St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-09
RAILROAD AND NAVIGATION.
Competitions Expected for the Lake Traffic
this Season.

ConapetStaon EGpecte0 T0T tRe LdSe 1TOUsc
this Season.
The opening of the ports of Duluth and
Washburn on Lake Superior to all steamship
lines on the same basis, is likely to induce
more companies to put their boats on the
upper lake this season. At present among
the railroad companies that run to these
ports much interest is manifested in trying
to find out just what lines will navigate the
lakes, or whether the lines that did the busi-
ness last season will do it all this year, and
if they will increase their fleets.
Men who are in a position to know and
who are interested in transportation work say
that there will be no increase in business this
year, but when asked their reasons for so be-
lieving they cannot give any and get quite
reticent. Competition will, whether addi-
tional steamship lines are put on Lake Su
perior or not, be stronger than last year.
The Omaha road had entrance only to the
ports of Washburn and Superior, but this
year, or in a week or two, the bridge across
the St. Louis will be finished and
the Omaha will run into Duluth and the st.
Paul & Duluth into Superior. Of course this
opens
NEW BATTLE GROUNDS
to both companies, and cutting of rates
from the tariff agreed upon might follow.
A deviation from the rates would be infiu-
enced more or less by the steamship lines,
for they will of course give their business to
st. Paul and Minneapolis; other points
touched by these two lines to the company
giving them the lowest rates for transporta-
ton.
OF course, If both railroads hold to tariff
the steamship companies will gain nothing
by discriminating or favoring one railroad
company unless they have an understanding
THAT in return the railroad company will give
to them exclusively their ''down the lake"
business. 1t is thought that Washburn will
not become the prominent lake port at first
anticipated. The boats necessarily have to
90 to Duluth, and as this is the great ship
ping point and nearer to st. Paul and Min
neapolis it is likely that fourffths of both the
receiving and shipping business will be done
from Duluth. The Manitoba road does not
join in the competition, but has
THROUGH RATE
to Duluth, which is the same as to st. Paul
from points north of the Northern Pacific
road 1t is quite certain, however, that
whether there will or not be an increase of
traffic this year over last, more boats will
navigate the waters of Lake Superior. Vessel
owners have noticed, and Duluth has clearly
demon strated the fact itself that 1t Is and
will continue to be the head point Of naviga-
ton for Lake Superior, and new steamship.
companies will want to commence competing
for the lake haul both up and down, before
it is too late. The rates agreed upon for this
season by the Omaha and st. Paul and Du-
luth roads are about the same as last, being
35 cents per 100 pounds first class; 80 cents,
second; 25 cents, third; 90 cents, fourth;
171l cents, fifth, and grain Is cents per 100
pounds. The minimum charge is 25 cents,
subject to joint western classification.
Yesterday General Passenger Agent Teas
dale of the Omaha, and General
Freight and Ticket Agent Dodge of the st.
Paul 81 Duluth went to Duluth to look after
the
PASSENGER BUSINESS
for the season, but ostensibly to agree on
rates with steamship agents for through rates
to the seaboard and points on the lake
touched by the steamship lines. The Woods,
Lake Superior Transit company, Northwest
ern Transportation company and Wilson'S
line are the lines calculated upon at present
to do the business, while there is
some talk of the Collingwood
line joining the hand.
There was some talk of making low
second class rate between the railroad and
steamship companies but nothing has yet
been done toward arranging any. The sea-
son will not open before the middle Of May
some lively skirmishing may be expected.