Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-16
IRON MEN DISGUSTED
With the Red Tape That Blocks a
Freight Schedule Adjustment.
THEIR PLEA FOR LOWER RATES
Referred to Committee Knowing Nothing
of the Situation.
THE REASONS GIVEN FOR A REVISION

The pig iron manufacturers of the Mahon-
ing and Shenango Valleys made another ap-
peal to the railroads yesterday for reduc-
tion in rates. A similar request for cheaper
coke was lnade last winter, but the roads
gracefully declined, claiming that they
could not afford it, and arguing that the
iron business was really not so bad after
all. The present pig iron rates between the
valleys and Pittsburg, Cleveland and Wheel
ing are 20 cents per tom The furnace men
have asked for cut of So per cent, which
would make the rate about so cents per ton.
The Pittsburg and Youngstown COM
mittees of freight agents met at the Lake
Shore office yesterday to consider the propo-
sition. All the roads interested were repre-
sented. General Freight Agent Sam P.
Shane, of Cleveland, was there for the Erie
system. Harry E. Passavant, Secretary of
the Mahoning and Shenango Iron Manu-
facturers' Association. was on hand to push
the claims of the iron men,
A Favorable Recommendation Made.
The local agents are in sympathy with the
valley people, but they have not the
authority to make the reduction. The mat
ter after some discussion was referred to the
Iron Committee of the Central Traffic Asso-
citation with a favorable recommendation.
General Freight Agent Cromlish, of the
Pittsburg and Western, said the Associ-
alton would grant the request if the Iron
Committee favored it.
The iron men are disgusted with the red
tape of the railroads. Referring the re-
quest to Chicago takes the subject out of
the hands of the people who best under
stand the situation, and it is equal almost
to a refusal from the start. A furnace man
in speaking of the matter said: "What do
the people of Chicago care about US or our
business? They see the railroads block
AIDED with the grain traffic, and in the ex-
citement they lose sight of everything else.
Local freight is forgotten. They are not in
sympathy with the pig iron men, and our
arguments are brushed aside as trif1ing.
These men are anxious to maintain big per-
centages in the Eastern and Western ship
ments.
Charge of Discrimination.
"The roads carry grain to the seaboard at
rate that is ridiculous and absurd COM
pared with what we have to pay on iron.
The profits in grain are not nearly as large
as the roads reap from the iron business of
empty cars going west through Yourgs-
town. They have been to the seaboard and
are returning for more grain. At the same
time the manufacturers of mill and mer-
chant iron in the valleys can't compete in
Chicago and st. Louis markets, because
mills located near these cities have cheaper
freight rates.
"When the iron business is good you
never hear iron manufacturers grumbling
about freight rates. 1t makes little differ
ence to us whether we pay 81 per ton or 20
cents. In ordinary good times the Western
manufacturers can't compete with us, and
buyers are compelled to come to the val
leys for their iron. The Mahoning and She
mango manufacturers control the merchant
iron trade of the United States. I am not
speaking about steel now. Pig iron was
never sold so low in the history of the bust
ness as at present. A ton of mill iron sells
for S12.
The Duty of the Railroads.
"With the trade in so bad condition We
have no fear of Southern competition, and
at this time the railroads ought to be will
ing to help US The day is ceming when
the lines will be in closer touch with their
patrons and as business goes up or down
rates will varv accordingly. This is the
only way to get along successfully. The
furnace men are running in the valleys now
to make monev enough to meet their ore
payments as they become due. They have
years supply of ore on hand, and must
pay for it. The stock is piled up, and a lit
tie is sold as necessity compels
1.-THE ore men did the square thing this
year. When they saw the condition of the
trade they reduced their product. Ore will
be so cents per ton higher next year, and
this is only fair The railroads ought to
bear their share of the burden"