter which will result in lasting
injury to the state.
There is no positive evidence
that Mr.. Huntington was directly
interested in the recent purchase
of the o. R. & N, it is true, but
there is a deal of circumstantial
evidence to indicate that the
Southern Pacific had a finger in
the pie, and will hereafter control
freight and passenger rates within
the state. just previous to the
sale, Vice President Stubs and
number of other Southern Pacific
officials arrived in Portland and
remained there for several days.
1t is generally understood that Mr..
Stubbs is very close to Mr.. Hunt
ington and that no other person
than Mr.. Stubbs would likely be
sent on such a mission. The party
while in Portland was in close con-
sultatlon with 0. r. & N. officials,
and the object of their visit was
kept from the reporters, as of
course it would be indiscreet to
herald to the world the fact that
the o. r. & N. mad been absorbed
by the Southern Pacific, if such
was the case.
However, as a result of Mr..
Stubbs' visit the recent rate war
has been declared off, to take effect
July 21. The fact that the two
should have reached
such an adjustment of their affairs
at this particular time, after the
rate war had been going on since
last October, is passing strange,
and gives color to the generally ac-
cepted rumor that the two corpor-
ations have been consolidated un-
der one management.
If this theory, that the .. r. &
N. has been purchased by the
Southern Pacific, be correct, the o. ]
@. & E. is the only competing line
left in the state. Mr.. Huntington's
next move will likely be to gain
control of the local line and then
he will have Oregon as fully with
in his grasp as he has the state of
California. The people there re-
gard the S. 2. as veritable octi-
pus, and it is devoutly to be hoped
that Oregon will escape the fate of
her sister state.
Speaking Of Mr.. Stubbs' visit
The Greg nian of Saturday has the
following:
s'Day before yesterday private
car of the Southern Pacific arrived
in Portland, bearing Third Vice
President J. q. Stubbs, Assistant
General Passenger Agent II. r.
Judah and Assistant General
Freight Agent William Spro'1l, OF
the Southern Pacific, together with
Mr.. Ed. Goodall. of the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company. Mr..
remained quietly within the
of his car, and the fact OF
his presence was not known out.
side of small circle. On his arrl-
val, the officials of the 0. r. & N.
were notified, and general con-
terence was held between the par
ties named, representing the South
ern Pacific, and Receiver E. Nc
Neill; his assistant j. G. Wood
worth; General Passenger Agent
w. FL. Hurlburt, and General
Freight Agent B. Campbell, of the
o. r. & N.
'.Evidently the matter had been
thoroughly canvassed beforehand,
both in this city and i'll San Fran
cisco, and an agreement was reach
ed which was acceptable to both
parties in interest. This agreement
was duly ratified and signed, and
the same evening Mr.. Stubbs and
his party took the night train for
their return trip to San Francisco"
The valley people have cause
for rejoicing that they yet have a
competing line. The 0, G. & E.
has successfully coped with the
two big corporation, and notwith-
standing the sharp competition of