Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-06
Sl.PAUL NEWS.
TRANSPORTATION NOTES.
Ihe Grent COMMUNICATION.

The Milwaukee Sentinel interviewed S.
S. Merrill, general manager of the Chicago,
Milwaukee & st. Paul, in regard to the
CREST combination of the Union Pacific,
the Rock Island and the Chicago, Milwau
kee & st. Paul roads, and the following is
the interesting result:
1t is impossible to get any light upon
the matter from officials of the Milwaukee
& st. Paul. "As dumb as an oyster" fit
tingly applies to their conduct Manager
Merrill, when approached, forcibly inform
ed the questioner that he had nothing to
say. "But," continued the reporter, ''a
most important report has been given
publication, your road being the prominent
party in the reported transaction. Is it
correct or false?' to which Mr.. Merrill re-
piled: II will neither deny or admit the
truth of the report. I tell you that will
not be interviewed on this matter and it is
useless for you to pump me, for will not
say word to you or any one else. You must
take us for fools TO expect US to peddle out
our private business affairs" Just at this
point General Freight Agent Bird entered,
and volunteered that 'the report that the
Milwaukee 81 ST. Paul is trying TO get
corner on the other roads OF the Iowa
Trunk Line association is not true. We
have not, nor do We intend to take any
step that vii! prevent a reorganization of
the association upon fair basis" Put
ting together tran sacti0ns of the pest few
weeks, the words OF the two gentlemen
quoted above. and several other facts, but
one conclusion can reasonably be arrived
at, viz: A pool arrangement between the
Union Pacific, Milwaukee q st. Paul, and
Rock Island & Pacific railways, as men
toned above, has been or is soon to be
consummated. Were this report false,
Manager Merrill would so declare it. From
the words of General Freight Agent Bird,
which were subsequently reiterated by Gen
eraI Manager Merrill, it would seem that
the other roads of the present Iowa Trunk
Line association, the Northwestern, Wa
bash and Burlington, will be allowed to en-
ter the new pool association, but upon
''fair basis" which the Milwaukee & st.
Paul people have evidently considered does
not exist in the agreement as at present
constructed. Officials of the Union Pacific,
Milwaukee & st. Paul and Rock Island q
Pacific have been in close conference at
Chicago for the greater part Of the past
two weeks, and it would be unjust to in
sinuate that they have not accomplished
much during this time. Enough has been
spoken and acted to show that the referred
to agreement is certainly as good as made,
and that it is not one of the ordinary one
or two years. Duration, but of a long term
of years, steel-b banded in its construction,
and such that, "metaphorically speaking"
places the Burlington road under the I'm
ION Pacifc's thumb, and the Wabash and
Northwestern in like situation with the
Milwaukee and Rock Island roads.
WIthdTa,yaL Ot tie Nesc YORK Central.
The east is having its troubles with rail
roads as well as the west. When the at
tempt was made last winter to purchase
the Hoosac Tunnel from the state it wa
generally understood that the movement
was indirectly in the interest of the New
York, West Shore 81 Buffalo railroad, and
that the outcome of the scheme, if success
full, would result in lease of the Fitch
burg road to the West Shore. 1t is under
stood that another move in the same diree
ton is to be made at the approaching ses
sion of the general court. The manage
ment of the New York Central have decid-
ed to take the bull by the horns and not
wait until the Fitchburg and West Shore
have completed the close alliance which
rumor credits them with the intention of
making upon the opening of the West
Shores road to Buffalo, now question of
few weeks only. There is good authority
for the statement that the New York Cen
trail has officially notified the Hoosac Tun-
mel line management of its withdrawal
from the line March L, thus carrying out
its contract to give ninety days. notice of
withdrawal. This announcement will be
u surprise to railroad men, and if the Erie
leaves the New York & New England for
the Boston connections the withdrawal
will have serious effect upon the traffic
and earnings OF the Fitchburg railway
as well as the Troy & Greenfield and
Hoosac Tunnel. Not only Is the New
York Central 10 withdraw its
freight traffic from the Tunnel
line, but thirty days notice has been
given that no through passenger cars
would be received by the New York Cen
trail from the Tunnel line, the Fitchburg,
and Troy & Boston railroads. This action
of Vanderbilt will result in cementing tbs
. connection between the Fitchburg and
West Shore roads and in some respects the
former road will be the gamer, for between
Boston and Buffalo the distance will be
tW6utJ -6lA IlllSS ouOItOr lld1 ny DOS-
ton il Albany and New York Central to
the same points, and the accommodations
offered by the West Shore in contrast to
those of the New York Central cannot fail
to attract much larger proportion of the
through travel than the Tunnel line has
hitherto enjoyed.
Rates on Lumber to Points in Nebraska.
The railroad offices in st. Paul yester-
day received circular, dated the Sd INST,
taking effect from that date, over the Iowa
Trunk Line association, fixing the rate as
follows on soft lum Der, lath and shingles
in car loads of 10000 pounds per 100
pounds as follows:
From Alton, East st. Louis and st.
Louis to Columbus, Neb. 24c, to Central
City, Neb. CSC, to Kearney, Neb. &c, to
Lincoln 2Sc, to David City 24c, to Hastings
25c.
From Quincy, Hannibal and Louisiana
to Columbus 25c, to Central City 26c, to
Kearuey 28', to Lincoln 23c, to David City
25c, to Hastings 26c.
From Burlington, Fort Madison, Mont
rose and Keokuk to Columbus 26c, to Cen
trail City 27c, to Kearney 29c. to Lincoln
2315c, to David City 26c, to Hastings &c.
All other rates are unchanged.