River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-08-08
THE ROCK ISLANDS, POSITION.
General Manager st. johns Reply To the
Statement at Alton OfficiaIs.


Statement ct Alton OfficiaIs.
From Chicago Times.
General Manager st John. OF the Chicago,
Rock lslumI ( Pacific road authorizes the
following statement in reply 10 assertions
recently made by Vice President J. G.
McMuilin o. the Chicago & Alton in pub
hshed interview;
Mr. McMulin in a recent published inter-
view, has clearly defined the present posi-
ton and policy of the Alton road. Ii IS
u insist on through rates being made on a
basis chat will give 10 it a fair share of the
L attic which goes 10 and comes from
points west Of Kansas City. He illus
tratcs his meaning by citing a shipment OF
live stock from Topeka on the Rock Island
road through Kansas City to Chicago.
Upon such a shipment the tariffs OF all the
lines rs heretofore adjusted provided Tor
Il through rate somewhat less than the
sum o. two locals This practice was
il accordance with well recognized priu-
ciples OF rate making as universally pTac-
ticed bv carriers, and has been approved
by the interstate commerce commission.
which n recent case used the following
language; As through rates are made By the
American syStem of roads, agreed percent
ayes of the total rate, considerably less II
amount than tho local rates of roads receive
ing such percentages, are usually leading
feature. and it iR eminently proper as
general rule that this should be So
Commerce and trade require IL and compc-
tiUioA cCmpels it. Such rates, when Tea-
sonably and fairly adjusted to local bust
ness, are greatly favored in the law, be-
cause they furnish cheapened rates and
greater facilities TO the public, while AZ tho
same time they give increased employ
ment and earnings TO larger number Of
carriers.
In the rates as adjusted heretofore
upon livestock traffic from points in KAN
sas, Indian Territory, Texas, etc, through
Kansas City to Chicago, the difference be-
tween the sums OF the locals and tho
through rates was an entirely reasonable
difference, and the tariffs in question were
precisely upon the line of the resolution
VIII Ch Hr. McMulliu quotes appr0YmG!v.
Notwithstanding this, he says that he pro-
poses to get what he calls "A fair share Of
tho tariff by reducing the loca! ratio from
Kansas City TO Chicago 20 the amount u
the psOportioaate rate between these
points charged by the Rock Island ti.o
through shipment
This statement Is certainly candid Ills
line has no extension west OF Kansas City.
Tho Rock Island has. He proposes TO su:lSG
TN latter divide with him traffic which
originates upon the extension that it has
furnished means to construct and this hs
Will do bv reducing the Established as
from Kansas City 10 Chicago. This dec4aris-
ton follows his announcement at the cola
mencement of the same interview that tho
Alton does not cut any rates. IL only reduces
when necessary to meet cut rates of othur
roads Yet the Alton has just forced Il
large reduction in all rates on live stock ard
products from Kansas City 70 Chicago in aC-
cordance with the pCEcy above stated
Naturally and inevitably when the Alton
re iuces its rate from Kansas City 70 tls
division OF the through rate charged upon
the ines where the livestock shipments
originate those lines must meet the rcdue.
Oh IL he local and at the same time re-
duce their through rate correspondence
7 his is necessary for their preservation:
they will rot think that they can ;e2scua-
bly, be asked TO cut their lines in two for
the benCsit OF the Alton. nor can the latter
Justly expect them TO surrender traffic
which they have constructed long lines os
road to secure This step viii apparently
involve a new reduction by the Alton 70
the level o. the new prOpOrtiouatc rates.
nnd the process will be repeated until all
the lines arc dong business ut a loss and
somebody sUIrCnders.
The association has no desire 10 punish
the Alton for It's withdrawal nor for any
thing else. Action necessary Tor the pro
lection OF its lines against the Atoms raid
Will probably DC taken, however"