Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-09-01
CAR SHORTAGE AND THE S. P.

,t;os ond devalonment due to car shortage. That
shortage is due to the Southern Pactlc Whch owns
ticav all the roads west of the Cascades, IN tne sIae
Theoretically the interests OF the state ana the oouel
paf;c raroad are identical The state cannot prosper
and develop without this road because 1t IS all te eaS
of transportation great part OF the state mas nc
verse of every proposition is said to be true anu so'
the Southern Pacific could not prosper unless te e. W
roenered If the business of the road was conneo 10
Oregon this would be true but such Is not tle oao
has other and what it considers greaIer
the state and that is where the trouble ARISES
That is also where the railroad management Is making
. oroat mistake There is section tributary 10 Ce
great railroad system that will respond so qucky anu 81
Generously to kind treatment as oregon Ihe lohs a
sadly neglected The great valleys along le west
Of tTe mountains are ready to pour wealth OF maCerla
on The markets of the world pust so soon as the
are assured that their products can reach those
bat assurance it has never had for the reason t we
business good and there is deana & for cals 1 v he
rorv tributary to the road is served first and 1y pe
ca,1se the railroad having no opposition here' Can W
made to wait That is the case now. 1or oregon ~ M 90
transportaon service is concerned is IN nuch Worse
dton than any other state on the coast JUST now e
hon country is living awake at nights wondering II lts
business is to be ruined and stagnalon reign ~ Is woi
derng if its wheat and corn its livestock ana eo
,,cts are to be left markeess because there Is ho
oraton II wonders its lumber and minerals lts coa
IA Ire factory products are to be shut out or tne Wolu
markets; and above all 1t wonders IL IL can
,,in staring it in the face if these conditions shouio
materiaiZe. 40 ~ olroodv ex
rencno this condition There is not an actual stoPpae
of all business but there is such conditions as are ~
nbaarahe Mills are shutting down, fruit rottng IN the
ohards businessmen and farmers suffering heaVy
losses and ali business injured and kept back oy car
chortaoe Businessmen and orchardlsS nave pieaueo ~
vain for cars to get their wares to market lhey
ed nolite replies and promises that came no deeper
tban the teeth but that is ALL They have not received
tb cars The Public Service commission has caeu al
tanton time and time again to the disastrous c0hIios
caused by this lack of transportation ana IL 100 mas
answered poitey and handed excuses cut from the Dol.
and ready made The commission has done all II can M lo
4 ;s noweess under the law as it now Is 10 cope '
S. p to furnish cars. co.. +bo nrr
sa of roasting" the railroad but is Just statement ~
fts We realize that we should have no quaffei WIZ.
tbe Southern Pacific AS we'll might the body get angry
d condemning its arteries and veins seek 10 lhJule
tho as for the people of this state to try TO mue Ie
ilroad system that is its circulation system so Iar as
trade IS concerned and trade is the life blood OF county
t m much as is the red tide that courses through te
bnman body its life giving source.
II s said in the friendiest spirit because we Wais
sca not revenge We want cars for our products anu
tba means of trading with fellow men, IL is qhy
thonoh the Southern Pacific can hope Tor TINS Just
now t6e railroads are blaming their employees Tor relus-
;o to handle their cars blaming them the more because
tbev saw thew the roads, helpless without the aeor
of these trained men who alone can DO their work ioi
Them If they could get others it would be dhereht out
th;s cannot he done because there are no Others
We wonder if the Southern Pacific managers reahze
that they are doing to Oregon exactly what they oae
their men for doing to them? Oregon cannot get Ns