St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-11
A STARTLING RUMOR
That Caused All the Roads to
Make Inquiry of the Burlington.


All the Chicago roads in st. Paul were
stirred up yesterday by large-sized and
very active report that the Burlington IL
Quincy had determined not to advance
rates in accordance with a previous
agreement. The telephone was put into
very active use and inquiries flew around
from office to office in very lively man
ner. OF course, the report was found to
be unfounded, as the Burlington did
restore rates on Monday between all
points OH its lines, to the tariff in effect
previous to Feb. l, 1888. Considerable
surprise has been caused, however, in
the ranks of the BurlingtOn'S cOmpet-
itorS who advanced their rates March
20, by the official announcement that the
rates on corn and oats from Iowa, Min
nesOta and Nebraska to Chicago were not
included in the advance, and that the
Burlington would continue to charge
war rates on those articles up to and
including April 10. 1t is by no means
certain, however, that the Burlington
will advance those rates on the date
named, but it gives the notice to advance
simply to be able to do so in
case matters have been adjusted by that
time between it and its competitors so
as to make advance advisable. The
given by the Burlington for this action
''is that the switchmen's strike pre-
vented shippers from loading cars for
Chicago, and that it feels obliged to pro-
tect the sales of its shippers made on
the reduced rates. This is not believed
to be the real reason. however, but it is
thought to be due to desire on the part
of the Burlington to punish the Rock
Island for the attitude it assumed after
the commencement of the strike. The
Rock Island more earnestly desired the
restoration of grain rates by the Bur
lingtOn than rates of any other arti-
cleS. The great bulk of the Rock
Islands present business is corn from
Western Iowa. There is little corn on
any of the other Iowa lines, and the
Burlington is about the only line that
can get into the Rock island corn belt.
Even when the Burlington reduced
the grain rates several weeks ago from
Western Iowa and Missouri river
points to II cents per 100 pounds, the
Rock Island refused to 20 below 10
cents, because to have met the Bur-
lington's rates would have seriously
affected its revenue. The continuance
of low rates by the Burlington will
have the effect of diverting considerable
of the corn traffic from the Rock ISL
and, and it is virtually notice to the
latter to hereafter show more amiable
spirit towards the Burlington if it hopes
to make any money on the business.
1t is doubtful, however, whether tbs
Burlington's action will have the de-
sired effect upon the Rock Island. and
instead of inducing the latter to submit
to the BUrlingtOn's demands it is more
likely that it will widen the breach ex
isting between the two companies.
Canadian Pacific Representative.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 1O.-The state
ment is Published here to-day that the
Oceanic Steamship company (Spreckles'
line) has signed a contract by the terms
of which it becomes the representative
of the Canadian Pacific railroad in San
Francisco. 1t is claimed that the con-
tract is one of unusual significance, and
that in accordance with its proposition
the Canadian Pacific line of steamships
now plying between Vancouver and
Hong Kong will make San Francisco
their terminal point. Steamers leaving
Hong Kong will touch first at Vancouver
and then proceed to this city. The
Oceanic company, whose steamships are
engaged in the Australian trade, 1t is
stated, has secured important conces-
sions from the Canadian Pacific railway
On Its shipments to the East.