The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1922-12-19
UNION PACIFIC
DRAWS FIRE Of
FRANK G00D!NG
Senator Declares Idaho
Suffers From 0. S. L.
Closed Door Policy,
Relief Necessary.

soClldlOl dllh NOoulllR COHDIttc
argument before the Interstate COM
merce commission recently in opposi-
ton TO the proposed monopoly for all
time OF the southern Idaho territory by
the Union Pacific system was received
here Friday by mail from Washington.
Senator Gooding charges that the Ore
gon Short Line has pursued a closed
door policy in this territory. He de-
cared that the Union Pacific charged
from 100 to 200 per cent greater frcigh,
tariffs than prevail for identical COM
munities and mileage in the east.
Extracts from Senator Gooding's
argument follow:
1T has been during my residence
in Idaho that the Oregon Short Line,
together with its branches, have all
been constructed, which gives the Ore
gon Short Line today control over the
largest non-competitive field in the
United States, territory of some
thing more than $1,000 square miles
Il have known practically all of the
officials of the Oregon Short Line
since the days of constructions They
have all been a splendid lot OF gentle
men and generally it can be said that
the local management of the Oregon
Short Line has been very efficient.
Closed Door Policy
What ] am complaining of is the
policy and excessive freight rates TO
the Oregon Short Line that forces
all of our farm and range products
over the Union Pacific with its long
haul to the eastern markets.
This is done through closed door
policy and excessive freight rates to
the west that are from 100 to 200 per
cent higher in mileage basis than
they are to the east These excessive
freight rates deny to the people of my
state, to very large extent, the use
of the great ocean that God Almighty
gave to all the people, and at the
same time denies them the use of the
Panama Canal, which they were taxed
to build, as we'll as the rest of the
people of America.
Through, closed door policy. the
Unon Pacific has closed the gateway
at Ogden, Denver and to the north at
Butte No other railroads are per-
mitted to participate in the freight
originating the territory over which
the Oregon Short Line has mon
opoly. I do not believe it will ever be
possible to give the people OF Idaho
proper railroad service when we are
forced TO depend entirely upon one
road-the Union Pacific-wnh its long
haul, for when freight cars reach the
congested districts OF the east ard
get into, or beyond what is called the
neck Of the bottle, think even t'iose
who are not railroad men realize that
there is some difficulty in getting cars
returned to the west, and with the
fixed policy Of the Union Pacific never
to haul empty cars in any direction
when it is possible to avoid it, regard
less of the service they give to the
people in those communities over
which they have monopoly, It is not
hard to understand how the people OF
my state have suffered from lack OF
proper transportation to carry their
products to market, which has done
much to retard the growth and devel-
opment Of Idaho,
Anything that would tend to IN
crease tho Union pacific's monopoly
over the territory they now control
or that would add new territory to
that monopoly, would, in my jndg'
ment be crime, and an outrage on
the people Of my state, and all the
people over which the Oregon Short
Line now cniorces its monopoly,
Car Shortage for 20 Years
For the last twenty years, ther,
has been more or less OF car short
age almost every year to handle thu
farm and range products in that terri
tory over which the Oregon Shor
Line monopoly exists, This year, tn,
conditions are a little more serious
than they have been in the past, anc
there is no doubt but what the rail
road strike has accumulated the cal
shortage at the present time,
This year, it is estimated that there
will be cometlfng like 5000 cars O
potatoes rot IN the ground, owing Il