St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-31
WESTERN RAILWAYS.
Some of the Vital Questions to Come
Before the Meeting of
AuouSt K

CHICAGO, July 30.-The meeting OF western
lines, called for August 5, promises to be of
vital Importance to the western railroad
world. There will be represented the Bur-
liugton, Rock Island ST. Paul, Alton, Wab-
ash, Northwestern, Santa Fe, Union Pacific,
st. Louis, San Francisco and Missouri Pa
ciiic Before the conference must come all
of the important problems which
have to be settled before permanent
peace will have been secured, and some
radical changes in the present western rail
way economy are confidently expected. One
of the most important viii be an organiza-
ton to take the place of the late Colorado
Traffic association. 1t is generally conceded
that the tripartite lines were guilty of almost
fatal blunder when they dissolved that as
ISOLATION The attempt Of the Western Trunk
Line association to control Colorado
bushes without the cooperation of the.
other lines was predestined to failure
and very disastrous failure has been the re-
suit. All are anxious now to return to first
principles as far as this traffic is concerned,
and there is little doubt that the Colorado
Traffic Association will be revived
Another matter which win come before the
meeting is the discussion of the western and
northwestern cattle business, and this prom
ises to be a knotty problem to solve.
Decentralization in cattle rates
has already begun, and the
situation has become so complex that very
skillful engineering will be necessary to
avoid disastrous breakers. 1t is not impos-
sible that the dissolution of the Western
Trunk Line association and the reestablish-
ment of the Iowa pool may be the only way
out of the difficulty. The former is any
thing but happy family, and threats occur
ing almost daily which add to the strained
relations existing between the telegraph
lines. There are very strong indications
that the Union Pacific is gradually tending
toward u withdrawal from the association,
and the other members, almost without ex-
ception, would apparently be only too happy
to free themselves from an organization
which is universally conceded TO have been
practically failure. l13
Two circumstances which TRANSFERRED yes
terday indicated pretty clearly that the best
of feeling does not prevail within
the sacred precincts of the tripar-
tite fold. The managers of one
of the Union Pacific's eastern allies received
a dispatch yesterday from the manager of
the Northern Pacific asking if a cut rate in
cattle is quoted by General Freight Agent
Shelby, of the Union Pacific This was au-
thorized and done with the knowledge of the
Western Trunk Line association. This was
the first intimation that the Union Pacific
had made cut in cattle rates, and Mr..
Shelby was promptly favored by telegraph
with somewhat spirited com
munication. The manager of the
Union Pacific tripartite ally asked
Mr.. Shelby what he meant by announcing a
cut rate to his competition (the Northern
Pacific before his tripartite connections
were apprized of the fact. At the latest adj
vices Mr.. Shelby had seen fit to ignore the
telegraphic inquiry Another little circum-
stance, which carries with it good deal of
significance, is the discovery yesterday that
the Union Pacific has oeen turning over
to the Burlington consignments of
cattle, which the tripartite agreement SAYS
should be given to the members Of the asso-
citation. AS the question whether the Bur-
lington should receive share of the Northern
Pacific business at Omaha is the point upon
which the Burlington tripartite controversy
chiefly hinges, This action of the Northern
Pacific becomes of grave importance A
highly interesting confab over this matter is
therefore promised. Other interesting
topics will come before the meeting, and the
result is awaited with much interest