The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-02
OPENING THE GATE.
An IMPORTANT MOVIE IN NORTH.
WEST RAILROAD AFFAIRS.
The Aetioa - the OreGon Railway
= Navigation In Throwing on the
UniOn Pacific Yoke Aanfts Six
Great Rai1roads Into oregon and
Arrangement Hard to Estfmate.

Arrangement Hard 10 Estimate.
W. III. Huriburt. general passenger
agent of the Oregon Railway 4 Naviga-
ton Company. was over from Portland
yesterday. and In the evening went to Ia
coma. expecting TO return to this city
today.
Yesterday was an important one in Orc.
gon Railway & Navigation affairs, as il
marked the opening of the Ogden gate
way. The traffic arrangements heretofore
have been wholly with the Union Pacific.
but since the segregation Of the affairs of
the two systems and the independent
management of the Oregon Railway x
Navigation. the officials of that line de-
termined to take step that Is one OF the
most pronounced in the matter OF railroad
affairs in the Northwest.
THE old arrangement initiated against
the entire Northwest" said Mr.. ,Hurlburt
yesterday. at the local Office Of his COM
pany. 1T compelled the traffic outside of
our own territory to be handled by the
Union Pacific. The new arrangement adj
mits all of the connecting lines to the
South and Southeast TO participate IN the
advantages offered by the throwing of OF
the old yoke. and at least six more great
railroads will at once have representation
in the Northwest that the throwing open
OF the Ogden gateway admits. These
roads will find field for active competi-
ton in Oregon ana Washington. and un-
doubtadly Offices will at once be opened
in Portland for the Burlington. Chicago
& Rock Island, Atchison. Topeka & Santa
Fee. Missouri Pacific. Denver Rio
Grande. Rio Grande Western and their
connections. all of which are by the new
tariff arrangement admitted to business
in the Northwest.
While Portland will undoubtedly feel
the effects of the opening of the Ogden
gateway first" said Mr.. Hurlburt. 1.-The de-
termination to admit the other roads can
not fail in its effect upon the entire North
west.
To-day believe that Seattle is on the
highway to prosperity. and I am also of
the belief that great deal of 1t is due to
the development of the mining interests in
the western part of the state. Spokane has
been good for a long time and the fact
that money has been in circulation over
there has placed an additional value upon
real estate 1t will he the same way in
Seattle. The disposition to invest money
in one thing or another sweeps over this
country like an epidemic about every
seven years. Before it was a craze to In
vest in real estate; this time X will be
mining that will loosen the purse strings.
There is no end of money in the banks of
under the restraint imposed by past expe-
riences. This restraint will soon be broken
down and money will seek channels for in
vestment. / predict a great prosperity
again for the West. which Is the logical
field for investment.
Mr.. Hurlburt then returned to the sub
ject of the opening of the Ogden gateway.
pointing out upon a map the vsst territory
which will be thrown open BY the arrange
A hria nf rail
in this connection is of interest:
Under the old arrangement. when the
Union Pacific controlled the Oregon Short
Line. the bis road forced all lines con-
vcrging at Omaha or Kansas City to de-
liver to it freight for Pacific Northwestern
points. AS matter of fact. the Union Pa
cific. under its own charter. owned but the
l.034 miles of track stretching between
Omaha and Ogden, but its control of the
Oregon Short Line between Ogden and
Huntington. and the further hold on the
o. r. & N. from Huntington to Portland.
gave the Union Pacific a monopoly of this
traffic.
Then came the placing of the o. r. e. n.
and Oregon Short Line in the hands of re-
ceivers. These receivers showed that the
roads could be run at profit. The stock
holders effected reorganization. The re-
ceivers were deposed, and new officials ap-
pointed.
The Oregonian OF yesterday. in relation
to the change, says:
THE news that the Short Line Is at
last open to all roads on equal terms
has ca used great stir in business quar-
ters here. especially among Portland rail-
road men. But the Importance and value
OF the new arrangement to Oregon can
not be readily estimated. 1t docs not
mean necessarily lower rates, but Ii does
mean Increased facilities for trans1orta-
ton. The attention from railroads, OF
which California has long received more
than its share. will now doubtless be
largely diverted to the Northwest. Ore
gon will receive the benefit of advertise
ing by every road In the country interest
cd in transcontinental traffic. Formerly
the representatives OF the various lines,
shut out OF the Northwest by the Union
Pacific's exclusive arrangement with the
Short Line. had more interest I'm Cali
fornia. and they doomed that state ac-
cordngiy. To work up Northwestern
business meant to give 1t to the Union
Pacific as the haul by the Southern Pa
cific Is roundabout. But now they will
talk Oregon. and II is hoped that their
hearers. who have tired of glittering de-
scriptions OF Southern California. viii
he charmed by the novelty. and flock to
Oregon.
1.-THE O. r. g. " il already doing bust
ness unuef tue new afEdHStlfcst, n3nGffng
freight and passengers via the Denver 4
Rio Gran6e. and connections. This COM
pany expects to do largely increased
business by the change. rs i. will get the
benefit OF all the new traffic which is ex-
pected TO flow in from the BURLINGTON
Rio Grande, Rock Island Missouri Pa
cific and other roads which are now
turning attention hitherward. Talks with
many local railroad men yesterday would
indicate consensus OF opinion that In
the long run the Union Pacific will not
be so much injured by the loss OF control
over the Short Line, as the road will be
affected by any general increase of trait
&c, and then too. by receiving business
At Denver and Cheyenne instead of at
the Missouri river only, as formerly II
will still retain much o. the present Joint
business. Railroad men express no doubt
| that the Union Pacific will do this as of
course while IL may not have all the
| long haul stu half loaf Is better
| than bread The opening OF the
Short Line leaves the Union Pacific With
| its original los. miles OF track between
| Omaha and Ogden.
1T was reported yesterday that 10
| counterfeit the effect OF the Shor. Line $
| opening the Union Pacific. proposed put
| ting on fast special service from Chey-
| enne 10 Sacramento, and thence connect