Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-09-18
I'm THE RAILWAY FAMILY
EACH ROAD THINKS THE OTHER WRONG


had issued Its ulttmatum In the nght
on the Oregon Short Line, and that in
the future. SO far as the present order
is concerned, the Union Pacific "wlll
only connect in the west with the
Southern Pacific" was the statement
Of u condition OF affairs which excites
much interest in local railway circles.
As the News" stated on Friday, this
is the final act in the traffic trouble
between the Union Pacific and the
oregon Short Line. The division al
lowed the Short Line by col Dodge
was 1N ON a constructive mileage basis.
with increased divisions on ship
ments from the south. The Union
Pacific refused to allow the Short
Line similar division, and the present
order is the result. The Union Pacific
gives up business via the Granger gate
way, and will devote its efforts to ruut-
ing It's western business through Og-
den and Sacramento, In close connec-
ton with the Central Pacific branch
of the Southern Pacific.
THE ORDERS TO BREAK.
The first step in severing relations
with the Northwest was in the order
of the Union Pacific. effective on Sep
TENDER %, refusing to ship at prevail
ing rates to points on the Oregon and
Navigation railway, which operates
west of Huntington. Oregon. and is the
Oregon Short Lines outlet to Portland
and to Pacific coast points. Now
similar order, effective after October
1st,is applied to the oregon Short Line.
From that date, all passenger and
freight relations between the Union
Pacific and the Short Line cease. II
Salt Laker wants to go east via the
Unon Pacific. he buys ticket which
IS good from Ogden. and from here to
that point may go over either the Ore
gon Short Line or Rio Grande Western,
on a local ticket. In freight matters
the shipments via the Union Pacific
will stop at Ogden, and in order to
come TO Salt Lake must he reshipped
Mt the Junction City, and may come in
here over either the Rio Grande West
ern or Short Line, at such local rates
as those roads may give.
EFFECT ON THE SHORT LINE,
one effect on the Short Line will be
TO render much less valuable. as n
through line, than at present, the road
from McCammun to Granger. In order
10 avail itself OF an outlet east for its
coast and northern and northwestern
business. the Short Line must carry
via ogden and Salt Lake, the latter
being the place of transfer instead
of Granger for the more distant bust
ness and Of Logan for the traffic south
OF McCammon. The same rule will
operate on business destined north
and northwest. on the other hand.
the Short Line will receive freight
and passenger traffic from the Rio
Grande Western for points on the
Short Line and reached by the lat
ter's connections on the coast.
OPENING THE GATEWAY.
Heretofore the Ogden gateway has
been closed by the Union Paciflc's con-
troll of the Short Line That is. traffic
from and to the West and Northwest
was routed by the Union Pacific via
Granger or Ogden, the bulk by the
former route. The Short Line could
enter into no arrangements for traffic
via Salt Lake, on the Rio Grande
Western, to Colorado and other points
east. Everything had to go over the
Union Pacific. But since the Short Line
became independent of the Union
Pacific II has opened traffic arrange
ments with the Il. G. w, and has
routed Its business via Ogden and
Salt Lake or via Granger. as desired
This was the opening of the Ogden
gateway" 1t allowed through bust
ness to pass via Salt Lake, and also
opened western local business to r.
G. w. points in this State not reached
by the Short Line; at the same time,
allowing shipments at joint traffic |
rates from II. q. w stations to Short
Line points north and west.
CAUSES OF RUPTURE.
There are two causes of rupture be- |
tween the Union Pacific and the Ore
gun Short Line. one Of these is that.
subsequent to May 10 last. the Short |
Line has interchanged business with
any railway that had business to Of
fer This included the Rio Grande |
Western at Ogden and Salt Lake,
whereas before that date the Union |
Pacific got all the Short Line business, |
and gave 1t all 1t received on through |
service. The Short Line, by its action |
In opening the Ogden gateway came |
into business connection with the Rio /
Grande Western, Denver & Rio Grande. |
Colorado Midland, Atchison, Topeka |
and Santa Fe, Chicago, Rock Island /
and Pacific, Burlington and Missouri. |
Missouri Pacific, Denver and Gulf, |
and the eastern connections of those |
roads. This distribution of the Short |
Lines business was not pleasing to the |
union Pacific, hence the present order. |
But behind this cause for war between
me lines was IA dispute as to the di-
vision OF rates.
THE SHARE EACH CLAIMS.
The rate dispute dates back to 1855.
when the stockholders of the Union
iacllic and those OF the Short Line
disagreed on the division of Joint rates
settled by arbitrators, the Short Line
being credited with Ia miles for each
mile of actual haul west Of Granger,
while the Union Pacific had to its
tredlt actual mileage east of Denver,
nut IN miles per mile between Chey-
.hhe and Denver, and ~ miles be-
tween Cheyenne and Granger and |
and Ogden. When the Ogden |
gateway was opened the Rio Grande |
western allowed to the Short Line |
the same proportion of mileage |
north Of Ogden that that road was
getting west of Granger in the Union
Facihc arrangement. But the last
named road refused to make the al
IoWance on Its business. claiming that
the action Of the Short Line makes IL
iheqmtable, so each road has retained
balances against the credits of the
nther' In permitting these to run up.
the balances retained by the Short |
Line are largely in favor Of that road |
hence the Union Pacific objects to the
financial statements, |
Wnere the tendency is continually |
away from the Union pacihc's claim
ui what would he Just under the new
conditions, ana renders more and more |
iinpfacttcable the collection OF the
amounts TO which that road asserts
.ltle, Thus all friendly traffic arrange
.ueltts are broken eff as "a result OF
ms diference of opinion on basis
~ ulNlslon. The Union Pacific would
tlow the old credit OF mileage
80 stand with the Ogden gate
way closed To other roads: but with this |
'pen,1t SAYS the prODOrtiop 10 unf antttt |