Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-25
COAST
LINES At OUTS
BITTER RATE WAR THREAT
EMS TO ENSUE
Trouble Is Deep Seated and Heated
Recriminations Are Indulged In.
General News of the
Railways

The transcontinental railroads which
touch the Pacific coast are now in
danger of becoming involved in the
passenger rate troubles which have
spread from New York to Kansas City,
according to local railroad men of high
standing. The cause for grief with all
of the roads has been that competing
lines have cut rates in order to secure
business.
The first road to openly announce a
cut rate without consulting any Of the
other lines was the Grand Trunk. This
was a reduction of 50 in the fare from
Chicago to New York city. Immediate
ly the Wabash followed the lead of the
Grand Trunk. Passenger traffic Off
cials of the other lines were consider
ably aggravated and submitted their
reports on the question to the presi-
dents of the respective roads. After
conference the heads of the lines de-
cided to comply with the decision of
President Underwood whether it be for
peace or for war. Underwood decided
to meet the cut. The fare was conse-
quently reduced. Even the Michigan
a standard road that would not allow
its tariffs to be dictated, met the reduc-
ton.
Canadian Lines involved
The next controversy was in the
northwest. The Canadian lines which
run through American territory have
always been a thorn in the sides of
the officials of the competing lines be-
cause they would not keep any agree
ment as to rates. The Canadian roads
can carry freight or passengers from
the northwest to New York or Boston
cheaper than the lines which go all the
way by land via Chicago because their
routes are shorter on account of steam
ship connections on the Great Lakes.
Kansas City officials were last week
thrown into a state of commotion on
account of the round trip rate of So
that the Santa Fe announced to Chi
cagO. This was to meet the round trip
fare of $11 that other lines made to
the Eagles convention in Milwaukee.
The trouble with the roads centering
in Los Angeles has, according to rail-
way men, been brewing for some time
and promises to come to head in the
near future according to the state
ments of we'll known officials. There
has already been some recriminations
between the lines as to the way in
which certain business has been Sc
cured.
Have Clever Method
One thing which is charged is that
an official will contract with the man.
ager of a large party to furnish trans
portation for all Of the passengers at
the regular rate with the exception
of two or three and they will be given
In hxy
each one will be considerably less and
yet the official has not reduced the
rate on the face of the agreement.
Officials of the Southern Pacific. Salt
Lake and Santa Fe are not in good
humor toward each other on account Of
the Igorrotes who went to Chicago a
week ago last Wednesday over the
Santa Fe. No direct charges are made,
but it is intimated by the officials of
the other two lines that the Santa Fe
handled the business for less than the
regular tariff.
The representatives of all three of
the lines sought to secure the business.
City Passenger Agent Patton of the
Salt Lake had known the manager of
the Igorrotes for several years and Sc
cured a promise from him to go by the
way of the line which he represented,
war way TolioW
The Salt Lake made a proposition of
$40 to Missouri river points and the
theater rate from there to Chicago of
1925. making the fare from here to
Chicago $4925. The Southern Pacific
made the same proposition.
Just before leaving for the east the
manager of the Igorrotes called on
Southern Pacific and Salt Lake Off
cials and asked them if they would ac-
cept between S4OO and $500 in adver-
tising in circulars which he would have
distributed in Chicago. Representatives
of both roads turned the proposition
by the way Of the Santa Fe.
Oficials Of the Santa Fe state that
they received 1895 for each person
who went TO Chicago. Whether they
took a large amount OF advertising is
not known. This Is only one instance