New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-19
MINNESOTA'S GRIEVANCE.
NORTHERN PACIFIC FREIGHT RATES.
THE COMPANY's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. PORT
LANDS INTERESTS.
III y = - ~ T IsIfT10 T u
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
ST. PAUL, March 1S.-The adoption of reso-
utions by the Minneapolis Board OF Trade condemning
the new rates Of the Northern Pacific was preceded by
fiery speeches denouncng the company. The committee
appointed by the Board examine the question came to
St Paul yesterday and held conference With representa-
tves OF the jobbng trade who not been fully IN
formed OF the extent of the discrimination against the
obbcrs or the two cities by the Northern Pacific Com
pany The meeting not fruitful in results but It as
serted that further consultations will be held concerning
the freight rates after which the conclusions Of the bus
principally affected thereby will be given TO the
public and actiOnwill be taken soon as practicable
conference will be held with Vice Oakes to-mor
From railroad point Of view the following consdera
Ons advanced. The present system has been I'm ex
stence upon the Union and Central Pacific routes for
number OF years. When the Union and Central Pacific
routes open the Pacific coast they had much TO
contend with in the Odestabshed sea routs Merchants
then accustomed to receive all their freight by
water, owing to the comparatively light expense under
which operated This competition was
great. To overcome it, the railroads obliged TO
make rates. which, in order to be acceptable To
the merchant, had to be extremely low
The problem was finally solved by the
adoption Of the special contract system. The Union and
Central Pacific made contracts with the Pacific coast
merchants for the transportation of pretty much all
their freight portion of the freight the railroad
red actual loss. When the Northern Pacific was
opened similar policy adopted by the road This,
the officials Of the road say rendered necessary by
the fact that Portland also port and had
the same ocean facilities san Francisco.
Before the Northern Pacific finished, Oregon and
Washington were POrtaDds territory. The
Portland dependent upon that territory for sup
port The Northern Pacific realized this, and determined
10 protect POrtland's interests Low were made
from New-YOrk Portland. in order enable Portland
Ill
yantageousy compared with those offered by the
route They were made the from New-YOrk as from
St. Paul, in order to protect the Portland merchants
from ST. Paul and Minneapolis competition. BY the
rates now IN Use, st. Paul is prevented from selling
goods I'm Washington Oregon That territory the rail-
road people say, rghtfly belongs to Portland, and
II taken away its large business houses would be
compelled close up Cor the want OF patronage It is to
the of the Northern Pacific that this be prevented
The railroad company therefore makes St. Paul New
York merchant who wishes TO ship TO points in Washing
ton pay the full rate TO Portland plus the local rate from
Portland to the point to which the shipment made
There Is another given compelling the adOp
ton OF this policy The Northern Pacific has through
line Of It's own to Portland. The Oregon Railway and
Navigation COmpany's line completes the route and to
their demands some attention mnsI 9e gwen Inat NJ com
pany does not want Portands territory places III POSI-
ton that would lay 1t opento st. Paul and minneapolis
The whole trouble, says Northern Pacific official
solves itself into two questions; First nave the
merchants or ST. uluuetPOls any u ue
mand the trade OF Washington Territory and Oregon
And the rates to those points too high To the first
OF these questions the Northern Pacific enphat-
ically no." The company s OF course anxious for the
prosperity and business advancement OF It's eastern
terminus It is also determined to protect the
chants those large towns upon the western end The
only way 1t could protect both divide the territory
This has been done, and Idaho Is the di-
Pend d. OreIIle belong to st. Paul and Minneapolis aud
the Territory west Of that point Portland has always
aimed. TO points east OF the Idaho line the Western
merchants cannot ship, excepting under heayy hanGl-
capi neither Eastern merchants ship into Port9nds
territory, except under I'm equally heavy handicap
Whether the rates now quoted high not Is
open question. The railway company does not think so
TO be the case the Northern Pacific expresses its willing
ness 10 meet them than half way and make any
ductions that will be Just.