The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-13
UNMERGING.

Much disappointment exists IN th'
ranks Of the Californians who stormed
the department Of justice In the hope
: Of preventing the suit of the United
States to compel the Southern Pacific
TO sell the Central Pacific. On Tues
dav the Pacific coast commercial rep
ressntatives held a conference with
Attorney General McReyno]ds, argu
ing that at least he should delay the
proposed action for thirty days to per
NIT a further investigation. Naturally
thew were somewhat shocked when the
government suit was filed in Salt Lake
City on the day following the confer
ence.
The California delegates, who are
supporting the Southern Pacific IS con-
troll Of the Central Pacific, feel that
their state depends in large measure
for it's prosperity on the amount OF
business done by the Southern Pacific.
The governments view is that the
Southern Pacific, by means of its
power to send traffic through Califor-
mia to and from the east by way Of
The Sunset Route, has established mo-
uopoIy and discriminates against the
Central Pacific and the Union Pacific.
The Cslifornians are convinced that
this monopoly ia TO their benefit, be-
cause it means more traffic through
California.
IF the Central Pacific becomes an in,
dependent line as result Of the gov
ernmsnt's suit, the Southern Pacific
monopoly will be broken and traffic
will be routed through its natural
channels. \ vast amount Of business
originating in California, and especial
ly at San Francisco, will follow the di-
rect transcontlnental route east by way
of the Central Pacific, the Union Pa
cific and the eastern connections of
the Union Pacific. Constantly increas.
ing business from the orient would
naturally follow the direct route but
for the Southern Pacific S control of
The Central Pacific. Instead of giving
this business 10 the Central Pacific and
the Union Pacific on joint traffic
and pro rata basis, the Southern Pacific
sends il south and then to the cast by
way Of the Sunset Route. The reason
for this routing. Of course, is clear, The
Southern Pacific enjoys the profit of
much longer haul 90 The cast by way
of the Sunset Route. The Southern Pa
cific secures the entire haul and the
entire revenue, II it shipped by way
Of the Central Pacific IL would secure
only 81 per cent Of the haul and a
corresponding share Of the revenue. The
government declares, therefore, that
the Southern Pacific sends by the Cen
trail Pacific only such traffic ~ it has
net The power to send by the Sunset
Route.
Tue foregoing. however, is not the
only discrimination alleged. The com
plant states that by new construction
the Central Pacific, ii independent,
could extend, al small expense. it's hnc
from Natron 10 Portland. Thus there
would be two competitive railroads be-
tween San Francisco and Portland, in
stead of one, rs at present.
4 still further restraint of trade
aimed at by the suit exists in the
south. The complaint states that "the
Central Pacific line from Hazeu, Nov.
10 Mojave connects with the Santa Fe,
and with the Santa Fc would be in nat
ural competition between points on the
Central Pacific and points in Arizona,
New Mexico. Texas and other southern
states.
Referring to the supposed restraint
OF trade In the Oregon district. the
complaint points out that the Southern
Pacific so adjusts its freight rates and
passenger fares on traffic originating
in the Central Pacific territory north
of San Francisco as TO discriminate
against transportation east over the
Joint transcontinental route OF the Cen.
trail Pacific and Union Pacific railroa ds
and other eastern connections in this
way the Southern Pacific prevents com
petition, and denies equal advantages
and facilities as to rates, time and
transportation.
In other words, according 10 the view
taken by the government the Southern
Pacific diverts traffic from natural
into artificial channels, from direct
routes to more costly indirect routes.
Theoretically this increases the cost Of
shipment The tratiic Of vast region
n. lut Ian IL. 4 l.. ..