The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-04-23
AN OCTOPUS OVER
THE FRONTIER
The Canadian Pacific Is a Menace to
Railroads in the United
States.
ABSORBING THEIR BUSINESS
Ehat Is Lost to the Pacific Coast BY the
Unequal Competitiou-katehing the
Fight in Congress on
Beading.


San Francisco Can is worthy OF careful
study: The movemen started in con
gress to withdraw the bonding privileges
now enjoyed by the Canadian Pacific on
all freights transported between points
in the United States by the Canadian
Pacific railway has aroused considerable
interest among railroad men in San
Francisco. Indeed it has been the most
important subject Of conversation since
Senator Elkins made a patriotic speech
in the senate about ten days ago.
The Canadian Pacific railway is so
situated that it holds the whip hand on
tr-anscontinental freight business and can
carry freight almost for nothing in com
petition with the Uni.ed States lines.
This Is obvious IN view Of the guarantees
and subsidies from she Dominion govern
ment. The Canadian Pacific Is an i'm
psrial highway. a military road. 80 lib
orally provided for that the American
roads cannot compete with il should a
rate war be started. At the present
time. though a peaceful condition ap-
parently exists between the Canadian
road and the United States t~ransconti-
Mental outes, yet by the system by cour-
tesy known as '~diSerentials" the former
line dictates rates 10 the latter. and the
result Is that the Cnitsd States lines
have 70 accede = dieerential Of about 10
per cent in favor Of their northern op-
ponent.
The direct effect Of this upon the pros
perity Of California is neld TO he very
serious. At least an enforced and con-
sequently false condition confronts the
state. and more particularly the gate
ways OF Pacific commerce. San Fran
cisco being the main gateway and the
center OF Pacific coast commerce is a
bad loser in the anne played Ly the
Canadians. Probably no more forcible
Illustration Of the unequal struggle can
be given thar this one ited yesterday
by a local railroad man. The Pacific
Coast Steamship C~ompany's steamer
Walla Walla sailed for Victoria and the
Puget sound a few days ago. She had
on board 10000 pounds Of dried fruit from
San Jose consigned TO St. Paul. Mimi.
via the Canadian Pacific railway. This
freight has to be transferred to the Ca
madam Pacific Navigation Company's
steamer at Victoria for transportation to
Vancouver, the Pacific coast terminus OF
NAI 0oAAAAAAlA AaAAWugs ~ dAAEpAANtI a
third handling f. necessary to place the
fruit on the cars. and then the cir
euitous route Is resumed to larry the
fruit through Canadian territory and
subsequently TO 81. Paul. This one con-
signment represents the carrying capa-
city Of ive railroad cars. and anybody
who has even a slight knowledge OF rail-
reading can appreciate what money ard
labor are necessary 10 move five cars
half way across b country. All the
income, with its consequent exchange Of
wealth that should accrue from this
shipment, is lost to the United States.
And as for California, a large share OF
the wealth-producing element Of this par
ticular merchandise is lost: It vas cut
of. diverted to a foreign nation when
the freight ven through the Golden
Gate.
The Canadian Pacific was able TO carry
this freight and pay the expense OF
handling It twice and to take 1t nearly
double the direct distance Of ST. Paul
from San Francisco at a profit. And
yet the rate, under the ''diherentiaI'
system, was at least 10 per cent lower
than the standard transcontinen.al tariff
as arranged by the freight association.
Local railway officials are 10th 10 dis
cuss the Canadian Pacific publicly. be-
cause they do not wish to disturb friend
ly relations" now existing. One Of them,
however, explained the situation quite
fully.
THE moment freight for Eastern cities
Is put into a steamer ut the wharf here
TO be sent by the Canadian Pacific It
gives no further wealth TO the state"
said he. shipping goods by that route
represents an expenditure for cardng 70
he dock and slowing On the steamer
Now, let US see What would be the
Effect II the same freight went by the
United States roads. Mind you. am
lot speaking for any one Of those routes,
or this affects the Southern Pacific,
Pacific, Great Northern and the
Northern Pacific out Of San Francisco.
every mile Of road this freight would
PASS over in California has to be kept
n order at considerable expense Every
nile contribute to the wealth Of the
tate. Taxes have TO he paid. And
hen the more business, Of course. the
will be the number Of men en-
loyed. all Of which means the circulation Z
( money. This keeps things going and :
) good for all classes Of people, but take
he source Of revenue away, as in the
ase OF the Canadian Pacific encroach- !
tent, and the state must suffer, and the
also.
"The Canadian Pacific shows that its
Is circuitoUs and rather objection
BILE for transportation of American
1t passes through various cli-
ates and there is delay in the round
bout route. Compared with the Ameri-
N translcontinental routes this is a
ausible showing. and when a d"ifferentlal
Re is proposed by the Canadian line v
just and fair the rranscontinental s