Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-30
NO ADVANCE IN RATES
Contemplated by the Rail-
roads at This Stage.
IRON MEN RESTING EASY.
The Contract With the Roads Won't
Expire Before May.
FREIGHT AGENT STEWART TALKS.

1t was reported day or so ago that there
was to be general advance in freight rates
made about November Is, but coke and iron
ore were singled out in particular as two
articles that would have to stand the brunt
for certainty. The report caused consid-
erabIe stir among iron and steel manufac-
turers, as they were not expecting it. A
number have been interviewed on the SUBJ
ject and whether the trade can stand ii, but
happilyat the very outstart General Freight
Agent Stewart of the Pennsylvania
Company gives quietus to the excitement
by DENYING that an advance is even contem-
plated. In the interviews that follow the
Importance of the ship canal to the lakes is
dwelt upon, but as the scheme is yet in
embryo iron men do not refer to it with
much confidence. The fact has been devel-
oped that the iron business, at least, will
not bear higher freight rates. though there
is q tendency to push up'the traffic on man
ufsctured articles. 1t is customary in the
spring, at the opening of navigation, to
reduce freight rates, and at the close to ad-
vance them slightly, and this rule may be
followed.
NO ADVANCE TO BE MADE.
In an interview last night, General
freight Agent Stewart said: "There is alb
solutely no foundation for the rumor. as the
contracts with shippers are still in force,
and the railroads will not break them at
this time Of the year. If any advance was
contemplated, 1 would surely be aware of
the fact, but as it is, know nothing, ex-
cept what 1 learned bv reading an article in
an evening paper. The reporter who wrote
it NAV know more about the matter than l
do. If he does, 1 would like to know where
he got his information"
"Then there will be no advance" yen-
tured The DISPATCH man.
''0f course not, at least you need look for
no advance in ore rates until about May l,
1890"
"And then?" asked the interviewer.
'That time is so tar ahead that ] do not
care to 20 on record as saying positively that
there will or will not be an advance.
"As for an advance in coke rates, that is
another thing about which the reporter
seems to know more than 1 do. 1 do not
expect an advance in the near future, and
YOU may tell your readers SO. No one can
say at present whether ccke rates will
advance or not. The scarcity of cars, which
still continues, precludes the possibility of
any such advance in the near future"
Mr.. w. II. Singer was the next gentle
man visited. In response to the inquiry
what be thought of the rumored advance in
rates, Mr.. Singer said:
tits all wrong. If anything, the rates
should be lowered instead of advanced.
Pittsburg manufacturers deserve lower rates
than they now have and the railroads could
afford to give Them
THE CANAL NO FACTOR
''what effect will the proposed canal have
on railroad rates ?"
canal is too far ahead in the future to be q
factor at present"
Mr.. j. Laughlin, Jr.. said on this sub
jeet:
81 have no knowledge of the matter ex-
cept that gained from an evening paper
Speaking for myself, think there is moth
ing worthy of consideration in the article
relating to iron ore."
''Then you have not heard from the rail-
roads Of such an advance ?'' said THE DIS
PATCH man.
mo; and while would not be surprised
to hear of an advance in the rates on fin
ished iron to Northwestern points, 1 do not
expect an advance in ore rates."
Mr.. j. II. Lindsay said ffNo, there is
no advance in the rates on ore, to my
knowledge. / saw the article mentioned by
you, but gave it no consideration. 1 do not
look for an advance at present."
At A. NJ. Byers & Co.. Office it was
%l
ture, and that the railroads had not given
notice of an advance, either now or in the
future.
IT AROSE IN RUMoR.
Mr.. E. II. Utley, of Carnegie, Phipps &
Co., stated that the matter was mere
rumor, so far as he knew, and that promi-
nent railway man, who would know if it
were true, said that be knew nothing at all
about any proposed advance. He said it
was matter entirely within the power of
the companies, as the interstate commerce
law gave them power to do so at any time
by giving notice as provided. Mr. Utley
was not disposed to discuss either the Justice
or advisabiIity of an advance.
Another gentleman connected with steel
and iron manufactures, who would not al
low the use of his name, said that if such
advance had been made it had been based
on the prosperity of the trade He said
that manufacturers had bought ore at a re-
duced rate and that they could stand an ad-
vance since prices of manufactured articles
had advanced.
Mr.. John Hood said he could not see any,
thing irregular in an advance if due notice
were given, as it was understood that it cost
more to haul freight in the winter than in
warm weather, and it had been a settled
question so long that railway companies
weuld put up rates when lake competition
ceased that he no longer regarded it as
matter for comment. Mr.. Hood said that
both advances and reductions on freight
rates were disastrous and unjust if
notice were not given, but since the law re-
quired ten days notice of an advance to be
given and five days notice in case of a re-
duction he had no fault to find, as people
were given time To nrenare for the chanre