The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-07

was asked the plain question, Does the
Union Pacific contemplate the exten-
sion Of the oregon short Line into se-
attleg" to which he replied; The
Union Pacific contemplates many
things. Time alone will tell what II
will do In this direction"
A special meeting OF the stockholders
OF all three roads, the Union Pacific,
Oregon Shout Line and oregon Rail-
road & Navigation company, was held
in Salt Lake City week ago. The
purpose OF the meeting, so FAR as the
general public is informed. was to vote
an the issuance Of q rev lot OF Union
Pacific bonds for the purpose Of taking
up portion OF the outstanding indebt-
edness OF the Oregon Railroad \ Nav
igadon company and the oregon Short
Line. Rut according to the Oregon
Railroad 4 Navigation man and the
letter referred to- there was another
and deeper reason for calling the meet
ing. and one which brought from the
east and west directors and stockhold-
ers Of both roads In great numbers.
According to the letter, the business In
which this city is Interested was all
transacted on the second day Of the
meeting. when. by unanimous vote,
the Issuance OF bonds was authorized
for the purpose, 50 the records Of the
meeting. It is said. show. Of taking up a
certain amount Of the outstanding In
debtedness Of the two oregon lines and
extending the Short Line into Seattle.
The extension work. II is stated, was
authorized begun as soon as the bonds
were issued and sold, which viii proba-
bly, be this fall. or. at latest next
spring.
Now comes the reasoning from the
facts as they are said to exist. First
Of all, it is the known ambition Of all
the roads operating toward the coast
to build to Seattle. the future port for
the development and care OF the new
trade Of the Pacific. A second ambi-
tion, and one that has extended over
many years. has been 20 find an en-
trance 10 the Southern Paciic's terri
tory In California Through the ener-
gies Of Coils p. Huntington. this has
proved not practical. and now a west
ern railroad movement is on foot tc
divert the Pacific coast trade by land
and water from san Francisco TO Seat
tie
To hiring about this condition. all Pa
cidc Northwest lines are willing to as
sist, as, at the present time. they par
ticipste to but very small degree In
the san Francisco trade. The South
ern Pacific has a monopoly and in
reality has but one competitor, the
Santa Fs on the south. which enjoys,
as Lazarus did, the crumbs.
So 1t Is that at this time the Union
Pacific. tapping the great South Central
West, is able to make arrangements
with the transcontinental lines enter
ing Seattle and secure terminals here
Under the new arrangement, which is
now said to be practically agreed upon
the Great Northern and Northern Pa
cifc in the Northwest and the Union
Pacific and its Oregon connections In
the South and Central West and North
west, will be able, within themselves,
to control to a great degree a large
amount OF the business now being
handled by the Southern Pacific from
and TO San Francisco. This II is the
intention to bring TO Seattle out of the
reach Of the Southern Pacific SO 1t is
that the only means whereby the hog
gish actions Of the Southern Pacific can
be combated is by the Union Pacific
extending into this city. And under
the circumstances the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific are said to be
wiling to assist.
From this point the Great Northern
UniCn Pacific agreement contemplates
until better facilities can be arranged
the handling Of Union Pacific b Isiness
to California points by the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company's steam
ships.
The foregoing is but a general out
line Of the plan. But more definite in
formation Is 10 be announced by the
roads interested. President Mohler is
at present in St. Paul, the guest OF
President James ]. Hill, with whom he
held a conference before the Salt Lake
meeting, when both were in this city
tro weeks ago.