Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-09-23
RAILROADS CANNOT AGREE
Rock Island Gives Up Hope of Rout-
ing Through Cars.
HISTORY OF THE TROUBLE
Northwestern and Milwaukee Roads
Are the Chief Beneficiaries of
the New order of the Inter
state Commission.

The Burlington and Rock Island rail
roads have awakened to the fact that
the ogden and salt Lake gateway TO the
west is not only closed 10 them, but they
have awakened to the fact that this
gateway has been locked and the key
thrown away. AS the situation now
stands. by reason Of ruling of the Inter
state Commerce commission. neither road
can sell through western tickets to points
west of Denver and give a continuous
passage.
None of the Union Pacific, Northwest
ern or Milwaukee officials here will
claim responsibility for the new order Of
things, which is admitted to be the
shrewdest move made on the railroad
checker board IN many a year They
throw the responsibility upon the Inter
state Commerce commission, contending
that It was a move that this tribunal
made upon its own volition. All concede
that the Northwestern and Milwaukee
have become the benefclaries. as they
are enabled 10 run their through cars TO
the coast on the trains of the Union Pa
cific, the Southern Pacific and the San
Pedro lines,
Rock Island Gives UP.
Already the Rock Island has submitted
to the inevitable and has given notice
that all of its coast business will be
routed via El Paso The Burlington
people are not saying a word other than
20 remark that the matter has not been
glnally disposed OF.
The origin of the order OF the Hartman
lines closing the ogden and salt Lake
gateway 10 the Burlington and Rock Is
land came about in this way;
About one and one-half years ago the
Interstate Commerce commission ordered
the Southern Pacific, the Western Pa
cific and the San Pedro lines to reduce
their fares from Ogden and Salt Lake
City to San Francisco and Los Angeles
to s2s5s and SOS respectively. The rate
Of S2s.5s is based on cents per mile.
while the rate to Los Angeles is some
what higher, the commission p:edicating
the S25 rate on the faot riat the country
traversed By the San Pedro line was
sparsely settled and entitled 70 some
what higher rates than those allowed
the Southern Pacific. When the Western
Pacific opened it's line from Ogden to
San Francisco, it was obliged 10 meet
the rate established by the commission
for the Southern Pacific
The through fares from the Missouri
river to California were not affected by
the order OF the commission and re-
mained as heretofore. $50 for first and SO
for second class and 50 for a nine
months round trip ticket
Dividing Through Fares.
The through fares have always been
divided on percentages derived from the
local fares OF the lines 10 and from Ogden
and Salt Lake City. That is TO say the
Union Pacific fare from Omaha 20 ogden
and Salt Lake City Is $3.50 and the
Souther Pacific fare from the two Utah
towns to San Francisco, prior TO the re-
duction made by the commission, $50
Therefore the through fare was divided
practically on a basis OF 50 and 50 per
cent.
When the reduced fare ordered by the
commission took effect the Burlington
and Rock Island insisted on dividing on
the basis Of the new rates. taking advan.
tage so 10 speak OF the lines west OF
ogden and salt Lake City, 10 Increase
their own proportions. This would not
in any wise benefit the public. but would
add from 50 10 81 per ticket to their rev.
enue on every passenger routed to the
coast.