The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-11
Transcontinental Rate Cutting
Involves Other Lines.
W. Il. nuaLsuaT COMING TODAY
Great Northern Gives Evf1enee 81
Its Intention 10 Continue the
Ftght-Afnfng NJ the Northern
PaefAc-A Rapid Fail IN Eastern
rartR preAteteA-AassOu River
Territery II Involved IT Present.

The local CHICAGO rate war II hourly be-
coming more serious and few are there Ia
passenger circles who do not predict tnai
within q few days a. most east-hound rates
will 80 ali to pieces. The Indications Are
that locaA rates between Seattle and 81
Paul viii be affected - other than the
three great traHscontineriai lines take
hand In the fight 70 protect their own In
teressts Already Il has passed beyond this
city. Portland has been placed on the Chi
cage 80 list which warrants the assertion
that the Oregon Railroad and Navigation
Company and the Burlington are seon 10 be
involved. This will mean stump In Mis-
souri, river rates from the Coast.
Today W. II. Huriburf. general passen-
ger agent OF the Oregon line. viii arrive
from Portland. J. Francis. general pas
seuser agen. OF the Burlington. Ia on the
Coast and II the situation demands action
for the protection Of the Burtington's In
terest matters are in shape 10 act without
delay.
The carrying Of the nxh. 10 Coast COM
non points By the Great Northern Is
significant fact that 1t is prepared to with
stand the war being made against IL BY the
other transcontinentaI lines By forcing the
Eastern and Southern lines into the fight
and affecting the local territory OF tho
Northern Pacific. 1t also Is Indicative that
q truce Ia not to be made. but the war
wsged until the Northern Pacific and Can
adian Pacific offer terms OF settlement.
With THU condition prevailing east-bound
business, not only TO Chicago, but to all
Missouri river points win be affected and
rates necessarily viii como tusnbing down
at 4 rapid rate
Methods Of Competition.
In putting Portland in the cut list the
Great Northern Is using the Oregon Rail-
road 4 Navigation Company tariff to spo-
kane standing the burden OF the cut on
It's own ticket. This, to meet competition,
has forced the Northern Pacific To adopt
the same rate which as result brings the
Oregon Railroad h Navigation Company
into the fight.
II ,s the general belief that following Mr..
Hurlburts visit today the Oregon line will
announce its participation In the hgh,
after which the war Will be on with
more serious outlook than tho Southern
Pacific war OF 1892 when Missouri river COM
non point tickets from San Francisco went
below si2
Today wifi be the decisive period, al
though action may be deferred for an
other twenty-four hours TO give ample
time TO adjus, the difficulty. But can the
difficulty be fixed up7 Even the Great
Northern people themselves fear that 10
cannot One OF the prominent officials of
the road yesterday declared that II the
other two transcontinensal lines intended
20 whip the Great Northern into line, IL
had a ccntrae. on It's hands On
the other hand. the Northern Pacinc
declares that instructions from head
quarters were TO meet any rate made,
no matter how low II might be. This
thing has been going on for two years"
said a Northern Pacific official. and now
Il must stop or you will probably see $40
rate to Chicago"
The Great Northern aide OF the trouble
gives no encouragement for an early set
Element. In speaking yesterday. one who
Is intimately associated in the present
fight said. There will he no pulling OF
OF outside agencies by the Great North
ern for the reason that It can't be done.
II must be fought out until one or moro
Of the roads are tired OF IL. The Seattle
agents OF the Great Northern are under
contract for term ofNyaars. This con-
tract which was made 3hy F. ]. Whitney
himself, Is controlled by A. r.. Johnson A.
Co. OF Minneapolis, who hrEt eolonised
tho Northern Pacific lands and Il short
time ago entered into contract 10 do the
same thing for thu Great Northern. The
greatest source of revenue. In passenger
business, derived by the Great Northern
GENES from this firIn in shipments from the
Twin cities west and from Seattle east
on local and through business to Europe.
Of but not so with Johnson or his Seattle
agency. For this reason the war must be
fought out unless the other lines draw on.
Can Afford $40 Ticket.
s'The Great Northern can AFFORD 20 put
In n ST. Paul ticket at Sic. Even then II
would make money. for 1t has no local
business. The Northern Pacific derives ts
revenue from local business. and through
this local the Great Northern can cope
and AFFECT the Northern Pacific by putting
in cut rates TO every pnin; In the territory
where II is competitor OF the Northern
Pacific.
.''rhe cut on the Portland tieke, forces
tho Northern Pacific 20 Involve the oregon
Railroad 4 Navigation Company and the
burlington. There IL 10 telling where
rates will So. The situation liz aeriious and
gives Indication that within snsrt tinie
she trouble will spread and affect new ter
ritory."
YESTERDAY all lines were selling a; So
fer tourists TO Chicago. although there
was a noticeable falling OF in travel THIS,
IL IS expected will be uaegs aggravated
today, az al who can VIII wait 10 secure
tho benefit OF the lowest rate pet tn The
burlington and Oregon Railroad 4 Nsv!-
CATION Company were san maintaining
tariff yesterday ana VIII until Mr., Hum
bart looks over the situation and With
Mr. Francis issues orders Ia sail In.