The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-26
It LOOKS Like
ANOTHER RATE WAR
The Shasta Route Makes
a Further Cut in Port
land Fares.
The First-CIass Rate Is Now
SIS and Is $40 by the
Steamer.
The o. R. & N. Company Will Proba.
bly, Furth Reduce-Row Caused
by Tcurist.Car.

1t looks as though rate war were i'm
minent. and that the people of this City
and coast were going TO see hammer
and tongs battle with the Southern Paci-
tic on one hand, and the Oregon Railway
and Navigation Company on the other.
This may not occur, but it now looks so,
and it would appear, too, that the volume
of travel between San Francisco and
Portland, and inadvertently travel to
points beyond, would be greatly increased.
A few days ago. as announced in THE
CALL, the Southern Pacific reduced lis
rate for overland travel every fifth day
from this City o Portland from 81 to SIS
for first-class fares, and from $14 10 $12 for
second class. The road claimed that the
Southern Pacific was at disadvantage,
in that it wasn't getting its proper proper
ton of travel. The Oregon Railway and
Navigation rates were then $l2 and SO re-
spectively.
When the latter company saw what the
Southern Pacific had done, it onptly
reduced its rates to $40 and S. spectively.
Yesterday the Southern Pacific Com.
panv made fourth reduction. General
Passenger Agent Goodman had just re-
turned from the transcontinental meeting
in Chicago. and no doubt when he de-
bouched on the scene he thought be would
add his weight 10 Mr. Judahs efforts 10
make the situation more interesting. lie
decided that beginning on FRIDAY next
and rem aiming in force every five da rs
thereafter the original S21 rate should be
slashed to SIS, and the $14 to $40. big
placard was hung up in the Southern Pa
oil flo n Qf Off in ho nd
nouncing the further cut. The news
spread around the railroad and steamship
offices and was the general theme of con-
versation. Mos every body thought there
was beautiful fight on.
Assistant Passenger Agent Judah, who
was delegated as spokesman for he South
ern Pacific, spoke briefly about the situa-
tion.
THE steamship company saw fit to
meet our reduction" he said, land this
leaves us in the same condition we were
in before, and forces us to make further
reduction to get our share of the business
We do not desire to force an issue, but we
have got to be recognized.
I'VE have no idea what the steam err
people may do. There is still wide diff
ferentiai in favor of the steamers. as. for
instance, their first and second class rates
are still IS under the rail or land rate. AS
to rate war 1t all depends"
Mr.. judah also announced another new
feature that caused lively comment in
traffic circles. 1t is the putting OH of
daily tourist-car from Chicago via Sacra-
mento to Portland, which can be used by
passengers without change, and where q
special conductor and porter will hold
sway. This car is expected to catch lots
of travel ana prove great convenience.
and the Oregon Railway and Navigation
Company doesn't seem to like it bit.
This will make the situation decidedly
SPORTY" said f. F. Conner, the agent of
the Oregon Railway and Navigate Com
pany. 1T will just about compel us to
make arrangements with our connecting
lines and do the same thisg ourselves.
We will use our own road from Portland
to Huntington, and from there to Ogden
can pool with the Oregon Short Line:
from there TO Denver we can use the Dan.
yer and Rio Grande Western and Denver
and Rio Grande; from Denve. to Chicago
We can use either the Rock Island, the
Burlington, or one other road
las to the steamer business We now
have rates of $40 and SIS, respectively, since
we made our reduction, and our next cut.
will probably be to S. and So 80 unless il
should be thought better to make it by
successive stages.
1.-THE situation presents many CON-
plicatlons and cannot yet say what we
will do, but the o. r. and n Company
will at least try to hold its own and get its
share of the business. That's what 1t was
organized for. 1t need be no surprise II
Mr.. Hubert, the general agent in Port
land. telegraphs asking that another cut
be made"