New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-09
RAILROAD INTELLIGENCE.
AN ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT OF RECENT
TINES.

AN ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT OF RECENT
TINES.
An encouraging feature of the railroad situation
throughout. the country Is the disposition on inc
part of the press In some OF the States where the
hostility to railroads has heretofore been bitter ana
relentless to treat the subject with something lke
intelligence and fairness 1t is an indication that
this particular form OF demagogy has run It's race
and is about to disappear. To this better unoer'
standing between the press, the people ana the
railroads the reasonable and conservative views or
the managers of the great railroad systems, az
publicly expressed during the last few months, nave
contributed very materially. perhaps none more 30
than those of President G. =. Huntington OF the
Southern Pacific. who was interviewed at great
length by the newspapers Of California and oregon
on his recent visit to the Pacific Coass. Commehe'
ing upon some OF his utterances. teaching the ne
cessity for some sort OF combination TO prevent
connection disastrous alike to the corporatio0s
and the public THE Portland Oregonan," In
recent issue. says:
Not many realize the fury Of competition rixs f Sr
r se semapas Of busness s fewer realize that
between railroad-owners and the public and that
it falls with peculiar hardship upon the latter :be.
pers upon those least able to bear IT, and Is passed
along by apon single line
This country is covered with costly network OF
to o r wo We or ships
freight has knowledge OF this. No one can con-
mpss wsSUus
lines. each Of whom will spend days IN me eTo,'
This ss seems ' vsry to gel
being solicited. and thinks sharp competuon tCs
serse that much bushes is done at a less to the
r0Ss But By the bee ppSc It is in
ret business This struggle 10 get business Is enot
me sSs eG spSn sRpps cr%
they can The rest falls upon themselves, and has
wiped out much railroad property IN the last lev
years Were the needless cost o. 5ns State
cCmpulsion II needful-and railroads co1a suu
make reasonable profit, with economical manage
This is not the worst Of It. The waste Of reck;
less competition not only compeis franc &c a sys sa
roads fair profit, but divides the excess most "a.
qa IN the effort to put much no as ,s pas
lie the railroads follow the lines Of least resist.
ance The weak are saerMSed 10 the
pons and PIC local traffic These crushed and
starved to support co ns pons and src
shippers for less than the cost Of carriage.
This discrimination benefits none cut sne sra rev
backs while they sell goods the basis OF schsd;
nle rates 1t does not even build up sommsrS,
rade Of Il these IS through Is.es from
primary shipping point: in the East while the Ss
subsst is checked and dwarfed by sndeavor OF the
railroads to recoup themselves by hgn local rstS s
from non competing points. Portland ana the WHO'S
coast have SUFFERED so much from this cause that
there are pessmists who insist that II wou'd "
Like most faults OF social development this VIII
correct itself In the end by the operation OF natu
restriction Of reckless competition by combinations
enforced by losses and bankruptcies tnrousn e III
Sana. OF able 81 Spd eeonomca the
Vanderbilts in the East and MT HiIl ~ t.s ~
and through OF Of pSScty through wise
State supervision.