East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-12-27

Extortionate and oppressive freight
rates into the Yukon, due chiefly to
the lack of effective regulation on
the American side of the internation-
al boundary line, have contributed
largely to interfere with the develop
ment of the Yukon country, and pre
in large measure responsible for the
falling off in the opinion Of j. f..
Lilly. of Dawson, n delegate of the
Dawson chamber Of commerce. who
is in Seattle to seek cooperation In
an effort to get the abuses complain
ed of corrected. says the Seattle
News
Mr.. Lilly called at the chamber Of
commerce yesterday morning to con-
suit with Secretary Meikle OF that
body regarding his mission and the
best means OF securing the co-opera-
ton OF the chamber of commerce In
the effort. Secretary Meikle was not
In at the time so he asked for the
names of the members of the com
mittee Transportation with a view
of taking 1t up with those gentlemen.
The matter has already come for
mally before the chamber of com
merce here on communication from
the Dawson chamber OF commerce re-
ceived some time ago and inclosing
the resolutions passed by the Dawson
body. The communication was re-
ferred to the transportation commit
Is now in the hands OF that commit
tee.
Excessive rates OF freight into
Dawson from the. outside have mill
tated seriously against the develop
ment of the Yukon country" said
Mr.. Lilly to reporter for the News,
"and are in n large measure RESPONSE
bic for the fact that the gold produc-
ton OF the district has fallen off from
S21 100000 per annum to $1,000, 600
the output of the season just closed.
"The principal cost OF supplies and
materials necessary to carry on oper-
atoms in the country is the cost OF
TRANSFORMATION and the fact that tina,
clement is excessive is n serious OBJ
stacle in the development of the
country.
Materials, machinery and supplies
coming into the country come chiefly
over the White Pass & Yukon route
The route consists Of three distinct
companies merged. for purposes OF
operation into the central company
One company owns the portion of the
railroad lying in American territory
another that portion lying in Canadl'
an territory. and third owns tht
steamships operating on the river or
account of the more effective regula'
ton by the Canadian railroad com
mission the rates on the Canadian
portion of the system are reasonable
but on that portion of the system ly
ing in American territory they are
much higher.
''Since ! came out from Dawson
have made some inquiries regarding
rates on the railroads centering a
Seattle. particularly the Northern Pa
cific. BY comparison of the rates II
effect on the White Pass & Yukor
routes rail line from Skagway L
White Horse with the rates charged
on the Northern Pacific for similai
haul from Seattle to non-competitiv'
points find that the White Pas
rates are from six to eight times a
high as those on the Northern Paci
fic. Naturally It woulu not be ex
pected that the White Pass rate
should be as low as those on the \
p, but | think we have reason t
protest against such scale Of rate
M the one now in effect
THE Yukon country will neve
come into the development Of whicl
II Is capable until these rates are re
duced, and the Dawson chamber o
commerce has taken the matter nj
with view of using every effort Il
bring about such reduction"
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