Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-08-07
THE ROCK ISLANDS POSITION.

>ioheral Manager st. Johns Reply to the
Statement Of Alton Officials. q
From Chicago Times.
General Manager st. John, of the Chicago,
ROCK Island Il Pacific road, authorizes the
following statement In reply to assertions
McMqllin OF the Chicago & Alton in a pub b.
': INF M eMaiin, in recentpub,lsned inter.
vleW' mas clearly defined the present posi-
ton ana policy OF the Alton road. 1t is
TO MISSY on through rates being made on a
traffic which goes to and comes from
points west Of Kansas City. He illus
trates ms meaning by citing shipment OF
live stock from Topeka on the Rock Island
road through Kansas City to Chicago.
Upon s 81 shipment the tariffs Of all Che
llnes as heretofore adjusted provided for
througn rate somewhat less than the
sum OF swo locals This practice was
in accordance with well recognized prin-
clples or rate making as universally prac-
ticed by carriers, and has been approved
by the Interstate commerce commits On.
Language: AS throughrates are made by the
American system OF roads, agreed percent.
ages or the total rate, considerably less in
amount than the local rates OF roads receiv-
Ing such percentages, are usually leading
tea1arg' al, ana IT, 1t is eminent1y proper as
Commerce and trade require it and com,c-
t1tlon compels it, Such rates, when rea.
sonably and fairly adjusted to local bust.
ness are greatly favored in the law, b.
cause they furnish cheapcned rates and
greater facilities to the public, while ut the
same time they give increased emnlov.
nent 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-
through rates was an entirely reasonable
difference, and the tariffs in question were
precisely upon the line OF the resolution
which Mr. McMullin quotes approvinsly.
Notwithstanding this, he says that he pro-
poses to get what he calls fair share OF
the tariff by reducing the local rate from
Kansas City to Chicago to tho amount Of
the ,proportionate rate between these
points charged by the Rock Island on tho
through shipment.
This statement is certainly candid Ills
line has no extension west OF Kansas City.
the latter divide with him traffic which
originates upon the extension that it has
furnished means to construct and this ho
will do BY reducing the established ra:s
from Kansas City to Chicago. This declara-
ton follows his announcement at the co1n-
Alton does not cut any rates; it only reduces
when necessary to meet cut rates of other
roads Yet the Alton has just forced u
large reduction in all rates on live stock and
products from Kansas City to Chicago in &C
cordance with the policy above stated
Naturally and inevitably when the Alton
reduces its rate from Kansas City to the
division OF the through rate charged upon
the lines where the livestock shipments
originate those lines must meet tho reduc-
tion i'll the local and at the same time re-
duce their through rate corresnondingly.
This is necessary for their preservation;
they will not think that they can reasona-
bly, be asked to cut their lines in two for
the benefit OF the Alton nor can the latter
justly expect them to surrender traffic
which they have constructed long lines oe
road to secure. This step will apparently
involve a new reduction by the Alton TO
the level OF the new proportionato rates.
and the process will be repeated until all
the lines arc doing business at loss and
somebody srurenders
The association has no desire to punish
the Alton for its withdrawal nor for any
thing else. Action necessary for the pro-
lection OF its lines against the Atoms raid
will probably DO taken, however"