The San Francisco call., 1897-11-26
RAILROAD MEN
ARE ANXIOUS
Ogden Gateway Situation
Is in Danger Of a
Disruption.
The Union Pacific People Want
Its Old Alliance With
the Short Line.
Huntington, on the Contrary, Does
Not Look With Favor Upon
Such Programme.

There is every prospect that a change il
shortly to take place in the local traffi
arrangements OF the Western railway
The report is out that serious complica
tions in that arrangement Of overland
connections known as the Ogden Gate
way are due in few days. A three-cor
nered fight is promised on the part of tht
Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and Rit
Grande and its connections.
AS matters now stand the Union Pacifi,
and the Central Pacific are maintaining
a defensive alliance against the trio O.
trans Nj issouri lines that obtain access tc
the coast by wav of the Rio Grande line
from De enver to Ogden. The combine tion
is an advantageous one for HUNTINGTON
but it has its draw backs for the Union
Pacific line. The last-named is not on
good terms with the Oregon Short Line,
and to gain Access TO the northwest coun-
try is obliged to give HUNTINGTON his per-
centage on a hanl from Ogden TO the
Colum oa River, Wa Sacramento and the
Shasta route.
The Short Line, on the other hand, has
three big roads dumping traffic at OREGON
for the Northwest haul. These are the
Rock Island, the Burlington and the Mis-
souri, Pacific. all of which are throwing
for Colum ba River points
The Union Pacific as soon as its reor-
gaDlZation IS completed, is anxious to
renew its former relations with the Short
Line for Self-lnterests. Huntington, OF
course, could see nothing to his advantage
in sucn programme, ana cou be relied
upon 10 cast his interest against the
carrying out of such plan. The Missouri
Pacific and Rock Island would naturally
iOirl h IL ha D.
this sort OF lis ht as their present alli-
ance with the Short Line people give them
big advantage over the Union in trans
portatlon to Northwest points.
The Burlington would not be affected in
either way, as it has line to Billings,
and thence over the Northern Pacific to
the coast, while a its terminus at Granger
III Wyoming, 1t receives from and delivers
freight to the Union under q friendly ar
rangement.
Overtures are already out, though the
Short Line, for peace with the Union, but
the result is full of comulex situations
The officers of that line came to the con-
cIusion apparently some time ago that
they held the whip hand in the traffic sta
alton in the Northwest similar in the man
ner that the Central Pacific IS the key to
the California traffic westbound from
Ogden.
Huntington is after ali the traffic can
bear, and he is TO JOIN hands if necessary
with the Rio Grande connection 10 pre-
vent the Short Line from diverting the
Union Pacific traffic from the Central.
The trans Missouri rivals of the Union
are, or course, anxious that the present
arrangements continue, and railway men
say that there is likely to be a regular cat
and-dog fight any day all round.
In the meantime the Oregon short Line
is acting the coy maiden and seems will
ing to be courted by all comers. Its
friendly alliance with the Union Pacific
however, might revolutionize the present
condition Of the Western Traffic Associa-
ton.