The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-10

VftNf W IN1I ~ NAHN w HTH wv
In anil 1,s ~ thlcaab
fhe fate, w thN Whole ~ss shoHf Nhas
n h to-day aad The fAts u. day - pfoh-
Ably I1at atout Whet N"u'd haVe h~~H
N poolina had contlhIea
In ls1 The Interstate Cnsnfwe'e@ NV
cfeatina the present cotnfuiselon, heraine
NaectiVe The railways nd not ean' this
commission appulnted, hnf when " bec.fnH
q iac ~ agreed 10 inahe The best ~ "
Tor ~ sefe taw atadlHa dtisene.
The interstate Com0srtcs Cctnuieeon
nat The chairman 10 said N have asksd,
'Wba, arr we here for1' and ,he unwfi.ten
record NJ that mestlha has " 'hss the o'her
members confessed,
They dId not hnow. hut They we're wise
In that they hnew they did not know And
80 when the practical man who were then
MANAGING the railways 81 tbie ccuntsy
eav that the communication did not SNOW
they came 10 the feacIs, bringing the
hlahaalanSd leaal lights and the under.
raid, ovsr worked trafhc mama efs, fnysslI
among them, and the counmieeion' hnowine
\, nd not know, welcomed Ne. and We showed
them how 20 proved 90 a. not IN appear
too ridiculous before the public or the Su'
preme Court, recognising our associations
10 conform 10 the requirements OF the new
law and making other arrangements necee-
aary 10 uniform action In carrying out the
intent Of the law.
n the railway men had held alocf' or
sulked in their tents-well, no man can eay
what would have become OF this group oil
highly respectable gentlemen, who knew
almost nothing about rates. or railway
operation.
A you know, pooling died at the birth
Of the commission.
The rates, however, remained the same
and for a time things went on as usual ex.
cept with an earnest desire on the part OF
railways TO conduct their business strictly
within the letter Of the new law.
/ was then General Trafic Manager OF the
p. D. 4 O., which for the purpose OF TINS
story we will call the Red Line
In the course OF a few months i began 70
notice that we were not getting as much
packing house product as We used TO get
/ poked up the freight department, but there
was no Improvement.
Finally the traffic agent of q large pack
ing house called at my office and gave me
a fairly good cigar. I smoked and waited.
He smoked and waited, and then I remarked
casually, that the Red Line was not getting
its Share of his business.
My friend smoked, smiled and asked:
sWell-you know why, don't your
confessed, and he said IL I was prepared
to do what the White Lines were doing |
could have a share OF the business.
What are they doing2"I asked.
He said he was not at liberty to say, but
intimated that he could suggest a way
for me.
Go on" said I, though l confess the
game was something new to me then.
We'll" said my friend coolly, you are
allowing us only three-quarters Of a cent
a mile on our cara. II you can zee your
way to make il even money ! think we can
give you az much Of our business as you
had before the war
That was the first fly of the sort I had ever
seen. but I rose and took it, barb and all,
for l was young and ambitious. and saw no
reason why / should let the business ali go
to the White Line and the Blue Line, who
had set the pace.
Nov you are going to ask me how the
beef man landed his first fish. My answer
is that l do not know, unless / was the first.
After that we got the business. Shortly
after this interview I met at the Union
League Club the man who shipped for a
large steel mill. He came and sat beside
me and talked in a neighborly way for q
while, and then asked me why the Red
Line was letting all the steel mills business
20 to our competitors.
This time ! did not rise TO the hy-the
conversation was interrupted and I left the
club signing for the old days when men
--.Il - ~aAN - MAN and lnnk anRh NfhAP
into an honest eye.
at my Office.
I'VE nave incorporated the Chicago,
Omaha and San Francisco Railroad Com
pany," he began. Il am president, my
stenographer is secretary and the foreman
in the mill is general manager
congratulated him.
I'VE are a connecting line" he went on
coolly, -&nd I thought you might like to
exchange transportation with U.s."
How many miles OF road have you in
operation7" I asked.
Three and four-tenths,' he answered
with never a blush.
reflected that the Red Line had 1000,
and it seemed ridiculous; but when he
showed ANIMALS over the White Line and
the Bue Line ] fell, seeing a large increase
in tonnage.
l began to tumble with the papers on
my desk, wishing the fellow out Of sight,
when he ooughed and said:
There's another little matter. A lot Of
business originates on the line OF the Chicago,
| Omaha and San Francisco
yes l assented.
I'D like to see some Of this business going
over your road
I expressed my appreciation, wondering
what the beggar was after now.
you can nave a share OF our business,
he went on. IL you are prepared to do the
fair thing by our line"
what will 1t coet2' l asked, noticing the
fly.
Five dollars a car" said the president Of
the c., o. d F.
For what2"
For the business which we give you
the business which originates on our line
The amount / aek is only our fair proportion
Of the rate
| This was my second fly, and I took 1t,
got the business and held my Job.