Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-04
Mahoning and Shenango Iron Men
Ask for a Cut of 0ne-Third on
East and West Tariffs.
TIE TRADE is BADLY DEPRESSED,
And They Claim a Reduction From 10 to
10 Cents on the Chicago Rate
Is Absolutely Needed.
FREIGHT AGENTS MAKE no pROMIs ES
The Wabash the First Road to Abandon It's Pttsturg
Freight efHcs.

The iron manufacturers of the Mahoning
and Shenango valleys made another bold
strike for reduction in freight rates yester-
day.
Not long ago the furnacemen asked the
railroads to cut the rate on coke. and this
time it is the makers of merchant iron who
want cheaper transportation for their prod
ucts east and west bound. The present
rate from Youngstown to Chicago on manu-
factured iron articles is Is cents; the manu-
facturers requested that one-thlrd be taken
of, which would make it 10 cents.
As the rates to New York are based on the
Chicago tariffs, proportionate reduction
would have to be made TO the metropolis
and intermediate points. The demand was
made before the assembled Pittsburg and
Youngstown committees at the Mononga-
hela House, and its suddenness fairly took
the breath OF the freight agents. who saw q
slice of fat profits dwindle away, if 1t were
done.
Prompt Objection by an Agent.
One of the agents promptly objected that
such reduction would necessitate a west
bound rate OF 1917 cents from Pittsburg, to
correspond with the cut
The Mahoning and Shenango Valley Iron
Manufacturers Association was represented
by part the Executive Board, consisting of
President H. o. Bonnell, j. j. Butler,
James Nelson, George d. Wick, Frank
Bull, Sharon, and H. E. Passavant, Secre-
tary. These gentlemen told the freight
agents that the trade in merchant iron was
depressed through no fault o! the manufac-
turers, and under present conditions they
could not afford to pay the freight rates pre-
vailing. They asked for the reduction
on the ground that the trade demanded it.
After the meeting the agents were enter
rained at dinner by the iron representatives
When Secretary Passavant was asked
what reply the agents made to the request,
he smiled and said:
Sat Stin and Sawed Wood.
"Did you ever know railroad men to say
anything? They sat there, listened and
sawed wood. used to be In the railroad busi-
ness myself but am on the other side of the
fence now. The truth is that the manufact-
urers in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys
are running their works at loss. We made
no threats of any kind and delivered no ulti-
matum.
viii the mills be closed down if the reduc-
tion is not nader
Il hope not. That is something for the
future, but the manufacturers will have to run
their business at loss. Yes. know it is
charged that Southern pig iron is hurting the
furnace business in the valleys, and it is true
but we can't help that If a proper reduction
were made in coke and freight rates, the fur
naces would be running as usual We could
then compete with the Southern iron men.
The depression in the business extends to Pitts
Urn1 vail Gle yIxr
is it that Carnegie is only running
three furnaces? This is not one-sided Ques-
ton. III We are unable to operate our furnaces
on account of the high price of coke, for one
thing where will the coke operators get mar
ket? They are bound to suffer with us also"
but the operators and railroad agents argue
that Pittsburg manufacturers have not asked
Tor REDUCTION IN coke or freight rates. They
claim the Mahoning and Shenango fellows are
always kicking for something"
The Fortunate Position of Pittsburg.
1t is true" Mr.. Passavant answered, "that
the Pittsburg iron men have not asked for a
cut but they will reap the benefit of our hard
work. Pittsburg is fortunate in being situated
at the mouth of the coke and iron industries
Besides our product IN the valleys is principally
merchant iron, and little of it is made in this
city. Zug & Co. is about the only firm
that manufactures merchant iron ex-
tensiveiy in Pittsburg. Ii the reductions
are made, however, Pittsburgers will be helped.
fight. get all the7blame for kicking and others
divide the benefits with Coming over from
Cleveland the other day, prominent iron man
from tnls city wished to me that the Pitusburg
manufacturers could be held together with
such harmony as they are in the valleys. He
said they had been organized once, but the in
TereSts were too diversified. One man wanted
this and another that. and between bickerIng
and the jealousy the association was dis
banded"
After the meeting the agents adjourned to
the Lake Shore office to discuss the question
but as several had to leave they postponed the
meeting until to-day. The reduction can only
be made by the Central Traffic Association
and the freight committees have not decided
whether they will refer the demand or not If
they refuse the fight will be postponed for
awhile, to be waged again IN the near future
A Problem That Demands Study.
A number of agents were asked what they
thought of the demands, but they said it was
big problem. and they would have 20 look more
into the details before they could make up
their minds. The suddenness of the demand
rather surprised them. General Freight gent
Frank Dean, of the Lake Erie road remarked
thai PitIsburg the last place always in
which the iron business was depressed When
1t is dull in the outlying districts, this city is
usually turning out iron.
AS the cut asked for is one-third of the pres
ent rates, it was something, he added, that
couldn't be settled in a day.