The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-08-12

Availing himself of the oregonian's
offer to print his explanation of the
withdrawal from the agreement for ex-
change of wheat traffic with the o. R.
q y. at wallula Junction. President
Charles s. Mellen. of the Northern Pa
cihc railway. published the follow
ing statement in yesterdays edition of
that paper:
In reference to the change Of tariffs
between the Northern Pacific and the
o. r & N. which has been the oc-
casion for so much newspaper COM
nent have only to say:
That il is a matter with which the
public is not concerned. being purely
controversy between railroads regard
ing the proportions they shall receive
from each other upon joint business.
TIE Northern Pacific has its own
route into Portland; it does a large
business to and from the city, but not
large enough TO furnish its freight
trains with their maximum load. Under
these circumstances the addition Of
sufficient tonnage to make the maxi
mum load. at a very low rate. viii
leave a small margin of profit. and it
has not seemed wise to our manage
ment at a time when our revenues,
through poor crop conditions in the
East. are to be reduced. to turn away
anything to a connecting line. espec-
tally competitor. that win leave any
margin whatever of profit.
The o. r. & n. has exacted from
the Northern Pacific for the haul from
wallula to Portland sL75 per ton on
wheat: when the business has been TAX
en- to Portland by our own line. it has
exacted $50 per ton for the switching
charge between Portland and Albina
With all the active competition that
exists between the Great Northern and
the Northern Pacific, there is no COM
petitive point wherein either charges
the other for service similar to that be-
tween Portland and Albina. more than
50 per car, and at Duluth. where the
terminals Of both companies are very
expensive and the investment is vastly
in excess of that at Alblna. this rate
prevails, and a very large business is
done.
The Northern Pacific has not can
celed it's wheat tariffs TO Portland; is
rot proposing to; and will haul freely
from all stations upon its line to this
city at the same rates it charges to
the Sound cities. so long as business
offers; but it will not deliver (paying
these excessive switching charges) busi-
ness at Albina. 1t does not reach that
point with its own rails. and the charges
for switching are prohibitory, as any
one who notes them as stated above
will appreciate.
The Northern Pacific does not dis
criminate in favor of any port of ex-
port; its rates are the same to Port
land as to Tacoma, although its haul
is very much longer. and it's rates TO
Seattle are the same as to Tacoma.
The Northern Pacific has a large con-
centration Of terminal property at Ia
coma-much larger than at any other
point--and economy is always the re-
suit Of concentration Of property and
business. II the business is efficiently
handled. But it wholly disregards these
economies in the making Of its rates,
ard exercises no influence whatever
over the destination Of its business,
leaving that wholly in the hands Of its
patrons except when that business
seeks to leave its own line for that
of another reaching the same points,
and it does discriminate then, as all
other companies do. and as it is its right
and duty to do.
The Northern Pacific was not built
as a feeder to any other railroad, but
to do fits own business. at its own ter
minals in its own way; and so long
as its rates are uniform. and it does
not discriminate. it does not concern
the public by what route it handles
its business between terminals.
To show the absurdity Of the pres
ent conditions prevailing at Portland,
would state that it is cheaper today
for the Northern Pacific to send its
wheat business to Astoria than to send