Show TRAFFIC BUREAU MAKES A REPLY Commissioner Babcock Writes to D. D E. E Burley Concerning Passenger Rates EARNINGS ARE DISCUSSED Letter Leter Intimates That Railways Have It in Power to Give Relief Comparisons of ot passenger rates rales In inthe tho the West Vest how x time the Oregon Short Line nc the tho Southern Pacific and the alt Lake Route Houto discriminate against s Salt alt Lake b by charging II higher her rates to coast cities than arc char charged cd In other states cites has hns opened a series of or correspondence with tho time railroads Inan In uP Inan an attempt to Justify this discrimination tion against Utah tah The Time Commercial Club Traffic bureau replied yesterday yesterday e to tho the letter leler written by D. D B. B Burlo Bude Burley general passenger agent for tor tho the Oregon Short hort Line In which Mr Ir Burley Durle represented rep- rep resented that Salt Sal Lake was g getting t the me same rates that oth other r cities of ot the Wf-st Wf ar are ar allowed c. c In Jn my letter to you of ot orthe the time the time 0 rates of oC ran faro Cr from m maute aute and antl Spokane to Portland San n Francisco and Los Angeles Angel 1 ore 01 correctly Lor cor stated anti and named tho time amounts the public Is required to pay puy for tor tn tm III services Indicated and which Is 13 tlc tie only feature of Interest to It I says Mr ir Bat Balm Balm- cock In his hla reply to the time Oregon Short Line official The Time comparisons of ot rates over which the correspondence arose sho tho cd cd that the fare from frol rein Salt Sal Lako Lake to Portland 90 90 1109 miles Is 27 or 3 h cents a mile mie Fr m un Lake to San Francisco miles mies the time fare Is or cents a mie mile and amid from Salt Lal Lake to Los Angeles 81 niles miles tIme the faro fare Is 30 or 38 I 1 cents a CL mile mie On tho tIme other hand the fare from Butte to Portland mies miles Is 2270 ir w 1 46 a mile mie and Spokane to Portland lB miles mies tho the faro fare is 1120 a a rate of or 07 cents a mile Traffic Tho The letter from time tl Traffic bureau tureau to Air Mr Burle follows Salt Lake Lal-e City Utah March 23 28 1909 Mr lr D. D E. E Burley General Passenger Agent O O. S S. S L. L L R. R n It It H. H City M My Dear Sir Res Respectfully Respectfully replying to your our letter of ot tho the as ns contained In the time nc newspapers ne this morning morning permit le no to state that It Is time the practice of this bureau to offer ofer for or puL publication all al letters leters or statements issued b by It It which mar may mat be bo deemed of ot Interest to the public 0 o expect Expect also to offer to the press all replies that may be ho le received unless their authors ma may request ot ter wise since we wo are arc of or tho time opinion that will wil do good oo In my letter leter to lo you of or the Instant tho the rates 0 or of fare faro from Butte Butto Bute and nd Spokane to Portland and from this It Ity to Portland San Francisco and L Ls a An Angeles eles were elc correctly stated and named the amounts the public Is actually actually ac nc- ac- ac Lunny required to Ila pay nay for tor the tho service an and which Is the tho only tea fea ture Lure of ot Interest to It The Time public Is not consulted or considered con con- b by the time railways ralas In their peculIar methods of ot dividing up territory or earnings s therein yet yot all Interested Interest interest- ed d possess tho ho undoubted right to lo be heard and 30 so far tar a as this bureau lureau Is concerned concerned con con- corned any representative of tho limo crIers car car- cr- cr desiring to discuss these or orny any ny other matters maters will wi be most cordially at Its Is rooms I I. I Up to the We e earnest earnestly desire to bring about an Improved oved condition o of the time transportation transportation tation affairs for tor Utah and have no rio other purpose in view and If It the time railroads railroads rail rail- rai- rai roads arc are really realy Interested in ing the time density of the population to to- to which you referred it rests more 1010 easily easl In their power to bring it about than with all 01 other forces combined In this connection I he hec to Invite Invie your our attention to the time fact tact that the earnings earn earn- ings of the Union Pacific Including tl Ie o I Oregon Oregon Short Line Lino and Navigation co coti- coti to mm- mm for the year 1907 were 1303 13 03 per pcr mile mie or very nearly as much muchas as those of at the Lake Shore and Michigan Michigan Michi Michi- gan gan Southern which Is la the most able line lne In earnings between Now New York nn and Chicago while Its Is operating expenses ex ex- pensos are of greater ratio than those thOo I of the Union Pacific system It I would therefore appear that If IC tho limo density of or population In this region Is la not quite satisfactory to your our company compan the re- re density of Its Is earnings must surely be Do you ou not really th think Ink real therefore that your company can we well afford aford tp p be fairly liberal with wih what few fv people there are arc here I I taJ take e It that your reply Is not to be considered as final Inal in disposing of oC disposing the time requests contained In our letter leter to you vou of or the time Instant and will wi therefore therefore there there- fore await your our further advices Vcr Very truly yours S II 11 I. I BABCOCK Commissioner of ot Traffic |