New-York tribune., 1889-10-30
NO CAUSE FOR A RATE-WAR.
ROCK ISLANDS PRESIDENT SAYS so.
DENYING RuMoRs OF A COMBINATION TO oP'
POSE THE UNION PACIFIcNoRrH-
wrsrERN AGREEMENT.

WESTERN AGREEMENT
Tho ,crInc ~ traffic agreement between the Union
Pacific and the Chicago and Northwestern ra'iio"''
has lel recently TO many sensational reports on o"o
hand It has been asserted that this contract prcSaso
,be imncaton Of the railroads of the country and' on
the other It has been predicted that inc es ou'''
of the agreement would begin savage war IN ra,es.
In both directions tho importance Of the agreement mas
been magnlfed beyond measure IL has been re-
ported I'm the interest OF the "bear' faction IN tho
stock market that other Western railroads wouh op
pose in every way the practical execution OF the co
tract and that the Rock Island and tho ST. paul com
panles, who made tho famous tripartite agreement
with tho Union Pacific would unite IN attempts 10
defeat It. Theirs Is no ground for these rimor.
r. r. Cable president Of the Rock Island Railway,
was at the company's Office in this city yesterday
lie said that his visit was simply consequence OF
routine business In the management Of the raroad'
but when 1t was explained that It had given rise 10
speculative rmors. he added
There is no combination between the Rock Island
and other roads IN opposition to the reported agree.
mcnt between the Union Pacific and the Northwestern
systems Certainly any suGa ne wtbant nn INV
knowledge and l do not think the directors wousi
part of the Rock Island in fact there Is opposition
10 the contract between the Union Pacific ana INC
assume that the Union Pacific would not sell 10 some
body else what II had already sold to us.
Mr.. Cables auslon to the trlparte agreement
plain that his attention was caled to Ie-
ported statement behalf OF the Union Pacific, IN
which these words were used " II the Rock Island
says the triparte agreement IS stll in force, then
It must give us all Denver business, and for what
purpose then IS the Rock Island now in Daver
The trpartite was broken by the withdrawal OF the
Northwest and was made worthless by the ouildlng
Of other lines westward, notably the Rock Island
Mr. Gable replied:
The tipartte agreement IS sim I'm force so far a.
this company knows. There has been no notice OF Us
dissolution BY either side and a years notice Is re-
qured About tho Denvcr f.alness, II there has been
any disagreement about tho doll cry OF tanc Dy
either company the contract provides for arbitration
which can be called for Us either party II we
should have TO give tho Union Pacific all our Denver
traffic that road would have TO give us all us tast
bound bus ness. hardly think that Charles Francis
Adams, who Is The father O. the Presi;
dents Agreement, or, in other words, one, Oh
the princiapl bottle holders would make such a
some quarters be. because most members OF me IN
tcr,tatc Commerce Railway Association consder IL
"A direct violation Of that agreement. II was pro
vided In that agreement that all arrangements fOr he
division of competitive traffic should be made through
the association. II Is possible that Mr.. ADAMS JhIhS
This the easiest way break up the asOclauOh Dut
others may not agree with him. 90 noI lIasiao mia
that the traffic contract between the Union faclo
and the Northwestern Will affect 10 great extent inc
relations of the railroads connecting with the CnI0n
Pacific at Council Bluffs and Kansas CITY; inc
similar n that with the Northwestern, Will have no
greater effect. They may DC realZed Dut tney VII
ACCOMPLISH nothing more than the previous contract
has done The railroads mat reaGn the Ciior m b1es
at both points VIII pfODaOIy continue w u" D"'i"''
at the old stands.
In regard TO the general situation at tho West
Mr.. Gable added
There /, business enough for everybody and rates
arc reasonably maintained. do not see any reason
why they should not continue to be proftable'@