The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-10-10
RAILROAD DEvEL-
OPMENT AND ASTORIA

Those who have watched the
building and subsequent develop
ment of the great K. R, systems of
the West cannot have failed to note
the almost simultaneous growth of
the surrounding country, as well as
the radical changes following in the
railroads and their relations TO each
other. From one pioneer line across
the continent-the Union Pacific
there have since sprung three trans
continental lines, with Others in
construction. The vast deserts
through which these railroads have
been built are being peopled and an
astonishing growth in population
has taken place on the Pacific Coast
The railroads themselves have made
great strides in the matter of i'm
proved machinery and methods of
handling traffic, and have been able
through these improvements TO so
lessen the cost of transportation as
to enable them, in a measure, to
meet the constantly increasing de-
mand of the public for cheaper
rates and more expensive accomo-
dations for passengers and freight.
Ever since the passage of the in
terstate commerce act in 1887, by
the Shelby NJ. Cullom-Illinois-
Granger element, the railroads have
been put upon the defensive in or
der to earn anything like their fixed
charges, to say nothing of profits.
A very few lines operating in the
very thickly populated districts on
the eastern coast were able TO make
little money under the new law.
Many railroads were bankrupted
and a very large number of roads
were simply able to pay running ex-
penses. In the face of these facts |
those companies whose plans had |
been formed for future development
continued to push out their lines
into the unsettled sections of the
country and were the main factors
in building up the population of the
West as it is today. With this con-
structive and development work on
the one hand, the constant harass-
ing of the public on the other, in its
ignorant and unreasonable demands
for the tearing down of the great in
struments which made the western
states, the railroads were compelled
to take some action to protect their
revenues. Consolidation of inter
ests and the reduction of expenses
through the decrease in forces was
the natural result. These processes
required time, and today we see
nearing its end one of the last big
combinations having this principle
in view. The Union Pacific reor-
ganization, as predicned by the As
ToRIAN a year ago, is now almost
completed. The significant facts in
the case have been detailed by the
recent kilograms from the East.
One of the last features of the new
deal was consummated the other day
when the reorganization committee
acquired controlling interest in the
Oregon Short Line. 1t is well
known that the majority Of the stock
of the Oregon Short Line is owned
by the Union Pacific, and that, in
turn, the Short Line controls the o.
Z. & N. The o. R. & N. COM
pany is the pet of Oregon. 1t was
the pioneer line at the time when
Eastern Oregon was a mere wilder
ness and needed transportation facil-
tiles. The state and its people will
never forget the efforts of that com
pany, large portion of whose stock
is now owned within the state, to
build up Oregon. In the evolution ,
of affairs J. Pierpont Morgan, the l
master mind in finance and rail |
roads today throughout the world,
has almost reached the pinnacle of
success. His name the world over /,