St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-03
HOT TIMES EXPECTED.
RumOrs Which Have Originated on the
Announcement of the Milwaukee Alb
sOrbing the Fargo Southern.
The Northern Pacific and. Manitoba
Companies Importuned to Adj
vance the Rates on Coal.
Interview With Hon. Frederick BILL
ings Relating to the General
Outlook in the West.
AnInteresting situation.

The announcement of the control of the
Fargo Southern by the Milwaukee & st.
Paul, while generally expected, since the
death of General Manager Merrill of the
latter company, was, nevertheless, the sub
ject for discussion by the heads of depart
mentS of all the railroads centering in st.
Paul yesterday. This was because nearly
all the lines eentering in st. Paul are inter-
eSted in the move, so much that an exceed
mgly cold feeling may spring up between
several of the companies most deeply con-
cerned. The first trouble of the Milwaukee
II st. Paul i'll taking the Fargo Southern is
the making of rates on coal and salt to
Fargo on the same basis as those given by
the Northern Pacific and Manitoba roads,
and yesterday General Freight Agent Bird
of the former line telegraphed the general
freight agents of the two latter lines from
OrtOnville, asking for conference on
that subject as soon as possible.
That they will favor him with conference
is quite certain, but that they will cOncede
to his wishes is not. The Milwaukee &
ST. Paul has impOrtuned the Manitoba and
Northern Pacific roads TO make the same
rate on coal from Duluth to Fargo it does
from Chicago. Neither of these two lines
will do this, as they feel it would be doing
AhJuoliCC W publlCs IL biiCJ NOiO w
cOncede to the wishes of the Milwaukee Il
st. Paul they would be giving up the
ADVANTAGES THEY MAINTAIN
on their geographical situation, and at the
same time allow Chicago to build up
business in the Northwest to the detriment
of ST. Paul and Minneapolis. The facts of
the case are that the Manitoba and North
ern Pacific charge $3.50 for the transporta-
ton of hard coal per ton from Duluth to
Fargo, a distance of 253 miles, against a
rate of $3.50 by the Milwaukee Il st. Paul
and the Fargo Southern from Chicago, for
haul of 709 miles. The Milwaukee q st.
Paul has already been charged with
discriminating against st. Paul and
Minneapolis by making the same rate to
Fargo that it made to the two former
places, and merchants at these places are
likely TO make it interesting for the railroad
company unless it diScOntinueS. The con-
trolling of the Fargo Southern was always
considered dangerous adoption by Alex
ander Mitchell of the Milwaukee 81 st.
| Paul and one time he was heard to say
| that as long as he remained president the
Fargo Southern should never be incorpOr-
ated in his system. In 1888 q tTipartite
| agreement was entered into by the Mil
waukee IL st. Paul, Chicago IL Northwest
ern and the Rock Island roads not to build
north or west of their present terminals in
| Dakota, as the country was undeveloped
and there was nothing to support any eX-
! tensions that would have been made. Now
the Milwaukee II st. Paul has seen fit to
violate this agreement, and the next best
thing it can do is to
MAKE RAPID STRIDES
and build into the best regions it deems adj
visable, to head off the Chicago & Rock
| Island and Northwestern roads, which will
now advance their interests in the
wheat regions of Northern Dakota.
| The first move the former line will probably
make will be the extension of the Fargo
| Southern to Flandrau, opening up direct
route from the Red river valley to nearly
all South Dakota, and giving connection
with all the lines of the Milwaukee Il st.
| Paul. 1t is regarded as quite possible
| that in connection with the Fargo Southern
! a line will be built from Fargo to CrOokston
over the Tight-of-way of the proposed
| CroOkSton 81 Southwestern road. III this
/ event next year will see more miles of rail
road built in Dakota than any other year.
! The Milwaukee Il st. Paul is now in the
| North. and the Northwestern 81 Rock Is
land will get there as soon as possible.
| The Northern Pacific and Manitoba roads
will be likely to show what they think
about the invasion of the territory they
claim. Some of the Chicago lines will be
extended to Bismarck and the Turtle
mountain region. The proposed road from
Fargo to the Black hills too, may be put
in process of construction. With all this
construction there is one fact evident; thai
the roads built will have to depend upon
their own resources, as no county or town
will load themselves very heavily to secure
them.