The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-27
THE CANADIAN v.IMPIRE.
why shouIa the Ca.adian Paeiac Railroad
He Permitted TO Live 80 Richly
on the BIoed OF the uaited states

WI ShouIa the Canadian Paeiae Railroad
He Permitted 60 Live 80 Richly
on the Bioed or the Uaited ssatess
To THE EDITOR OF THE US-Sir In Wow OF
tho fact that the Government has commenced
foreclosure proceedings to secure its advances
to the Union Pacific Railway Company when
the railway company is unable to earn any divi-
dends upon its share capital, is It Just to permit
tho Canadian Pacific Railway to prey upon
transcontinental trafic which tho Union Pacific
created and developed
The Canadian Pacific Is exempt from taxation
upon Its road bed, rolling stock. grain elevators,
telegraph. and steamship lines forever. while
for the year 1893 the Union Pacific. operating
1890 miles OF road. paid In taxes $l,54s.2 ga,
equal TO 2f per cent, upon tho capital stock OF
tho Canadian Pacific. The same year the Cana
dian Pacific operated 1900 miles Of road With
out paying one dollar Of taxes.
The value Of perpetual exemption from taxa
ton Is made manifest from tho fact that the
New York. New Haven and Hartford Railway
paid in 1903 for B4s miles Of road Ss45. 1888 In
taxes and tho New York Central and Hudson
River Railway for 1000 miles OF road paid
81. 600. LA In taxes.
The Union Pacific was the pioneer trans
continental railway OF America. II It's build
ers made money out Of It's construction they
richly deserved Il. They rendered the country
= benehcent service.
do not question tho right OF the Govern
ment to collect It's advances. but | do assert
that II Ia most unjust to permit Canadian rail-
ways to carry State-to- State traflo which
American railways have at great cost created,
promoted, and developed. and Mt the same time
enact and enforce legislation very embarrass-
ing to American lines.
American railways arc carrying freight upon
the average nj less than 90 cents per ton per
hund red miles. In no other country Ia mer-
chandise transported so cheaply by rail. Green
fruit grown In California packed In Ice IL car
rled across the continent ut So eento per ton per
hundred miles.
Grapes were sold In this city last autumn at
retail for 7 cents per pound, grown on the Pacific
coast. that can be grown here only under glass
ut n cost OF 90 cents or more per pound.
How far will n POpullst who demands that
the State shall operate rail WAYS carry n ton Of
green fruit, packed In ice. for rs centsH,
Our transcontinental railways have given tho
pcople on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts a direct
interest in each Others prosperity.
With tho exception Of agriculture no other
interest gives employment TO so many persons
ms our railway SYSTEM. A successful railw ny Is
a constant disbu rser of wages,
We wisely protect our %coasting trade from
allen vessels and our manufacturing industries
from unjust foreign competition, why not deal
with our railway system upon the same Sasisp
The true way 10 secure low rates for the trans
portat!on of merchandise Ia 30 develop the
country through which the railway passes and
thereby increase the tonnage. In 1877 the
Canadian Pacific Railway Company demanded
OF the American TranscontiheniHl Railway
withdrawing for one year from seeking traffc
In San Francisco. Coupled with the demand
was q threat That the money was not paid a
rite would he made for ransrontinenta frame
roads TO secure any profit from that kind OF
' traffic. TIL" money was paid. The demand In