The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-03

the vast revenues the railroads have
ceived because of the progress of the
city, and adds:
THE strong desire of the city is to
have and TO always maintain the most
cordial and friendly relations with the
railway companies. and to actively join
with them in every proper effort max
ing for the upbuiiding of this whole re-
giOn, to the mutual and lasting good of
all interests; but its crying need today,
as the leading commercial representa-
tive of the state, is a reasonable recog-
milton of it's fair rights and just treat
ment at the hands of the transportation
lines. which it has so abundantly helped
to enrich; and so, confidently and hope
fully carries its prayer TO those who
alone have the power to grant"
The petition AYERS that Salt Lake
City has no established transportation
rate basis worthy of the designation:
that with the already constructed lines
of railroad. If operated independently
and upon their Individual merits. the
city would have separate and competi-
tive routes to the east to the Pacific
northwest. to San Francisco and to Los
Angeles and southern California. but,
that what the city actually possesses
under 'the merger and combination
systems, may be succinctly stated as
essentially one line to the east and one
other line to the west"
Effect on Jobbing Interests.
The complaint is made that under the
present adjustment of through rates for
the surrounding country in which Salt
Lake City seeks trade, particularly in
northern Utah and in Idaho, the
through rates are frequently as low as
are given to Salt Lake City, land thus
very seriously and adversely affect the
wholesale interests of the city to the
extent of the high local rates between
the city and such interior points" This
is stated to be a great detriment and
growing commercial disadvantage to
the city.
The charge is made that the making
Of these similar through rates to in
terror points is not one of disinterested
benevolence on the part of the railroad
traffic management toward that par
ticular territory. but is really the out
growth of a selfish determination on the
part of the traffic mana gement to pro-
mote and support the direct trade of
distant eastern cities, as well as of San
Francisco Herewith, in direct OPPOSE
ton to- and thus Immediately causing
q corresponding shrinkage in, the bust
ness with Salt Lake City: but accom-
plis;ling the objective intention of
EltSEtN LdSltAi4lE 10 JUS OWL rails the
long haul OF the traffic" Mr. Babcock
states this discriminatory method of
rate-making for the sections being con-
sidered deprives, almost totally, other
competing lines from participation I'm
the important traffic. while IAN almost
prohibitive through rate basis against
the iobbers of salt Lake City is firmly
fixed" He says: THE good will of
salt Lake City is not without value,
and the city does not merit these severe
methods of Tate-making so clearly ruin
Gus TO its fair interests and proper
commercial progress" He calls atteu-
ton TO the fact that the same kind of
property is transported between the
/ Pacific coast and the Atlantic sea board
and all intermediate cities in the east.
/ directly past our doors, vastly greater
/ distances, at less rates. This has been
/ done, he says. "under the 1ong-used and
/ very convenient plea of water eompetf-
/ ton"
The Water Competition Idea.
I Regarding the water competition expIa-
| nation Mr.. Babcock says in his plea: The
actual facts unQuestiOnably are that the
| original and continued plan of higher in
/ teTmediate rates than California ternni-
/ nal rates for the intermountain country
proceeded not more fro mthe fear of such
4 tWaterl competition. real or fancied, than
/ q
/ CHESS traffic management west of the
/ ROCKY mountains not only to abnormaily
swell the revenues therefrom. but to force
| the trade of this vast interior country TO
san Francisco, against ali other markets
I OF directions. thereby compelling the peo-
pie unfortunate enough to live in the ter
Titory east of the California terminals
thing required
| 1t is suggested that we're actual statis-
tics available they would doubtless dis
close put minor proportion of transcon-
! tinental traffic affected By water compe-
tition with resulting injuries to the rail
carriers.
1T is grand to be powerful; grander
| still TO be Just. reads the petition Jus
tice is all these people want. and they
should no longer be turned away IL is
| therefore but fitting that after this long
| season of patient endurance there should
very soon appear high in their commercial
skies the rainbow promise OF hope for
even things with their fellow men.
Basis for Desired Rates.
Following the text Of the petition Mr.
BabcOck inserts in the booklet a state
ment exhibiting in a general form the sd-
5ustment OF transportation rates desired
[ ior Salt Lake City, Ogden and other Utah
common points. being the territory from
Ogden To Payson inclusive. The state
ment is under tive heads. class rates and
commodity rates:
1t IS asked that the class rates. gov
erned by the western classification. be
| tween Utah common points aud the ter
ritOry east thereof. taking Missouri river
rates. shall not be higher than the pro-
portion of the Omaha-SaCramentO mile
age accruing between Omaha and Og-
den. OF 80 per cent Of the class rates
currently applying between Omaha and
Sacramento. with the usual uiffefentials
higher applying on Mississippi river. Pc
Oria. St Paul. Chicago and other ada
cent or corresponding rate territories, IS
commonly shown in the joint freight tar
ifs Of the TRANSIT Missouri Freight Blu
reau-
Regarding commodity rates the request
is made that they be currently adjusted
to a basis of reasonable commercial and
Industrial necessities. in the mutual in
terests of shippers and carriers, but with
the current commodity rates. in each di-