The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-10

~. freight rates between the East and
ara pacific coast, and on to the orient will
y loufer than ever known in the history
,.snsportation, II the plans OF Presi-
49,. nm OF the Great Northern, are car
.,.a out when his new line OF steamships
= srlshed and In service. He announces
~, he intends 10 make a through rate
,--yn Bufralo 20 the orient OF s., or perhaps
!, ION. half to 60 10 the steamship line
80 The other half 70 the transcontinen-
,sI railway. Mr.. Hill made this state
,~aaf Al A private meeting Of business men
ats Saturday afternoon.
N this determination to make a through
ss,s rom the head Of the Great Lakes
= ,be Coast Of 81 ton Is carried out It
i ,he opinion OF local railroad men that
!, would close the field TO the Southern
.orupet,,ors and also TO the Canadian line
diving the roads that come to Seattle a
.rseticai monopoly OF all freight business
earning from the East TO the Pacific North
vel and probably most of that consigned
10 the Orient
The pre~ent rates or commodities from
.he Mississippi river to the Coast averages
moi far from $40 TO tl5 n ton, though per-
hans It Is somewhat higher. Considered
~ the basis Of this estimate, enables one
10 appreciate to some degree the magni-
tude Of the reduction to 81. 1t would seem
mat II would be- impossible Of duplication
by any competing line, nothing could
ID made out OF II without large contracts
% All. and the fact that the products will
B, handled on one line all the way from
The eastern end of the lakes TO Asia; but
having lines on the Great Lakes, thence
across the country to the Coast, and on
% the orient In the greatest carriers
aaoat. win make the small percentages
m profit amount TO so much in the ae>
sfsra,e that II Is not believed under ex-
is,lns conditions that roads to the south
and north can compete.
Cost OF Handling Freight.
Mr. Hill computes the cost of hauling
IN empty freight car from the head OF
the lakes TO Puget sound. as was stated
IN his address before the Chamber of
Commerce. TO be SIS, and loaded ss4 Es-
tmstlng that the cost to take loaded
car hack Is the same. and there is total
Of si@ that II costs TO haul a car OF pro-
ducts for the Orient to the Sound and take
Il back loaded with lumber or shipments
from Asia Under the present advance
ment IN tho size and improvements OF
freight cars It will be only short time
until the average quantity of ordinary
goods hauled will amount to twenty tons
20 the car. On the basis of 81 "A ton there
a. total revenue on the coming trip OF
~ or sli less than the cost of moving II.
On tho return tho great revenues are
gained. A car that win bring twenty tons
ef oriinary commodities will carry TWEEN
u-aye tons OF lumber. on account OF tho
heavier weight and compact form OF this
article OF commerce. The charge for NOV
Inc this IL 40 cents per 100 pounds, or IS
Ton making a total OF $500 revenue.
which. added TO the westhound revenue,
masss receipt for the duty OF the car
d ~ or t92 net profit.
Taxing this figuring as a basis for the
ahfs 10 California and II Is seen In the es-
nH'alon Of railroad men how difficult IL
pad be for the Southern Pacific or Santa
Nto compete with the Northern Pacific or
WeAt Northern. The former lines now
nhke enormous revenues on business be-
sssn Chicago and the Coast. because the
ses are high. amounting In the single
sAss 81 steel rails to sls ton for a car OF
Nsay tons, with the general AVERAGE con
snsahsf higher. The cost OF moving an
MsS car from Chicago 60 San Fran
@soo approximately $3.50. and for a load
az VIZ IL II was loaded coming west
y we same rate OF 81 ton. Il would mean
as' loss on tho single trip OF So. Cali
..AA mas not the enormous quantities
sumter 70 move 20 the East that Wash
ts0a mas and Its grain ia mostly han
vessels, leaving practically nothing
=, ruit fresh and dried. 10 supply tho
ss ~ IL the opinion OF railroad men
no fctarns % tho railway companies
~ sasshoand trip DO not average moro
asa ~ 20 the car. "A srcat share OF which
4~ from Utah This leaves A total
..nae Of giE 10 tho ear, ~ a net loss
a IN car. VIZ '''"'"
california; Voad.' L..
iaas the California roads a,fep,nt 20
'hs ttahsoontlnshtal rate of S. IL
Z hel loss 20 them OF $40 for every
mst eanx 70 the West and take
- ~salh. While to and FROM the Sound
Wi % profit OF ty2 clear II ls
th'"h on railroad men that II such
se established u viii simply mean
a ne southern Foals VIII not attempt
a.. eut Viii simply rcst on tho
sssnsas % the Coast
a.. 'elacuoa on the trpnspacfac l,i.t-
w also be so areat that it ~ he
80 w throw 80 much mere 20 be
g. ,e"Ah this port that tho shlus.
wey De The laygcs. la tho world.
A. e All they can DO The present RAJ,
~ NnVNeFp 20 honEkoag. hl whv OF
l. ssnai Is sal3 TO bo about s.
"a A.. ssmo a. f1an San francisco
~ s'lihs THIS rate in two Will be
f,. sNelcuai hAt. lacking the inland
ness ~ Northern tftnssnrtati,r ava
-. ssl 70 draw tir..t.e an fh. .ttr.
-. Nt@oat the utcrasit, OF fr-,.i.st
snts y Us believed neither the follow.
sst. 'Hs southern rAcfa- ocean nor ana
800 q the Surs canal ,.,, ,,,,,,,.t..
49, lae - Che t.sdr So r.psiret
snsss,,'9. te@ Northefu president taat this
aa. X. A.aE 'o ho brought about