Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-11-30

there are to be more blows, and that
before the great railroad fight is over
there will be plenty of them. 1t is q
terribly bitter war, much more bitter
than is generally supposed, and those
| who regard it as merely stock jobbing
operation or fight that has nothing in
view but the transportation of little
more or q little less wheat or flour on
one road than on another, are going to
be mistaken in the outcome.
The cause of the trouble run back
for years, and has for its basis, in a.
broad sense, the division of territory,
and business generally, and unless some
othel elements get into the fight than
are now in, some matters are going to
be settled to stay.
IT MEANS BUSINESS.
1t is becoming more evident day by
day, that the rate war between the
great northwestern trunk lines mean
business, and that some line is going
| to get hurt before it is finished. Up to
Tuesday the fight was purely local in
its character, being confined simply to
cut on eastern passenger rates from
st. Paul and Minneapolis. Tuesday
afternoon a cut was inaugurated by
| the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul on
Moline, Rock Island & Davenport, and
from those points to Chicago. This was
q direct blow at the local passenger
travel of the Rock Island, which was
as promptly met by the latter COM
pany. Inquiry at the Rock Island of.
fees developed the fact that that COM
pany had received information from
their agents in Davenport and Rock
Island that this cut was being COM
mencea by the Milwaukee people, and
orders were therefore issued by the
Rock Island management to duplicate
any rate which the Milwaukee & st.
Paul might see fit to make. This cut
was followed up by another on the part
of the Milwaukee & St. Paul on Albert
Lea and intervening points of 81, and in
return the Rock Island has flooded
the city with dodgers advertising 80
cent rate to Cedar Rapids s., = 81 rate
to Albert Lea. In fact both compa-
nies are cdtting to all jun ction points,
and trip to st. Louis via Albert Lea,
costs $490, and by the way of Chaska
is S1.90 only. Chaska is one of the
points included in the ST cut from Chi
cago. Thus it will be seen that the cut
is getting as close as possible to term
inl points without actually reaching.
| Upon the provisions of the Northwest
ern pool d forfeit of $500 is due for
any offense against the regulations of
the associations, and so these compa-
MES are adhering to the letter of the
pool, but evading the spirit of it. 1t is
clear that the present strain cannot
last much longer, and that a general
war will ensue, including all business,
unless com promise is speedily reach
ed. The Northwestern management
deny that they will begin to cut, but it
is thought that they will soon be forced
to take action, for they are between
two fires, their St. Paul business being
affected by the Albert Lea operations,
and their Iowa and Omaha business
raked by the cut On Davenport &
Cedar Rapids. A passage to Council
Bluffs now costs only $40 by the Rock
Island
Mr.. Percival Lowell, the general pas
senger agent of the Chicago, Burlin G.
ton & Quincy, when asked what action
would be taken by that company in
view of the cut on Davenport &
Rock Island, said: awe shall do moth.
ing Immediately. We want to keep
out of the fight as long as pos
sible. This last cut directly affects
through business to Omaha, and oil
course if it continues We shall be com.
PEELED to take action, but We will post
pone it as long as we possibly can."
1t is expected the Northwestern and
the Burlington will join in the cut
This move of the ST. Paul is regarded
as a good one here, as it is running
trains at loss over its new line, bushes
not yet being established, and it viii
thus fill its trains and advertise its
splendid new western route.
THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL IN FOR THE WAR
The st. Paul & Omaha and Illinois
Central freight line makes a rate Of %
cents on all freight from Omaha tc
Chicago regardless of classification
thus adding another road to the wal
in the northwest. The Chicago, Bur
lington & Quincy is is expected to ioir
the strife next.
AN OPINION ROM CHICAGO.
1u0 1IiDuHG OApIGsS6S LQ6 Opinion
that Notwithstanding the entrance oI
the Illinois Central into the railroad
fight in the northwest, there is no i'm.
mediate danger of the embodiment ot
either the Northwestern or Burlington
For either of them to become party
to cutting, owing to the condition et
the existing pool, would be equivalent
to complete rupture of the agree
ment, and must involve the southwest
ern pool as we'll, including the Alton
and Wabash lines, and demoralizing
things as far as Kansas City. In view
of these contingencies, the Tribune be-
lieves neither the Northwestern OF
Burlington will begin cutting till actual
| ly forced to do so.
THE ST. PAUL OFFICIALS.
Alexander Mitchell, president of the
St. Paul road, will not make a further
statement than that sent to the eastern
papers in regard to the railroad war
/. Manager Merrill was equally reticent
Te-day's important cut was in passen
ger rates on the Chicago, Milwaukee
st. Paul road from Rock Island tc
Chicago, the tickets being reduced
from IS to fifty cents. Railroad Officials
are extremely reticent, and blame the
daily press for making incorrect state