Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-11
TRANSPORTATION NOTES.
More Trouble Regarding Lmniber Rates
to Missouri River Points.
Chicago Tribune.


[Chicago Tribune.
At meeting of the general freight
agents of the several roads interested in
the lumber traffic to Missouri river points
from the various sources of supply. in
Guiding Wisconsin points, held at Comm1s-
sioner Midgley's Office few days ago for
the purpose of establishing differential
rates from the different points in order to
stop the indiscriminate cutting of rates
which has been going on for several years
past, it was decided that Commissioner
Midgley should appoint committee of
seven general freight agents to prepare
differential rates. In case they should
be unable to agree it was de-
cided that the matter should be submit
ted to arbitration. A day or two ago Com
missioner Midgley announced the new
committee, and it was expected that 1t
would speedily perform the task assigned
to it, and that some action would be taken
by which uniform and paying rates could
be maintained hereafter.
All these anticipations have come to
naught, and the prospects now are that
the war on Missouri river lumber rates will
continue with increased vigor for some
time to come. The committee appointed
to establish differential rates will not un-
dertake the task. The reason for this is
that the Milwaukee & st. Paul gave notice
yesterday that it would under no consid-
GRAFTON allow the matter to be decided by
arbitration. AS the only hope
for peaceful settlement rested
upon the reference of the matter to
an arbitrator. the committee came
to the conclusion that it would be no use
to meet and attempt settlement of the
difficulty.
1t appears that, at the late meeting in
this city, the Milwaukee & ST. Paul re-
served the right to accept or reject the
proposition to have the matter arbitrated.
and now gives notice thai il rejects the
proposition. The cause for the action of
the Milwaukee & ST. Paul arises from the
severe competition with the Chicago, st.
Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, better known
as the Wisconsin Lumber route. The lat
ter road has been the cause of the fight on
lumber rates that has been going on SO
long. having heretofore rejected all prop
ositions for / the establishment of
fair and equitable rates. Al
though tho officials of this road
now pretend to be willing TO enter into an
agreement with the other lines, the MIL
wauzee d st. Paul seems to be of the opin-
ion that 1t Is not acting in good faith, aud
is therefore unwilling TO have the matter
of diferentiai rate decided bS an outside
party. The officers of the roads interested
in the Missouri River lumber traffic are at
their wits ends, and do not know what to
do in order to stop the trouble and secure
the maintenance of profitable rates. All
possible schemes have been tried to settle
the difficulty during the last year or two
but after each effort the trouble became
worse than before. The railroads, failing
to agree among themselves, some time
ago appointed committee of leading
tial rates from the various points.
The rates proposed by this com.
mittee were adopted. But shortly after
wards troubles arose between the lumber
dealers at Mississippi river points, those
| north of Dubuque demanding differential
| rates from those south of Dubuque. Then
a committee of merchants interested in
! this matter was appointed. The mer-
| chants agreed upon rates, but they were
never carried out. Then efforts were
made to form general pool on all lumber
| business, but these also failed.
| It is quite certain now that the rates
| will be reduced to bottom figures, it being
| the opinion of most of the lines that the
| only way by which the difficulties can be
settled and permanent peace established il
to make the business as Improbable as
possible.