The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-01-07
RIVAL RAILROAD MANS OPINION
OF JOINT CONTROL OF THE
HARTMAN LINES.
I. I. JEFFERY ON The STAND
PRESIDENT OF DENVER AND RIO
GRANDE TELLS OF coNDI.
TONS in WEST.

New York, Jan. 7.-E. T. Jeffery
president Of the Denver and Rio
Grande railroad and affiliated lines,
including the proposed Western Pa.
cific railroad, was the first witness be-
fore the interstate commerce commits
sion's investigation of the Hartman
lines! NHe said he had been in the
railroad business for fifty years and
was well acquainted with the railroad
situation in the West. He described
the Rio. Grande system and it's con.
nections. When the Union Pacific took
control of the Southern Pacific there
was shrinkage in the amount oil
business received by the Rio Grande
from the Oregon Short Line, "due, no
doubt added Mr.. Jeffery, ito the con.
troll the Union Pacific had Of the
Southern Pacific
Mr.. Jeffrey described the Western
Pacific railroad, which, he said, has a
line under construction from Salt Lake
City to San Francisco.
The witness read from a recent an.
nual report he had submitted to the
Rio Grande stockholders in which it
was stated that the Union Pacific con.
troll OF Southern Pacific lines had re.
suited in unexpected difficulties" and
unlocked for impediments" in getting
business through to the coast and
therefore the building of competitive
line from Salt Lake to San Francisco
had been undertaken to protect Rio
Grande interests.
Prior to the consolidation were the
Union Pacific and Southern Pacific
competing lines?" Mr.. Severance
asked.
within certain territory, yes" re
piled the witness.
within what territory?"
Competition at Some Points.
AT Chicago, for instance, the I'm
lon Pacific would compete for bust
ness to- the coast as against the ILL
nois Central, which sought business
to be handled to the West by way OF
New Orleans and the Southern Pa
cific. Not all the business was com
petitive, but there was competition al
number of points,
Mr.. Jeffery was cross examined by
John G. Milburn, of counsel for the
Union Pacific. Mr.. Milburn asked II
it was not true that the great trunk
lines leading west from New York
like the New York Central, the Erie
and others, are just as keenly com
peting today for California business
against the Southern Pacific steamers
to New Orleans as they were before
the Union Pacific control of Southern
Pacific,
Mr.. Jeffrey replied that there was
competition, but he would hesitate to
say positively that it was as keen as
formerly The trunk lines ultimately
delivered their California business to
the Union Pacific. Some of it also
went to the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fee.
"The competition today" continued
Mr.. Jeffery, els under maintained
rates. Outside of the question Of rates
there is no reason why there should
not be competition the same as there
was twenty years ago.
Questioned by Mr.. Severance Mr.
Jeffrey said the Eastern business was
bid for by commercial agents. AT
Pittsburg, for instance, the Union Pa
cific and Southern Pacific formerly
had their separate agents.
DO you Think Mr.. Jeffrey was
asked, that the competition in Pitts.
burg is as keen today with only one
agent there?"
1T is difficult for man to compete
with himself
Il think so, myself" said the com.
missions attorney.