Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-02-06
THE TRUNK LINES.
Threatened Collapse Of the Great Freight
Pool Of the Trunk Railways.

A New YOrk telegram dated Jan 2Sth,
says James II. Hunter of the New York
Central, and other railroad men have
been interviewed regarding the freight
troubles, and express themselves freely
as to the Grand Trunk methods of fair
dealing. The Times says: 1.-The attitude
of the Grand Trunk and Vermont Cen
trail, the Canadian roads Boston conrec-
ton, threatens to bring abouta combined
movement by the trunk lines moraced
III the pool to compel them to come to
terms or else carry off their entire bust
ness by the ablishng of rates with
which they can never hope to compete
without ruin. From the accounts of
two leading railroad officials, it appears
that the disturbances are caused by a
recent departure by the Grand Trunk
from the agreement made last fall Mr..
Hickson, General Manager of the Grand
Trunk. comes in for a good share Of
criticism, and both officers say that
while he has made many promises he
has never kept enough to inspire gen.
eral confidence"
| Mr.. Rutter said he desired it distinctly
understood that the Central Railroad
had not in the slightest degree departed
from the letter Or spirit of the agree
| ment made by the trunk lines. IF ship
pers had succeeded by sharp practice
IN leading the road into an apparent vi
olation of the compact it was not with
| the knowledge of the officers. The
Grand Trunk and Vermont Central had
not maintained rates since july, 1877,
when the pool was made. At meeting
Ivy ho FIJI Il,
Of the Grand Trunk, Mr.. Bliss, of the
Boston & Albany, and Mr.. Blanchard,
of the Erie, were present, Mr.. Hickson
said he would not be bound by rates
made by the trunk lines Since then
he has constantly been cutting rates,
until now he has nearly destroyed the
| business of the Boston & Albany and
| Hoosac line connections of the Central
Railroad. He even went so far as to
take away from the only docks in Bos-
ton at which the foreign steamers land.
and on which the Boston & ALBANY
Road have their tracks, freights that
had to be carted to the cars of the Grand
Trunk Road. He also absorbed all the
| California business. and in fact all the
| business to competing points that they
could command. The business left with
the New England connection became so
light that the New York Central deter
mined to protest the cutting on that
which it controlled.
Early in December the Central Road
protested before a meeting of the Trunk
Line Presidents that it would be forced
to allow the Boston & Albany to cut
rates IN order to save its business. Mr..
Vanderbilt presented the matter. Mr..
Blair, of the Boston & Albany. wanted
| to know if be was to be required to let
his business slip out Of his hands while,
he maintained rates and the Vermont
Central " as breaking them. JAP. Mr..
Vanderbilt again laid the matter before
the meeting of Trunk-Line Presidents,
and subsequently gave Mr. Jewett, the
Chairman, formal notice that he felt
| compelled to notify his Eastern connec-
tons to cut rates in order to meet the
l-rates Of the Grand Trunk.
During all this time Mr.. Hickson, said
Mr.. Rutter, has steadily declared he
was maintaining the rates. When re-
monstrated with, this was his invariable
| answer. To the propositions presented
by Mr.. Fink, he replies that he will con-
slider them. No reply has yet been re-
ceived. 1t is probable that if positive
and favorable answer is not received in
| a day or two, the trunk line managers
stop effectually the leak of west-bo,lnd
| business through Canada. The Central
is not disposed to let rates be loose at
one point and fast at New York. We
shall know definitely this week what
Mr.. Hickson and the Central Vermont
will do. If they don't accept the terms
offered them, the New York Central
will join the other lines IN adopting such
plans as they shall deem proper to meet
the case. ,slglg
Another official, intimately connected
with the details of the trunk lines com
bination, said: "Last fall, when the
trunk-llne managers met to sign the
compact to maintain eastbound freights,
Sir Henry Tyler, President of the Grand
Trunk Railroad, was present, heard
the discussion, participated, and
signed the compact. It was clearly
understood in the meeting that west
bound rates were to be maintained,
and Sir Henry Tyler considered him
self SO bound. Mr.. Hickson, who
OK plcoScO llliIlSSl1 laNOCaDlC 10 Tie plaI1S
Of the Convention, asked to be allowed
to sign the compact as representa-
tive of a New York line. This was re-
fused, and other privileges he requested
were declined by the managers. When
asked about his refusal to sign as man
ager Of the Grand Trunk he made eva
sive replies. He had before this OBJ
jected to coming in, because he said the
Vermont Central had contracts which
would keep it out of the pool. One of
these was with the Allan Line, which
would expire in Octooer. The Presi-
dents SAID: We will leave that out
The compact was finally signed. When
the Allan Line ran out, new contract
was made, with another steamship line
on the same terms, and at rates equally
as low from Liverpool to Chicago as
those obtained from the Allan Line. Pro-
test was made, but to no purpose; the
rates were constantly cut. Mr.. Hickson
constantly complained that the New
York Central was cutting rates. 1t is
n, " holiof fhof ~ id ~, o..al> 49,. n;