Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-01
THE BIGGEST CUTYET.
A Committee of Freight Agents Slash
Iron and Steel Rates
DOWN FROM 20 TO 25 PER CENT.
Interesting Inside History of the Unprece-
dented Move.
THEY GIVE MR.. CARNEGIE NO CREDIT

One of the biggest cuts in westbound rates
on articles of iron and steel manufacture in
the history of the railroads was made yes
terday. Only once before, about eight years
ago. when the iron rate to Chicag go for few
dsys was 2JI cent?, were the rates ever as
low as they will be on June s, when this
latest cut will go into effect.
The present rates on iron and steel articles
from Pittsburg to Chicago are 171k, and Is
cents in less than car and car loads. Yes
terday the Pittsburg committee of freight
agents met in the Lake Shore Office and re-
duced these rates to IL and IA cents to
Chicago. Taking the Windy City rate as a
basis, the rates to East st. Louis will be IL
and 1S11 cents; 16 and 13 cents to Milwau-
kee; 241I and 1917 to the Mississippi river
points, Burlington, Rock Island and Daven-
port; 10 and cents to Buffalo, etc. The
cut applies westbound to all the points be-
tween the Pittsburg territory and the Miss
iSsippi river, except St. Paul and Mime
apolis.
RATES THERE EVEN LOWER.
From Duluth to these two cities the roads
have to compete with the lakes, and the
rates are little lower.
The new rail and lake rates, however, to
st. Paul and Minneapolis will be IL and
zig cents, a reduction of about cents on
the all rail rate.
The inside history of this big iron and
steel cut is quite interesting. The immedi-
ate cause of the present reduction was the
cut made few days ago by the Nypano
from Youngstown to Chicago, and of course
the other lines had to follow suit, as they
did yesterday. The Nypano reduced the
rate on manufactured articles of iron and
steel from Youngstown to Chicago from 13
and 10 cents to 10 and 13 cents.
Heavy pressure had been brought to bear
on the Nypano and Lake Shore roads for
some time by the Mahoning and Shenango
iron manufacturers for a reduction of rates.
The NypaDo is not in the Central Traffic
Association, but usually acts with the
organization.
NOT QUITE READY TO CUT.
Finally about a month ago the valley
roads in the Central Traffic Association
recommended to that body that a reduction
be made, but the other lines refused and the
matter was dropped. Afterward the Nypano,
acting on its own responsibility, made the
cut, which has become general
President John Newell, of the Lake Erie
and Lake Shore roads, held a conference
Will v lCC ECSlNCub 4hSNuAlOhSh, VI buS
Pennsylvania road, on Decoration Day,
when they agreed to meet the Nypano rates,
and the Pittsburg committee was ordered to
make the reduction. The Youngstown COM
mittee will meet in Cleveland to-day TO pre-
pare a new Western tariff on the basis of the
cut from that city.
The railroad men will not admit that the
appeals and vigorous protests of Mr.. Car
negie
HAD ANYTHING TO DO
with bringing about the reduction. They
attribute the glory to the Mahoning and
Shenango valley iron men, who induced the
Nypano to make the cut.
The general reduction in rates from Chi
cago to ST. Paul by the C. B. & n. road
faiglY took the wind out of the
lo9I commercial men, who had |
cdne to think that rates universally /
Eereas firm as adamant. Tine other North |
tern roads, except the Rock Island, have |
u the cut. The commercial agents of the |
C., B. & n. and the Wisconsin Central |
were busy, yesterday notifying shippers of |
the reduction. Some of the local men seem
to think that the break in the Northwest is
only the borerunner of a general smash-up
in Western rates, and that it won't be long
before the Mississippi river rates will be
turned upside down. 1t does look as if the
Western roads are again losing their heads,
and the rate wars Of last summer may be re-
peated.