Omaha daily bee., 1914-07-26
VICTORY FOR UNION PACIFIC
Permitted to Take Long Haul Of
Western Freight.
COMMERCE COMMISSION RULES
Federal Body Revcrses self Follow
ing evidence and Arguments at
RehearinE-Order Effcc-
tive Immediately.

Before the Interstate Commerce COM
mission the Union Pacific has won a big
victory in legal contest that has been
waged for more than two years and In
which the commission revcrses itself. by
the decision OF the commission the Union
Pacific Is permitted TO close the Denver
and Pullman gateways against the Bur
lington, Rock Island and Missouri Pacific
for general traffic between exclusive
points on the system in Washington and
Oregon and places on and east of the
Missouri river.
The meaning OF the decision is that
when freight originates at points on the
lines OF the Union Pacific in Washington
and Oregon the company lines will haul
It through to destination. thus getting the
long haul instead Of turning II over to
other roads at Denver and Pullman. II a
carload OF merchandise is shipped from
Omaha TO any exclusive point on the
Union Pacific system IN either Washing
ton or Oregon, or II consignment
is shipped from Missouri river point
| touched by the Union Pacific and to an
exclusive point in either OF the two west
ern states. 1t will go through on the ono
I
Denver or Pullman
The Union Pacific is the principal
beneficiary by reason. Of the decision OF
the commission, though It is asserted that
| by cutting out the delay incident to a
transfer in the Denver and Pullman
yards. the time between the Missouri
river points and those in Oregon and
Washington will be cut twenty -four TO
! forty-eight hours.
Instead of shipments TO and from the
west going by way OF Denver hereafter
they will he routed by way of Cheyenne,
thus causing a saving OF 100 or more
miles. Rates however, remain the same,
in the past having been on the through
basis.
Profitable for Union Pncific.
Railroad men look upon the decision as
a big killing for the Union Pacific for
now # will get the entire haul between
the Missouri river and the Washington
and Oregon points instead Of having to
turn over a portion OF the business at
Denver and Pullman, thus losing out on
900 miles.
! 1t is understood that the decision does
not apply to lumber and fruit and that
these two commodities will take the
same routlnBS as In the past.
Upon the completion of the Oregon
Short Line and the Oregon & Washing
ton railroad years ago and when they
became part of the Union Pacific sys-
tenn, the Denver and Pullman gateways
were closed against the roads operating
into Denver and handling business be-
tween the northwest and the Missouri
river This continued up to the time of
the receivership After that the gate
WAYS were closed and remained so for a
number OF years. Some five years ago
the Missouri river-Colorado roads other
than the Union Pacific went before the
Interstate Commerce commission and
asked for the opening of the gateway
The order was granted and some two
years ago the Union Pacific asked for a
rehearing This in time was granted
after which testimony was offered and
arguments heard The case was taken
under advisement, with the result of the
decision now handed down and which be-