The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-04-25
The LAST DITCH.
Which Evidently Has Been Reached
in the Matter of Railroad
Freight Rates.
The st. Louis Roads Come Down to
Bed Rock, and Garry Mer-
chandise for Almost
Nothing.
While the Chicago Lines Say They
Will Make no Further
Reductions,

The roads running westward from 81. Louis.
contrary TO all calculations and expectations,
have met the reduction made by the chicago
lines on last Saturday, and on Wednesday
showed their tariff down to Missouri River
points 10 the following: First-class, ~ cents ;
second-cIass, 10 cents third class, 10. cents
fourth class, cents, special 3 cents. The
other reductions are: Class A, SO; class b,
3 U; class c, SO. The tariff gives difference
i'm favor of 81, Louis of cents on first and sec
ond classes, cents on third and fourth class
es, and also cents on Especial
THE IDEA
that the 81. Louis roads would d" this-make
the cut-peyer once entered the heads OF the
Chicago people, and as a natural consequence
they were perfectly thunderstruck when the
same was done. Two weeks ago the rate was
sixty.five cents, and now II is ten cents.
While the Chicago lines are working as one
foad, as one interest, in competing with the
81. Louis roads for the business originating
at Missouri river points, they are far from be-
ing united in handling the traffic
DESTINED To COLORADO,
and which is not involved in the fierce strug-
gle going on. There are no rates TO Denver.
Each road is glad to take whatever price 1t
suits the capric, of the shipper to offer for
transportation. Two weeks ago the rate on
groceries was sl.5O Der hundred. Now the
roads are making contracts with shippers at
twenty five cents per hundred. The lumber
traffic is a heavy Item just now. Chicago Is
supplying the greater part of the southwest,
As far ont as Denver and Pueblo. The regu-
lar tariff rate TO Denver is seventy-six cents
n car nf us
ty-four thousand pounds. But that tariff has
been ignored for two weeks past, and on
Wednesday the roads were taking lumber at
So per car 10 the Missouri river, and go 10
Denver.
CHICAGO RATES.
The Chicago rates are: First and second
class, Is cents; third class, Is cents, and fourth
and special classes, 10 cents. The managers
of The Chicago roads say II does not matter
what rates the st. Louis roads now make, as
ut the above they get all the business they
want The grain rates from Missouri river
points 10 Chicago remain at seven cents per
one hundred pounds, and the shippers are
taking such advantage Of these low rates
that the railroads cannot supply enough cars,
and for this reason an increase may become
necessary. The grain rare from Missouri NV
er points to ST. Louis is said to be eight cents.
The Chicago roads say they do not mean to
follow this last reduction made by the 81.
Louis roads, as the Old rates are such that the
latter cannot make their regular differences
unless they reduce the rates on some classes
below 4 Ct ing. Ten cents from this city 10
81 Louis for first, second and third class
freight, and five cents for fourth and ''spe-
cal Is something never before dreamed OF
in the history of railroads, and il can hardly
be that the roads are not losing heavily at
that rate. They claimed that AT the old rates
they made but little money, and now, that
tn. rates have been reduced about seventy
per cent, they surely are not getting rich.
S1HE MEANTIME,
however, the merchants are not mpiaiDinf,
and the amount * goods now being shipped
to Thu, city dsiiy from 81. Louis and Chicago,
and the cities ofthr sea5olrd, is Simply enor-
nous and almost beyond belief. That the
war an ,ntinue much longer is an impos-
sibility. The Chicago roads say that they do
not intend 81 reduce their rates TO any lower
figures than they are at present, as they are
now doing all the business they can accom-
mediate. Thus the fight goes on, and wheth-
er 1T. Louis, or Chicago, Will give in first, re-
mains TO be seen