The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-01-06
Tells the Interstate Commits
sion Why the Western Pa
cifc Was Built.
GOULD DESIRED TO
PROTECT THE WEST
Commission Inquiries Into Pur-
chase of Utah Light and
Railway Company.

NEW YORK, Jan. 5.-E. T Jeffery,
president of the Denver G. Rio Grande
and affiliated lines, including the pro-
posed Western Pacific railroad, was
the first witness today before the ses-
sion of the Interstate Commerce COM
mission, which is inqniring into the
mergers of the so-called Hartman
lines
Mr.. Jeffery described the Rio Grande
system and it's connections 1t e1-
changed with the Oregon Short Line
and Oregon Railway g. Navigation
company. When the Union Pacific
took control OF the Southern Pacific
there was shrinkage in the amount Of
business received by the Rio Grande
from the Oregon lines, "due, no
control the Union Pacific had of the
Southern Pacific
Mr.. Jeffery next described the West
ern Pacific railroad, which has a line
under construction from Salt Lake City
to San Francisco.
The attention of the witness was
called TO the letters between E. H.
Hartman and George j. Gould, read
yesterday. in which Mr., Gould said he
determined TO support the building OF
the Western Pacific and Mr. Hartman
Mr., Could S advice, Mr., Jeffery said
Mr.. Gould was largely interested in the
Rio Grande
The witness read from n recent an
nual report ne had submitted TO the
Rio Graude stock holders in which il
was stated that Union Pacific control
OF Southern Pacific lines had resulted
IN unexpected difficulties and Gun
looked for impediments' in getting
therefore the building of a competi-
tive line from Salt Lake TO San Fran
cisco had been undertaken TO protect
Rio Grande interests.
Prior to the consolidation, were
the Union Pacific and Southern Pa
cihc competing hnesl' Mr.. Severance
asked.
"Within certain territory" replied
the witness.
"Within what territory7f'
Competition Has Ceased.
cat Chicago, for instance, the I'm
ion Pacific would compete for business
to the coast as against the Illinois
Central, which sought business to be
handled to the West by way of New
Orleans and the Southern Pacific Not
there was competition at a number OF
points.
Mr.. Jeffery was cross-examined by
John G.. Milburn, counsel for the Union
Pacific
Mr.. Milburn asked if it was not true
that the great trunk lines leading West
from New York are Just. as. keenly
ness against the Southern Pacific steam
ers to New Orleans as they were be-
fore the Union Pacific obtained con-
troll of Southern Pacifc2
Mr. Jeffery replied that there was
competition, but ne 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 il also went
TO the Santa Fe.
''The competition today said Mr..
Jeffery, ''is under maintained rates.
Outside Of the question of rates thore
is no reason why there should not be
competition the same ns there was
twenty years ago"
Isn't it fact that the competi
tion is as great
''I would hesitate to answer that.
"You regard the construction of a
new Western line from Salt Lake as
not an unmitigated evil?''
Western Pacific Good Thing.
II believe 1t to be a good thing for
that great Western country, aud | was
happy to undertake to build it.
'SIs it not a fact that il the Southern
Pacific system was torn away from the
Union Pacific, business going TO the
coast from the Illinois Central, say, and
over the Union Pacific, would have TO
be hauled over a portion of the South
crn Pacific lines Just the same''
eyes. it would -
els it not fact that Union Pacific
control of Southern Pacific has not re-
suited in change of the aow of busi-
ness over the Illinois Central7'
81 have no knowledge as to that. -
The haul from New Orleans to SAN
Francisco over the Southern Pacific is
2300 miles from Ogden 10 San Fran
cisco, $50 miles, Mr.. Jeffery was asked
if it was not TO the advantage of the
Southern Pacific to get its business by
way of New Orleans rather than by
Ogden He said that depended upon
the division of the through rates,
Mr.. Jeffery said the Eastern business
was bid for by commercial agents.
At Pittsburg. for instance, the I'm
ION Pacific and Southern Pacific for
merly had their separate agents