The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-05

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S Sisc 10 SNOW that those rates were pro-
1uSed through the application OF some
Gennitc method. and did not proceed
from mere chance or GUcSswork
The Mileage Basis.
The basis OF mileage in the building
?t both local and through freight rates
is "oll-ntsh universal IN the United
H1ta.es; the most extensive exception
tneI"t". pu"Stiopably aS 10 whether right
or wrong. ing found ln transcontincntgl
rntrs wherein What is commonly known
%s nanhet or system OF uniform rates
tances: largely prevails.
by Tar the most important traffic ter
r,toiy In tho United States. and in which
Ile competition of carriers is likewise
the most comprehensive Is tina; OF the
region lying between the Atlantic seq
board and the Mississippi river, north of
Many years ago. the most ruinous and
commercially demoralizing rate wars be-
tween the numerous great carriers were
OF frequent occurrence while incassant
and bitter strife for trade advantages
among the various large cities in that
Sopremcly important territory existed.
Nttct greatly prolonged and most cX-
haustiye consideration oi the subject by
| tue ablest 5nd most thoroughly expert
rnccd railroad men Of tho country acting
OF the principal business interests con-
ccrncd, ncT system OF rate making
was developed and adopted This system
provided that the rates having tirst been
nNcd between New York and Chicago.
tle short line mileage between those
cities was made 10 represent 100 per
cent. and the through rates between all
other Atlantic sea board points and the
west, not farther than 10 the Mississippi
riynr, TO proportionatcly increase or d.
mntsn as the mileage was greater OF
less than that between the basing points
COMMODITY rates for any reason reduir-
Ing special consideration. as, Tor exam
| pie. upon food products from various
producing districts seeking common mar
EetS OF consumption were reasonably
| dealt with according To the conditions
2nd influences surrounding each psrticu-
lar ease; but the factor uf mileage was
and Is unfailineiy present ard invariab by
regarded 70 the extent that the greater
distance. within the defined territory. Is
always given Il higher through rate than
the lesser notwithstanding the. cnor-
| the general arcat growth OF the wide
| territory involved, and the Construc,ion
Of many additional lines Of railroad
| therein after The uninterrupted test Of
nearly forty ycars, that mileage hasis
| there still continues In generally sue
| ccssful and satisfactory operation.
| IL suggesting 20 the commission u sys-
| TEN III through rstc making for Utah.
| Chicago was taken as the eastern. and
san Francisco as the western boundary
Of the territory to he considered; the cur
rent class and commodity rates between
! Chicago. the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers and san Francisco forming the
| respective basis. although treated in
somewhat different manner as 10 the Two
| forms OF rates. but with tho view that
! a method essentially similar 20 that so
| long and suCcossiull!' In use between the
/ Atlantic asaboard and The Mississippi
| river might find a, least beginning
mere II is broad proposition but Is
| greater hope for probable success than
any other now disccrnihe RI its adop-
tion may not. OF legally cannot. come
| now through tho channel invoked. then
| despite any centralizinG Of ownership or
| control OF the railway carriers, that ba
sis some equitable equivalent there
l II. lN.
mandate OF the people. Who always and
| irrcslstbly come into their own when
properly aroused 10 It's accomplishment
Mileage Illustration.
Should any doubts ha existing with
| the public concerning tho advantages u
| be derived from the application Of
/ straight mileage system upon the prod
uctS OF Utah moving 10 eastern markets
tho following illustrations based upon the
current rates from San Francisco upon
! the same commodities and moving 10 the
same destinations may be rca ssIrlng;
present rate OF "a cents would be re-
! ducod TO 81 cents per 100 pounds
Potatoes to The Missouri .5.g,Is ri riygrMr,G roG
10 f. cents per 100 pounds
Seed alfalfa. etc. To the Missouri riv-
er-Thc pres"u, rate OF 81 would be re-
| ducod To 80 cents per 1on pounds.
Dry hides and sheep pclts. 10 the Mis-
| souri, riVcr-Tho present rate OF Sl.4'
would bo reduced TO IS cents per 100
| pounds.
Sugar, TO the Missouri riyerxrhe pres
TO 81 cents per 100 pounds.
| Wool To Boston, Mass.-Tho present
rate Of s2i5 sacked. would be reduced
10 s. cents. baled
The people 9i Ctsh Goul6 nd. doTSi'GSs D2 g
Aictions OF the foregoing character
which might follow The adoption OF a
mileage basis for the construction OF
their through rates OF freight transpor-
tation. but the railroads Will employ cy-
cry possible means In prevention Of It's
being secured.
Traffic Bureau Reasonable.
The Commercial Club Traffic bureau
has not demanded tho reductions In luli'
as shown above. but willingly took the
view that certain conditions existed
worthy OF consideration IN the proposed
roadjustncnt OF commodity Tntss' winch
! were given reasonable recognition IN the
construction of It's petition To The inter-
state Commerce commission
The enormous earnings Of the Union
Pacific system and It's affiliated trans
continental system. the Southern PaClhc
company. the dominating forces III tho
transportation affairs OF this state ana
region have heretofore been frequently
and clearly shown so grossly excessive
per mile Of road and f"r each ton OF
freight handled. With their cNeeption2"y
low rates of opera ting expenses, that
additional comment thereon Is scarcely
NECESSARY The people of Utah however.
may he Interested In iurtnfr hloW,ns Int
being tho first four months OF their cur
rent fiscal year, the frcight and I passGn- sen
Trm INCREASED $3210.l2I. and of the
Pacific system. which Includes the Cen
trail Pacific west of Ogden. OF The SOUTH
en- Pacific COMPANY $iI43.2I. above
their oycrHowinc similar earnings for tn"
corresponding months OF the previous
yenr. -, a.,
nrisr as TO how much longer the people
will quietly submit 10 having th"s. con-
sian,iy increasing ard ouirageouSiy "N-
ressiy,. revenues unjustly and arbitral-
w wrung from them? posslPly the com com
pllor of The article mentioned. tho struc-
iur, and diversity nf statements of
which might iudicn!c his conscious pos
session OF an all l-cmbraciug stock Of Wis
dom may bc Considcratc enough Z" sup
nIy n satisfactory answer 10 this quite
interesting propositioI
Tho people Of tah VIII rcJoice ~
! reasonable rcadjustm"nt OF LiamSpoTta-
ton rates may result from tn" work al
this hI,rcau Thcy VIII also rejoice n
f..H l1.