The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-01-01
TACOMA BUSINESS MEN
WANT MORE RAILROADS.
Inc placements OF Well Known Citizens All Agree That
Tacoma Should Make Active Efforts to Get Them

That Tacoma should have at least an
other big railroad is the unanimous opin-
ION OF the business men of Tacoma. All
believe that the Northern Pacific has done
much Tor this city, but at the same time
they wish to get away from the fact that
Tacoma has but one railroad Now that
the Hartman lines will probably be ex
tended here the much wanted addition
may soon be had. Tacoma has come to
be known in all sections of the country
as Northern Pacific town. Good citi-
zens say that was all right when the
city was young, but ''she is getting to be
a big one now"
William Jones, grain merchant, said:
eve certainly want more railroads
but how are we going to get them? l be,
heve that the Union Pacific will come in.
and the sooner the better. If mat line
comes, so will others, as it will be policy
for them to do so. We ought not to pub
llsh the tact that we are a one-road town
and try to get a road in here on that
plea, for it's a weakness on our part to
do So No road will come in here on
sentiment merely. 1t takes millions of dol
lars to construct a road, whereas facto-
rles and manufacturing establishments.
wholesale houses and the like can be put
in for much less money.
Il do not believe there is a single rail
road magnate who could make any prom
Uses unless it is HILL or perhaps Harri-
man. Railroad builders have plans and
maps of this city and county and are fully
as well posted on our trade as anyone here.
just now, to my mind is poor time to
attempt any agitation OF such a question,
owing to the nearness of the presidential
election and the financial stringency in the
East. What we want to do is to keep
Flooding along, get out of debt, seek more
factories and be able to give a railroad
company some good reason for coming
here. When we get those things the rail-
road companies will be compelled to come
in" ~"
When asked how Seattle got her roads
ift not through some combined effort on
the part of her business men, he replied,
Seattle built her own road and it was
bought by the Northern Pacific, which
made concessions to that city for it,"
On being asked if Tacoma could not bond
the city for a sufficient sum to build
short road to reach one of the other trans
continental lines, he said
No, that would never do, and besides,
the people here would vote such a propo-
sition down. We are a one-road town,
but We are not so badly off. The North
ern Pacific has given us good service and
we must admit that, but when we get
sufficient industries here other roads will
come in of their own accord. l do not
believe that any men or set of men can
help matters any | believe that every
business man in this city now is alive to
this matter and is certainly anxious to
have more roads in here"
Henry Hewitt, of the ST.. Paul & Ia
coma Lumber company, said: Another
railroad would mean 81 on every thousand
feet to every lumberman in Tacoma
meaning to those who exported lumber
"and that would mean several hundred
dollars day. g
CAS- it is we ship from here to Port
land, and from there if we ship over,
another road we must pay the common
point rate, plus the local rate. But if we
mad the Union Pacific in, why, one rate
would cover all, and that would be worth
a good deal. Portland can ship North
and out over the northern roads at
common point rate. So can we ship from
here North. The Great Northern and
the Northern Pacific are allied, while the
difference between our rate on the North
ern Pacific to the Canadian Pacific is so
small that the Canadian Pacific assumes
the difference, so that we get a common
point rate on that line. The Great North
ern was safe in building to the coast
because Hill offered to haul lumber from
the Sound country at cheaper rate than
we were able to get before that The line
was built to Everett and then down the
coast to Seattle. Afterwards the Canadi-
an Pacific came in and the Northern Pa
cigc had to hold her trade, so she began
to run through trains into Seattle, d dis
lance of 80 miles out of her course, to
get there Tacoma should have just as
many railroads as Seattle, and will soon
have them if just one more road comes in
to start the competition"
Joshua PIERCE, well known real estate
dealer, said: "Of course, we want more
railroads. We are attracting the attention
of the various companies and they will
come of their own accord. Railroads can
not afford to build to a place unless
there is business sufficient to pay them
for doing So"
When asked how Seattle got her start,
he replied: "The Northern Pacific built
up Seattle herself. A few years ago she
tried to buy up the whole water front
here, and because she could not have her
own way. threw her influence to Seattle
to our detriment We certainly want
more roads, and want them just as soon
as we can get them"
John T. Redman, local wholesale gro
Ger, said "Why, | am certainly in favor
of at least another railroad. Now, l do
not mean to be understood to be against
the Northern Pacific, for that road has
been loyal to us, but the name of being
a one-road town initiates against US. AS
it is we can not ship over the Union
Pacific without transferring and paying
the extra rate. The Union Pacific touches