The Portland daily press., 1884-03-12
RAILROAD MATTERS.
Portlnnd q Ogdenshnrg.


The Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad Co.
have been admitted to fall membership in all
the New York Central fast freight lines, viz:
Midland and Nickel Plate.
By typographical error yesterday we said
Colonial lines for "Colored" lines.
Cutting Freight Rates at the West.
1t was rumored Monday, that Commission er
Fink had ordered reduction in tariff freight
rates, on account of the cutting at the West.
The reports were officially denied. There is a
strong probability, however, that such reduc-
ton may be ordered soon, as it has been so far
impossible to maintain the schedule of rates.
A meeting of the trunk line and principal
railroad Presidents is being arranged for
Thursday. 1t was first proposed to hold the
meeting Wednesday, but the attendance of all
the Presidents could not be secured. 1t is not
yet known whether they can be got together on
Thursday. Mr.. Fink has informed the Presi-
dents who at their meeting on February
made themselves personally responsible for the
future maintenance of rates that violations of
the agreement were continued, and has ap-
pealed TO them to see that it is carried out if a
reduction of former rates is to be avoided.
The situation is acknowledged to be grave, al
though it is claimed that it is not SO bad as it
was month ago. The most serious COM
plants OF cutting are lodged against the st.
Louis and Peoria roads. Robert Garrett, Vice
President OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
last week informed Mr.. Fink that if the irreg-
ularities were not stopped the Baltimore and
Ohio Road would be obliged to "protect the
business of Baltimore" In fact, when the re-
cent cuts of the Ohio and Mississippi Road
were discussed, Mr.. Garrett is understood to
have said that he did not blame that road for
Its action. As the Ohio and Mississippi is con-
trolled by the Baltimore and Ohio, its course
is regarded by railroad men as an est al
ready given that the trade of Baltimore will
be protected The Pennsylvania Road is
restless over its deficiency in recent Chicago
shipments, which have principally gone to the
Vanderbilt system and the Grand Trunk The
responsibility for the Generalization in East
bound rates out OF st. Louis is laid to the In.
dianapolis and st. Louis, the southwestern
connection of the Vanderbilt system. Not on
~ have st. Louis rates been cut, but contracts
at cut rates have been entered into by the
roads. There are indications that the Erie
Road has become tired of seeing the Lake
Shore and Michigan Central taking the lions
share OF the Chicago East-bound traffic; its
Chicago connection-The Chicago and Attain
tic Railroad-has lately received an increase
In flour shipments. The Chicago and North
western and the Milwaukee and St. Paul
Railroads made numerous -four contracts over
the Lake Shore Road in December last, and IT
is suspected that they are transferring the bus
mess to the Chicago and Atlantic, cutting off
the West-bound agreement short time ago to
pool the Boston business.
Railroad men are at loss to suggest means
by which the Presidents resolutions of Febru.
airy can be carried out. The volume of bust
ness is small, but the temptation to cut is ire
slstlble. Not for some years excepting 1882,
When the roads were carrying out contracts
made in the open war of 1881 have rates been
SO low Just before the opening of navigation
as the actual rates are now No railroad man
pretends that any considerable amount of grain
has been earned at 30 cents (the schedule rate3
since that figure was adopted form ally in No
vember last.
Minor Notes.
The Eastern Railroad which handles some
eight tons of newspapers per week, proposes to
charge for carrying the packages ( cent per
pound, the rates charged upon the Boston and
Albany and Old Colony Railroads.