Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-19
TIE RAILROADS

S. Matsmota, director-general Of the
imperial government railways of Japan,
is touring the country and is now en-
route for San Franciso. In speaking of
the Japan railways, he said:
II do not wish ia attempt to draw
any comparisons between the railroads
of this country and Europe, because Of
the great difference in general condi-
tions. We have tried to adopt in Japan
what seemed to US to be the best in both
American and European railway meth
DDS, so far as consistent with our gen.
eral policy. We use engines from this
country and Europe, as we'll as those of
our own manufacture. Our trains are
cOuplers, and other safety devices in
equipped with air brakes, automatic
use here. Our first railway was opened
for traffic in 1872 and now there is
total of about 1000 miles, including
about 1000 miles built and operated by
the government, and about 1000 miles
belonging to private corporations.
Our government exercises close SUI
pervision over railways. as to building,
operation, equipment and rates. The
rates on lines owned by the government
must be approved before made effective.
We are not troubled as you are inthis
country by rate disturbances, mainly be-
cause our governmet will not permit the
building Of parallel lines That is
waste Of capital, which this country can
well afford, but Japan cannot.
"The first steel rails ever made in
Japan have just been rolled. We have
had iron and steel works on small
scale for many years, but nothing large
enough to make steel rails until the COM
pletiOn Of the present plant. the erec-
ton of which was begun by the govern
ment about three years ago. 1t Is too
early yet to tell the result of this ex-
pertinent, but we hope for success. Our
railway system is being steadily if not
rapidly increased and we will fee proud
of furnishing them with steel rails"
Speaking Of this country. Mr.. Mats
motto said:
1.-THE United States is the most pro-
gressive country in the world and Chi
cagO is it's most progressiev city. 1 was
a student at a school in an eastern state
when the great fire that destroyed Chi
cago occurred. I remember that all the
boys contributed to a relief fund. Ever
since then I have watched with admra-
ton the marvellous growth of that city.
I saw it first about twenty years ago,
and can hardly realize that such devel-
opment is possible"
An interesting railroad case was
practically decided in favor of the rail-
road and against the merchants in Port
land, Ore. recently. The case is en-
titled AAllen & Lewis, representing the
wholesale grOcers of Portland, against
the o. r.. & N. company and the Oregon
Short Line.
The plaintiffs claimed that the defen-
dants Disseminated against them in IA
vor of merchants doing business at San
Francisco by a ONT freight tariff MAIN
tained by the defendants between Port
land and points in Idaho and Utah on
the line of the Short Line company; that
this tariff operated to discriminate in
favor Of San Francisco merchants, be-
cause the rates prescribed for it are the
| same as those charged under a joint
| tariff made by the Southern Pacific and
the Short Line company on freight from
San Francisco to these same Idaho
points, the distance from San Francisco
being much greater than from Portland.
1t was further alleged that under a
| former tariff a less rate was charged for
! the greater distance to Ogden than that
charged to the intermediate points in
! question. A demurrer to the complaint
| was sustained upon the ground that the
| two lines from San Francisco. wer COM
peting lines, and that the relations which
| the rate over one of these lines bears
| to that over the other is not subject to
| control by the courts. and that the lower
rate to Ogden could be a matter Of COM
plant only to the places Disseminated
against, Portland being in no way un-
reasonably affectde thereby.
| A peculiar incident happened recently
| in coal pocket at the coaling station OF
| the Lehigh Valley railroad. in Sayre
| Pa. Two large steel cars loaded with
pea coal had been placed over the Goa
pockets, and, after having set the brakes
the brakeman started to walk over the
cars, intending to get down at the Other
end. Before he reached there. however