The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-03

Composition between railroads Is the
best profession the people doing business
with them can have The prosperity OF
the state OF Washington Ia assured be-
cause OF the competition between the
Great Northern. the Northern Pacific and
the Canadian Pacific. So long as the last
named Is independent. as II inevitably
must be. OF either or both the others.
there is not much reason 10 fear extor-
tionate rates. That fear has had much to
do with the lively interest taken in all
the rumors about comity Of interest be-
tween the Great Northern and Northern
Pacific.
So long as rates are kept down 10
point which will enable our producers and
importers TO meet tbh competition of other
states. and 10 stimulate new enterprises.
we need not worry over the character Of
tnental roads.
There are many ways In which the two
roads. run on business principles. with the
chief object OF developing our resources
and 30 increasing their trafhc. could work
In harmony. 1t would. for instance. be a
greater advantage to have two through
trains q day ~ a convenient distance
apart than 20 have two starting at the
same time and running a race to a given
point. The same Ii true OF freight trains.
Some people are In such . hurry always
that they Will always give the preference
to the road making the quickest time. but
the great body OF travellers and shippers
are more interested In low rates than In
quick transit. One OF the great necessi-
ties Of our trade II = medium between the
high express rates and the low freight
rates. This could be obtained by running
one through train which should stop only
at important points where there were
heavy shipments and deliveries TO Justify
II. and for which higher rate could be
paid in return for the saving of time: and
= second accommodation train walch
should stop at every station for small con-
sienments and by which all shipments
could be made at the lowest possible rate,
speed being OF far less Importance than
the economy of transportation. One road
with our present limited traffic, cannot dc
this: but the two roads could by arrange
mont afford II. The trains could start on
both roads on alternate days. and this
economy In manning them would enable
the roads 90 put the rates down. rassen.
ger traffic can be accommodated In tn,
same way.
IL IN too well established TO call foI
much argument that the most successful
road is that which has the greatest mum
Der of short hsuIs. IL Is 10 its interest
therefore, 10 stimulate local traffic. Tn,
past policy of the Northern Pacific hai
been extremely shortsishted In this re
speet. while that OF the Great Northers
has been much more cnterprising. III IN,
new management OF the old road is nov
aroused to a sense or the necessity o
opensnS un the country aiong ltr rou;.
hy more liberal terms IN the sale OF II.
lands. and by adopting the plan OF II,
new rival. the whole sSate viii bcacrt.
President HIirs method IS TO stimuiat,
trade BY economy In management an,
b. giving good share OF the saving q
shippers by lowering rates. and not b,
Keeping them up 20 the highest point IN,
tariff will hear. II Is tho true business
way 10 make fsisnds Tor his road and {.
make a satisfactory trade for both trans.
portasIoa company and shippers, II tha
should be the result on the Northern IA,
citie We sAail have reason TO reJoicc ovei
the proposed cooperation OF the 1--WE