, 1881-06-19
THE RAILROADS.
EAsT-BOUNp FREIGHT WAR.

EAST-BOUND FREIGHT WAR.
The present freight war and the couse-
Quent heavy reductions in rates has had but
little effect upon the east-bounl freight ship.
ments during the past week. Contrary to
general expectation. the shipments were
light, and the increase over the week pre-
vl0us, when shipments we're lighter than
they were for year past, Is hardly worth
mentioning. Since the week previous freight
rates have dropped from % cents per 100
pounds OH grain to IL cents. The reason tl!at
shipments were no heavier was duo to the
fact that shippers refused to mike heavy
contracts before the rates had gulIe dawn tu
Is cents, anticipating that they would como
trouble was over. Tho Urgent rate has only
been in effect during the lust two days,
and business contracted for on this
1aSix ths w , ot MT ,ss, ns ] 1esonnted td TOR
dropped down TO Is cents eontri.cts were
freely male, ami 1t Is reported that durtng
tue last two days about 5,0J,U00 bushels Ut
gruill have been arruilsed fur. SOME 1T the
lines, il is stated, have now enough business
end of July. Soillu of the large shippers
have thus far refused to make contracts even
at the l5-cclt rate, and are holding out for
l2-ccllt tariff. 1t does not trallspire, how
ever, thnt any contracts have yet btIn muddy
at u.nt rate. Owing to the heavy el,s;lge-
.nneM1s OF the last two days the shipments
next week an4 Tor q few weeks following
will no doubt be unusually heavy. Tile All
noui}tce!nent that tug rrnIlk-LI!.e Presidents
that tue, tariff lates should bu restored,
that no tiule contracts sllOuId be made, and
that the trunk lines will nDt- participate In.
any cut rates is locked upon by railroad
men here as q piece Of bnncolnbe. The
trnnk-liMo railroads. must be aware Of the
fact that authorized agents OF their own lines
are the ones who went into tic market llpr6>
aud forced the rates down to present low
ilgures and !nadu most Ut the longtime coll
that they lave all The contracts they want: to
say that Ho engagements shall be nlaue and
that they will moi participate in any further
cuts III rates. They must know fuI! we'll
that IL would he outrageo1lsly sharp PRACTICE
thu busls Of 30 cents, On those shippers who
have not bern fortunate enough tn SECURE
con1rncts, when cohtrActs are out with the
m more fa'ored shippers for millions Of BUSH
ea e!s bo ct sF e eaa a Of canSt S s ;. carried sce
would simply break UP all the snail silil:
pers and hell. to enrich the big ones. Tlle
trnnk-lnc railroads will tinA that II they
atte1npt to carry out such a sclielne there
around their heads that will not SO easily be
d1spelled us the storn! which they e0niured
up when they carried Ont the sal,le E;s,ue on
4 smaller scale about two ll.Ontlls ago. Be-
sidcs some Of their Western connections will
refuse to otcollle q party to such q schuule,
and no doubt they will continue to take
business Mt the present low rates until all Tie
contracts nllde by tile trunk lines have been
disguised Of. The east bound puolllg arrange
nent Is dead beyond resurrection, ana lie
numoerleSs circulars, orders, and prouueIa-
uleitos which Commissioner Fink issues are
simply treated US su much PAPER. 1t seems quite
ridiculous to Instruct the Western lines to
carry out the pulling agreement as far as the
maintenance Of rates is concerned when
lnents are Or ever have been enforced. WiYt,-
out proper division OF business Tiers can
@ 6e no pool, for com petition cannot be stopped.
Ile pool provides PERCENTAGES for thn