The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-10-19
opFcoNIAN DISPLAYS RAILROAD
SITUATION IN COMMENTING
ON MAGAZINE ARTICLE.
claims There Is Community Inter
est" Among the Big Transeon-
tinentaI Lines.


of oct II. says:
The Oregoniar wishes every shipper
yes and every consumer in the states
of Oregon and Washington could READ
the article under the above caption.
which appears in this months Cham-
Der of Commerce Bulletin from the
pen of w A. MearS, secretary of the
North Pacific Coast Jobbers & Man
ufacturers' association.
Here is displayed the railroad situa-
ton and the freight question in
straightforward manner as devoid as
possible of technical phrases-in
manner that all can understand. and
in way that is interesting to ALL al
though the question is one that but
few fully understand. We all know
that there is community of inte-
rests as railroad owners and mana
gers are wont euphemistically to eX-
press it, between the transcontinen-
tai railroads that serve this part of
the country; but few of us understand
how intimately connected they all are
with each other in the matter of
freight rates nor how a question that
on the face of it appears to be purely
local may turn out to be one that
affects all three transcontinental lines.
at all points. ana through their whole
extent.
In this article are clearly and fully
shown the trials and tribulations of
the shipper who thinks he needs a
simple remedy to assist him in distrib-
uting his wares. when he really has
the the sympathy and support of the
road on which he is located and to
which the request is made The road
he approaches is ready ana willing
to grant the request which is reason
able, but discovers that one of the
points that will be incidentally affected
is a junction point with one or the
other transcontinental roads: this ne
cessitated the consent of the latter
which is granted: but it is found the
allowance of the request affects a large
part of their western territory, and so
affects it that the territory of the third
it affects the third road in such way
that the whole of its line clear
be taken into consideration. SO, as the
pebble that is dropped into the placid
pool dsturbs the water, and the re-
sultant wavelets affect the surface of
the whole periodicals simple question
that was supposed originally to affect
only one or two insignificant local
points, spreads and spreads until the
business of three rranscontinental rail
roads becomes involved.
Mr.. Mears makes this illustration to
show his readers how indissolubly
linked are the affairs of these roads and
settled almost any question involving
freight rates, without bringing in all
the Interested parties and absorbing
a great amount of time and energy.
But by far the most important part of
his article is that showing the enor-
nous difference in freight rates exist
ing between the eastern and western
ends of these railroads. We quote:
Il have lately had prepared a set of
comparison tables showing class and
commodity rates out of Portland. Sc
attic and Tacoma west. and out of ST.
Paul. Mimi, and Omaha, Neb., east,
to points distant out of each city rs,
so, 100, $50, 200. $50, $50, $50, $50, $50,
$50. $50 and $50 miles, the latter point
being about midway between the two
terminals, with the following results
Class Rates.
The rates from Pacific coast termi-
nails east to the halfway point. taking
an average on third. fourth and fifth
classes (under which head most Of the
class goods falD are SO per cen,
higher than from ST. Paul and Dina
ha west. while taking the comparison
east, across the states of Oregon and
Washington, as against like distances
from St. Paul and Omaha, they are 81
per cent higher.
Commodity Rates.
The same comparisons on IL article:
including agricultural implements
hardware. liquor, paints, paper, gro.
ceries and stamped and enamel ware
shows that the rate from Pacific coas
terminals east to the midway poln
average 80 per cent higher than from
~. Paul and Omaha west and acros.
the states of Oregon and Washington
east. they average 100 per cent highe,
than for the same distances from ST
WI