St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-06

Chicago Merchants Working for the Adolf
ton Of Carload Rates to Western
Points.
Effect Such Move Will Have Upon the
Trading Interests of St. Paul and
Minneapolis.
A Heavy Falling Of1n the East-Bound
Movement Of Traffic from
Chicago.
Rates on Commercial Freight from
Pacific Coast Pofnts--Genera1
Railway News.
At WAR W;tb Carload Rates.

At War with Carload Rates.
Not satisfied with their success at the
last meeting OF the joint Western classified
ton committee in having the railroad COM
panies make only the small difference OF 3
cents per 100 pounds between carloads and
less that carloads to Western points, the
Chicago board of trade and the Chicago
freight bureau have formed union, and,
it is understood, will work for the entire
abolition of carload rates to Western points;
and at the next of the classification COM
mittee be present in body to press the
railroad companies in favoring their wishes.
The union has issued a circular, copies OF
which were received by railway officials in
St. Paul Yesterday. 1t is as follows:
Dear Sir: We take pleasure in advising
you of the union of the transportation inter-
ests of the Chicago board of trade and the
Chicago freight bureau. In forming this
union it is hoped that not only the interests
of both may be better served, but that the
union may be the means Of bringing to the
attention of the various transportation inter-
eSts with which the association may come in
contact such information as to transporta-
ton matters as will enable them to act intell1-
gently, and avoid the evils of unjust discrim-
ination and fucJuatng rates, so injurious to
commercial interests, as well as to the COM
mon carrier. 1t is the earnest desire. not
only of the merchants, but the board OF
trade and manufacturers, that the associa-
ton work in perfect harmony with the trans
portstion interests of the country. The
policy pursued by the freight bureau in the
past will govern it's future actions, as the
constitution provides that ''the object OF the
bureau shall be to give the railways and
transportation companies such information
regarding the lines of goods handled by its
mi to n frajpht rates TO
points that shall in no case discriminate
against Chicago; and to render its services to
members individually and collectively, in all
matters pertaining to transportation by COM
mon carriers. and to the extension of the
trade of Chicago in every legitimate
Manner While the work of the as
sociation with the Western roads has been
largely in the direction of extending trade.
and acquiring new territory for our mer-
chants and manufacturers, and suggesting
certain changes and notifications in the man
ner of doing business. the interests of the
board of trade are more closely allied to the
Eastern roads, where the territory is already
defined, and the basis upon which rates are
made is already fixed, and in the main salts
factory. The basis of making rates from all
distributing centers having been fixed and
agreed upon, we ask the transportation COM
panies to maintain the same without devia-
ton or concession to localities or individuals;
and our efforts will be directed toward assisting
the several transportation lines from the West
to the seaboard in maintaining this position.
AS distributing center we ask no protection.
but only that rates be Sat once reasonable,
equitable and certain, never discriminating;
rarely, and then only slowly f1uctuating" and
consequently that other distributing centers
be given no advantage over US. We trust the
public will not look upon this association as in
any manner antagonistic to the transportation
interests of the country, but on the contrary,
as an organization looking solely TO the preser-
walton and extension of the trade of Chicago,
and consequently benefting the carriers in
terested in our prosperity.
We ask no advantage-only what is fair and
equitable, and what by our position we are
justly entitled to.
The instructive feature of the circular is
that all the Chicago philosophers demand is
the virtual subjugation and final retirement
of the wholesale houses in the states of
Minnesota, Iowa. Kansas. Nebraska and
the territory of Dakota. The commissioner
of the Chicago freight bureau fails to state
why the money from the above states should
build up Chicago and prevent the building
up of cities in their own states: he fails to
state why merchant should be required
to ship his goods several hundred miles
simply to please Chicago within. If Chi
cago should succeed the following results
would occur: She would control the
trade and finally demand premium
on her sales; she would demand
that rates be so made as to throw all wheat,
corn, oats and other agricultural products
into her markets. When this once occurs
the volume of business and accumulations
at Chicago will keep down the prices, and
the farmer in consequence will get less for
his product than now. All the railroads
leading from Chicago are interested in hav
ing the long haul and they regulate their
rates in accordance. The state of Iowa is
traversed only by Chicago railroads, and
there is not city to-day in its limits that
exceeds 40, 900 people The same rule holds
good for the states of Kansas, Nebraska and
Southern Dakota. This is the effect of
Chicago rule. and Minnesota and North Da-
kota would be in the same condition were
it not for the influence of the Lake Superior
outlet Minnesota to-day stands in most
favorable position; she has water outlet
within the state, and can compel rates by
legislative enactment to Lake Superior that
will forever destroy Chicago's ambitions.
The true theory of every state is to have
the point of supply near the place of con-
sumption and build up commercial capters