The morning times., 1896-02-15

effective during the whole period had
either the Union or Central controlled the
other, or had tue two roads been operated
as a single interest.
considerable has been said with refer
ence to a plan which one OF the Senators
has prepared for the settlement of the debt;
and / may be pardoned for saying that,
in my opinion, its operation would result
not in benefit but in harm to any interest
that deserves benefit, as it would retard
commerce and trade, and render the stock
OF both the Union and Central Pacific Rail-
roads valueless to their owners Looking
back upon the situation at the time the acts
of 1862 and 1854 were passed, and 1t the
temper and sentiment OF Congress at that
time, can understand how difficult IL must
be for members of Congress whose famili-
arity with national legislation came at a
later date to appreciate just what the posi-
ton of the government was toward these
Pacific railroad enterprises and unhesitat-
ingly say that 1t was never contemplated by
the statesmen OF that day that the Union
and Central Pacific Railroads should form
onecontinuOuscOnnect iiue 10 be operated
without being permitted tomake connections
Or arrangements for interchange OF traffic
with any other company accompanies which
should compete for q common traffic.
WRONGLY CONSTRUED.
'The claim is in itself rprepoSterous, as /
acts can be fairly construed into such a
strained Specification, and if they had the
meaning imputed To them by Senator Thurs
ton, why does the Interstate Commerce act
provide, as in Section 8, that lit shall be
unlawful for any common carrier 10 make
or give any undue or unrea sonabe pre-
ference or advantage to any particular
person, company, firm, corporation or To-
cality, or any particular description OF
traffic, in any respect whatsoever, etc, ana
That every common carrier subject 10 The
provisions OF this act shall, according 10
their respective powers, afford all reason
able, proper and equal facilities for the III
terchange OF traffic between their rcspec-
tive lines, and Tor the receiving. forward
ing and delivering OF passengers and prop
erty 10 ana from their several lines and
those connecting herewith, and shall not
diScriDn1ta in their rates and charges be-
tween such connecting lines
Rei"rrin;, again to The map, let me say
that it istothe agency Misrepresentation
pet!uG railroads and their contributions TO
the traffic OF the Central Pacific quite as
mich as, perhaps more than, to the Union
Pacific, that the Central Pacific has
enjoyed so large a share OF the
traffic TO and from California. Once close
the Ogden gateway, or attempt TO place
them at Il disadvantage as compared with
The Union Pacific, and does any member
some other outlet or connection, and, when
that Is done. the value OF the Central and
Union Pacific as earning properties VIII at
once, and permanently, be dana ged. What
then will happen 10 the governments lien?
VIII there be any rtconfpenSe TO the Union
Pacific division of the connected contin-
uous line by additions TO its traffic and
revenues? Certainly not, because these
competitors are not going oIt OF the through
business, for that would not be TO their
oNu interest, or TO that OF the government
o. the public. They will find new path,
and the Central and Union Pacific will net
only lose business, but suffer material loss
in the average rate ohtJinable for what is
left These are facts, which it will be Well
for you, gentlemen OF the committee, as
llen of intelligence aud business expert
ence, 10 carefully coAsider.s
BECAME COMPETITORS.
1T is well 10 nOie that the Rock Island
and the Burlington cOald as wei have con
nected with the Union Pacific at Denver
as with the Rio Gfande and Colorado Mid
land roads but the Union Pacific closed its
linz and forced them to- an adverse con-
necliun. What has iR.en She resalt? In
stead Of these two po%erfG1 systems being
feeders to the Union PaciDe-line for about
ont-.ialf Of its length pes have become
gigantic competitors, and Ibis competition
has been the most powerful factor in the
diversion OF traffic fronl The Union Pacific
line while at the same time they have
b ga eq4itlIy potenBIa -cdlh 81 IA ana briug--
ing to the Central Pacific traffic which,
without their aid, would have gone by the
Southern gateways and been lost, not only
to the Union, but TO the Central Pacific
also.
"A gain. the Union Pacific. owning and
operating the Utah and Northern. running
from Ogden to Butte ard Helena, and con-
M ,.4if Ia
Pucateilo for Portland ard Puget Sound,
also shut out the Rtc Grande Western ard
all its connections from any participation
in that business upon fair or living terms;
SO that it may be assumed that the policy
OF the Union Pacific has been to cut off
all connection and interchange Of traffic
with roads physically connected with ii,
but which were not under its control. l
have already given you an example of this.
You must remember that the Chicago,
Burlington and Quincy, the Rock lslaId.
etc. could all make connections at lienveI
with the Santa Fe system, and coud divert
tier traffic and send it into California
via Moiave. without much sacrifice OF
their revenue. To the Rock Island it wcu'd
be a matter of Indifference whether it
carried the traffic to Fort " orth ard
gave it to the Texas and Pacific, or to
Denver and delivered it TO its connec-
lions for the ogden route. The Chicago.
Burlington and Quincy ard the Missouri
taclfi,- could IN like manner connect with
the Santa fe which would no doubt be
very glad to open its line TO such powerful
feeders. In fact, l see no possible advan-
tage which could aCCFde 10 tie CniCn
Pacific by any such arrangement as is
proposed by Senator ThurstCu; but | do
see the great harm and dotr.ment that
would result to beth OF these bord-aided
roads, and one thing / believe to be GER
II
the value of the government lien.
PLEA FOR FAIRNESS.
1T does seem 10 me7that it wcu,d he
better for all iDterests-of course, includ
ing the greater interest ofthe government
that the Central Pacific remain, as it were.
an open highway TO treat all who meet ii
at Ogden fairly aud alike, as 1T has the
physical and financial ability to do. if
the government Will make fair settlement,
as have Said. many times the business that
would reach il there. The Central Pacific
Will continue 10 do as It has done-pay
all its debts and endeavor to create har-
mony among the lines reaching it at Og-
den, so as to make not only all the COM
panies, but the patrons OF each and every
company, satisfied. If there should be
one continued line from Chicago to San
Francisco, as it is now from Chicago over
the Northwestern Railroad to Ogden, these
other great companies could hardly eX-
pect rair usage from Sucn line, reacn-
ing, as it would. something more than half
way out, when they were refused any
thing like equal milea ageI rates from say
Cheyenne to Ogden, or other points east
Of the Rockies, for theyaare strong and
important companies. and would be bound
to build through from Ogden to the Pa
cific coast over barren country that
needs no railroad. The country between
the Wahsatch and the Sierra Nevada
Mountains is like bridge, high in the
air, so far as business lssconcerned. ard