Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-16
RAILROAD FIGHT
To Be ARBITRATEO
HEARING NEXT MONDAY IN SAN
FRANCISCO
SMALL HOPE OF ADJUSTMENT
Differences Between the salt Lake
Route and Southern Pacific and
Santa Fe Systems to Be
Considered

Opposition to the new Clark road on
the part of the Southern Pacific and the
Santa Fe systems and a determination
by both to keep the Salt Lake road out
ofwhat they say is their territory for
freight business will have a hearing
next Monday I'm San Francisco.
Whether an amicable adjustment of
the misunderstanding will be brought
about in the joint meeting of the heads
of the three roads with officials who
will be present from Los Angeles re-
mains to be seen.
The initial lines have refused to let
the Salt Lake use their tracks to reach
shippers in Los Angeles who wish to
do business with the Salt Lake road
rather than the Santa Fe or the South
ern Pacific.
The fight has reached a point where
shippers in sympathy with the Salt
Lake road are paying for teaming to
! reach the cars of the Salt Lake on its
lines, and it is rumored that the latter
| road, In case an agreement cannot be
reached. will include such charges as
a part of it's rate and file the same with
the interstate commerce commission.
Fail to Agree
On good authority 1t is stated that the
question has been appealed to the
Transcontinental Freight bureau, which
up to this time has failed to act.
The action of the initial lines extends
not only to Los Angeles but to all
points where the Salt Lake road has
become a competitor for business.
will you arrive at some conclusion
at the meeting to be held in San Fran
cisco next week." was asked yesterday
of a prominent official of one of the old
lines.
II know no more about the outcome
of that meeting than does an outsider"
was the reply, but in the conversation
that followed it was made evident that
the older roads are in no mood to COM
promise with the interloper."
1--WE have come to no understanding
with the Salt Lake on the Gu ,stion of
such accommodations. We do not know
when such arrangements will be con-
cluded. Before the opening of the road
nothing was said to us about patron
age of this kind nor has there been
since it was put in operation" said
another official
The argument put forth by the in
itial lines is that the Salt Lake has
nothing in return to offer them. One
ocial, in defense of the stand taken,
said:
"The Southern Pacific and the Santa
Fe have spent money running into the
millions to build up the districts along
their lines. Warehouses and wholesale
houses have been given moderate rem
tails and in return we have been given
their freight traffic as matter of
course. 1t has taken us years to do this.
"SimpIy Business" He Says
rs it to be expected that when a
new road is built, which at the present
time can offer us no equivalent ex
change of traffic, that we should be
willing to turn our tracks over to it?
When we built up the districts along
our tracks we We're not looking for
switching charges, but for the long
haul across the continent.
There is no rancor between the
officials of the three roads. We are
friends and will contiue to remain So
This is simply a question of business,
and one which could be conducted SINH
larly by a man in any other line of
business. If the Salt Lake wishes for
traffic agreement similar to that
which we now enjoy, it is at liberty to
build spurs and undergo the same pc
riod of growth which we underwent"
Salt Lake officials refuse to discuss
the stand which has been taken against
them by their competitors.
General Freight and Passenger Agent
f. w. j. Gillett of the Salt Lake said
yesterday:
I'VE are enjoying very encouraging
freight business. Further than that l
have nothing to say"
Are you permitting shippers along
your lines to route their freight over
the Southern Pacific or the Santa Fe
If they so desire?" he was asked.
1--WE are doing that as in the past,
he replied.