The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-31
New Line to Extend from Victoria
to Vancouver.
TWO MORE ALASKA STEAMERS.
What District Passenger Agent
Ceyle, ~ the Canadian Paclflc,
Says About the Rate War-General
Agent Nadeau, Of the n. r.. Thinks
Permanent Settlers 10 Come.

e. J. Coyle, district passenger agent.
and Allen Cameron. district freight agent
Of the Canadian Pacific railway. came
down from Vancouver yesterday morning
on business tour. Mr.. Coy.e announced
that the steamship Tartar Is expected to
arrive In Vancouver today. and the Athen-
ian will probably reach the same port six
days later. Both vessels come from
Southampton, Eng. ard viii enter the
Alaska business. The Tartar brings the
cable for the new line connecting VAN
couver and Victoria across the CUT of
Georgia. and will engage In the work OF
laying it before going into commission as
q carrier to the north. When the SER
vice begins Mr.. Coyle states that the line
will be between Vancouver and Wrangel.
The sailing dates have not yet been fixed.
The Tartar is a steel ship of 400 gross
tons. and the Athenian OF $500 gross tons.
Mr.. Coy.e was seen at the city Offices
Of the Canadian Pacific yesterday after
noon, and was asked concerning the pos
sible settlement of the rate war that Is
now on for both east and westbound pas
senger business. rumors 10 the effect that
a termination OF hostilities is prospective
for the near future, having reached this
city from ST. Paul. Mr.. Coyie was dis
posed to be non-commttal on the subject.
saving that he had no information that
had not been made public. He had read
In the newspapers that the result OF the
New York meeting of general passenger
agents had been unsatisfactory. as far as
an adjustment Of the difficulties was con-
cerned, and he had also heard that a meet
ing was being held in Buffalo yesterday
with the same object In view. Further
than this he knew nothing. When asked
II the Canadian Pacific would withdraw
AAv fx.- Il
business. Mr.. Coyle said he had no idea
OF what the terms of settlement Of the
war would be.
Mr.. /. A. Nadeau. general agent OF the
Northern Pacific. in discussing the effects
OF the cut rates stated that in the early
part Of the fight it had generally been
considered that the clash between the
roads would be to the disadvantage OF
the participants. but after looking over
the results he had decided that the war
had brought its benefits with ii. While
the cheap rates had offered opportunity
for the westward movement of an unde-
Sirable element he was convinced that
great many prospective settlers had taken
advantage of the low fares to look over
the country. and that the eventual effect
Of their trips out would be to bring farm
ers and mechanics to the towns lying
along the lines OF the roads. who would
assist In settling the country and increase
the future business of the roads In freight
landings. AS one OF the objects OF a
railroad Is to settle the country tributary
to 1t. Mr.. Nadeau argues that the rate
war has its Senef1ts. Those who came
out without intending to go gold hunt
ing In Alaska are nearly all returning
East, but many express themselves as
satisfied with the city and the state and
will come back again as soon as proper
arrangements can be made. Eastern pa
pers are treating the rate war seriously
as a hardship wrought against the rail-
roads on the American side, and the New
York Commercial Advertiser has published
a lengthy editorial on the subject, in
which Il says that somebody was guilty
of sharp practice at the New York meet
ing of passenger agents by making public
resolutions which were considered unfin-
ished business.
Notwithstanding all this. they were ac-
tually read In the onen meeting OF the pas
senger agents and wera afterward given to
the press This was highly improper pro-
ceeding on the part of somebody. and the
Improperly thereof was not at all icssened
by the fact that the resolutions, they
were read. were very misleading, tending
as they did to show the Canadian Pacific
In position OF extreme reasonableness.
and the Great Northern and Northern Pa
cifc In a position Of wanton obstruction.
The Advertiser does no. like 10 accuse
the Canadian Pacific representatives Of
giving publicity 10 the matter In its unfin-
ished state. but would like to know just
who Is responsible therefor.
The interstate commerce committees re-
marks on the situation as follows:
There is no part OF the United States
from which the Canadian Pacific NAV not
purchase traffic in this wav 1t might pay
even more as local fare TO Its line than
the total fare. As was suggested In the
New Haven case. above referred to- such
a practice demoralizea all rates and Is ut
terlS>at variance with legitimate COMPETE
ton.
I'm view OF this sisuation-in view OF the
fact that this contest ts being conducted
BY the Canadian road in violation of the
&C. to regulate commerce. under which
the American lines must operate, and Ia
iliegitimate upon general principles we
think that we should remove az far as pos
sihle the disadvantages under which the
American lines res. by virtue of tina. law.
provided the public is not thereby injured"
,s sn Canaa nns pac :, Is h,ayng l., hard
TO differential and a. the same time it's
claim 10 surpa Sstrg advantages as
true that a. far as London is concerned"
says the Advertiser ''she difficulty L. not
very great. for II We may Judge from what
published in London the very things which
tend 10 ssihstantiate the claims If the Cam
adam Pacific as a through line also slto-
stantiate it's claim to n differentisl. This
kind % argument hewever. Is onlv good
enough for foreign consumption. What we
want to know is where the differential
comes in
THE Great Northern and Ncrthe-n Pa
cife have neen well advised In their refusal
TO arhitrate one OF the points of controversy
without taking measures 10 bring I'm the
other points The Canadian Pacific annual
meeting is to he held April 6. II lie unde--
stood that this gathering IL not unlikely 10
aeveion points Of frreree. TO the present
management % the rood, Indeed II cur
rent report "a true. We may witness be-
tween now and then quite change In the
attitude 81 the road. II is rather unfor-
tnn3fe that the inters-afs commerce con-
mission onlv permits ire American lines n
NEE; the rates ~ the Canadian Pacific VI.
believe that a s. ~ rate sirst-cIasx fror, 81
Paul 10 the coast wonie be a good invest
ment for both the Northern Pacific and
C,rea. Northern ~