The Red Cloud chief., 1889-08-09
THE ROCK ISLANDS POSITION.
= Manager St Johns Reply to The
Statement of Alton OmeiAls.

Gs.er.l Manager St Johns Reply to TIE
Statement Of Alton OmeiAls.
Prom the Chicago TmesI
General Manager St John, of the Chicago,
ROCK Island 4 Pacific road, authorizes the
following statement in reply to assertions
recently mad by Vice-President J. c.
NcAullin or the Chicago D Alton n . pub
hshed interview;
NJ kcMHlIin, in a recent AbIished inter
view, has clearly defined the present posi-
ton and policy OF the Alton road II 10
20 insist on through rates being made on .
basis that will give to It . fair share Of the
traffic which goes TO n N from
points west OF Kansas City. He Illus
trares his meaning by citing a shipment OF
road through Kansas City TO Chicago
Upon such . shipment the tariffs OF all the
lines as heretofore adjusted provided for
. th-ough rnle somewhat less than the
SUI OF two locals This practice vas
IL accordance with well recognized prin-
clplss OF ra1e-uAking g universally prac.
tlced by carriers, and has been approved
BY the interstate commerce commission,
which n arecent case used the following
language :o.As rhroughrares are made BY the
American system OF roads. agreed percent
ages OF the total rate, considerably less In
mount than the local rates Of roads receiv.
ing such percentages. are usually . leading
No~~ &SP~A [.
general rule that this should be 80. . . .
and trade require il and compe-
titiou compeis It Such rates, when rea.
sonab!y n fairly adjusted TO local bust
ness. are greatly favored in the law, be-
cause they furnish cheapened rates and
greater facilities 10 the public. while at the
same time they give increased employ
Ment and earnings 70 . larger number Of
carriers
In the rates a adjusted heretofore
upon livestock traffic from points in Kan
saa. Indian Territory, Texas, etc. through
Kansas City 70 Chicago. the difference be-
tween the sums OF he locals and the
through rates was Al entirely reasonable
difference, and the tariffs in question were
precisely upon the line of the resolution
which NJ. XcXultin quotes approvingly.
notwithstanding this, he says nat be pro-
poses 20 get what he calls . fair shaEe Of
the tariff by reducing the local rate from
Kansas City 70 Chicago to the amount OF
the proporrionate rate between these
points charged by the Rock Island on the
through shipment
This statement Is certainly candid His
line has no extension west Of Kansas CITY.
The Rock Island has He PROV Oses to make
originates upon the extension that It has
furnished means to construct and this no
viii do by reducing the established ate
from Kansas City TO Chicago. This declara-
ton follows ais announcement at the COM
UeDcemenc OF the same interview that b
Alton does not cut any rates; It only reduces
when necessary TO meet cut rates OF other
roads let the Alton has just forced q
large reduction \ 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 irs rate from Kansas City TO chs
division Of the through rate charged upon
the ines where the livestock shipments
originate those lines mus meet the reduc-
ton IN the local and at tine SAME time re-
Cuce their through rate correeponGinCiy.
This is Necessary for their presentations:
they Will rot think that they can reasona-
by be asked TO cut their lines In two for
the benefit OF the Alton, nor can The latter
justly expect them 20 surrender traffic
which they have constructed long lines ~
road to secure. This step will apparently
involve q new reduction by the Alton TO
the level OF the new proportionare rates.
and the process Will be repeated until all
the lines are doing business 1t . loss and
somebody surrendera
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
viii probably be taken, however"