The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-11
ADJUSTMENTS TODAY.
The METALS.
A COMMISSION.

AGAINST A COMMISSION.
In the annual meeting of the Real
Estate Exchange and the address of
President +. F. Colborn, the reasons
why the exchange opposes a state
railroad commission at this time are
set forth fully and clearly; and the
reasons will appeal to the judgment
of every citizen who comprehends the
situation. ID
The real estate men want to see the
city and state secure all the advan-
tages of extensive railroad construc-
ton improvements in terminals and
branch lines to the undeveloped dis
tricts of Utah, Nevada and Idaho
which only need transportation lines
to make them productive. They re-
cognize the fact. that a state railroad
commission, particularly such COM
mission as would inevitably be ap-
pointed i'm this state under present pol
itical conditions, would be notice to
the railroads that their present extern
siye campaign Of improvement is not
appreciated, and that the states atti-
tude is distinctly hostile to the rail-
roads. which are doing so much to add
10 the wealth Of every community in
the state
To the owners end dealers I'm real
estate. the policy proposed by the
friends Of a railroad commission is
distinctly hostile not only to the
railroads. but to the material well
fare Of every property owner
and every large business interest ia
Utah. The expenditure of millions in
construction and terminal improve
ments is one Of the important factors
in the present era OF growth for Salt
Lake. 1t has done and is doing more
for the development Of the mineral
and agricultural wealth of the inter-
mountain region than a dozen railroad
commissions could do even il they were
non-poitical and unbiased I'm person
mel The disbursement of immense
sums for wages, for material, for the
purchase OF rights of way and terminal
ground has given the whole state an
impulse of prosperity that has been
felt in every avenue OF trade. None
have felt and recognized this factor
in the welfare Of the community more
than have the real estate men and they
DO not want to see the campaign of
prosperity blocked and stopped by
legislation of a hostile nature.
The men who are fostering the move
for a commission point to the coal sit
uation as an argument in their behalf.
They ignore the fact that the same
conditions prevail i'm states where
commissions exist; and they ought TO
know that the coal shortage here, ag-
gravatlng as It is, comes from the
growth Of the demand for fuel by
shelters and TO handle a freight move
ment which is due entirely to the ire
mendous advance in business activity.
railroad would only serve to harass
the coal producers without any pos
sibility of controlling the output of the
mines or increasing production. The
price Of coal is seemingly outrageous,
but the demand far outruns supply
and the government has withdrawn
ell coal lands from entry, so new mines
cannot be opened up, an effort to re-
duce the price by reducing freight
rates could only serve TO divert coal
10 railroad use exclusively.
There have been times within week
when the roads held less than twenty
four hours supply for their own use
at division points and were taking
chances on freight blockades in order
TO prevent domestic consumers from
suffering. Certainly under such con-
ditions a railroad commission could
accomplish nothing i'm the shape of re-
lief. though it might succeed in embar-
RAISING the producers and aggravating
the situation hOpelessly.
II the state and its most influential
men want to stop railroad extensions
and improvements they can accomplish
that purpose easily and quickly by
providing railroad commission and
instituting a campaign against the
roads over which they have jurisdic-
ton: but II they want TO see the trans
continental lines centering here and
make Salt Lake and Ogden great rail-
road centers, and enlarge the states
commercial importance by bringing II