The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-12-05
THE GRAND CUT.

1t has transpired that nothing really APP
preaching settlement of the rate war was
accomplished at Saturdays meeting in Chi
cago. After the gentlemen present had
spent some time in informal talk and an
examination of map of the Northwest,
Mr.. Keep stated the object of the meeting.
The st. Paul and Omaha people at once
made proposition for the division of ter
ritory aud traffic arrangements with the
lines built into the Omaha's territory, al
lowing all companies the same rights over
the new line Chippewa Valley and Super
ior) that are enjoyed by the Chicago, Mil
waukee and St Paul company, and placing
man in charge of all traffic and opera
tons of the line, to see that the traffic
seeks its natural outlet, and to make a fair
division of the strictly competitive traffic.
In case the business of the country de
manded any extensions, the St. Paul and
Omaha company agreed to build such ex-
tensions, and would make a fair and equi-
table division of the traffic reached by
those lines with the Milwaukee and St.
Paul company.
Some time was taken up in explaining
the above propositions and making them
clear to Mr. Mitchell, who is not as fully
posted in regard to the present difficulties
as is his general manager. Mr.. Mitchell
said he was not prepared to give any decis-
i've answer until he had submitted the
propositions of the Omaha people to his
board of directors in New
as to indicate that his people were not dis
posed to relinquish any of the Chippewa
and Superior line business.
The conference was very quiet one,
and none but the above propositions were
proposed or discussed. In fact, there was
hardly anything that could be called dis
cussion, as the propositions of the Omaha
people were of such nature that no other
question could be considered until they
were settled.
The result of this meeting will in no
manner cause any change in the rates that
are now established. There is not likely
to he any further cut on business from
the west, simply for the reason that rates
are now as low as it is possible to make
them and charge anything at all
The attention of the Omaha people was
called by reporter to the statement of
Mr. Meyers, assistant general manager of
the St. Paul road, wherein he stated that
he was present at a conference between
Messrs Porter and Merrill, at which Mr.
Mr. Porter agreed to pool Eau Claire,
Menomonee, and Saltwater business, and
afterwards repudiated it because the st.
Paul people would not include Minneapo
lis business. This the Omaha people deny
in the most emphatic manner, and state
that no pooling arrangement at all was
made, for the reason that Mr.. Porter, from
the start maintained that all points should
be pooled in gross upon equal terms all
around. When Mr. Merrill declined to in
clude Minneapolis business Mr.. Porter re-
fused to pool any of the business. Mr..
Merrill. however. proposed and agreed to
maintain rates from Eau Claire. To this
Mr.. Porter gave his approval. and it was
to this agreement that Mr.. Winter referred
in his telegram to Mr.. Merrill, wherein he
called the latter's attention to cut that
was being made at Eau Claire The Oma-
ha people say that Mr. Merrill as endeav