The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-30
ALONG THE RAIL.
A Cut of the Chicago and Alton
Met by the Santa Fe.

The latest indication Of another rate war,
referred to previously. comes in the form OF
telegram received at Fourth and Town.
send streets yesterday from the Santa re
people. This message states that on and
after tomorrow the rate between Chicago
and Kansas City will be reduced from Sl2 81
to $40 in order to meet the Atoms recent
cut between those points The story OF this
trouble is long one, bnt may be briefly
summarized as follows:
In recent agreement of the Trunk Line
Association, a clause was inserted, threat
ening a boycott on any line belonging to the
Western Pas senger Association which con-
tinued the practice OF paying commissions
to agents. AT the same time lines west OF
Chicago and st. Louis were advised OF the
action of the Trunk Line Associations Elk
ecutye Board, and all apparently complied
with the order with the exception OF the
Chicago aud Alton.
The refusal Of this line to discontinue the
payment of commissions according to the
Trunk Line edict brought about the threat
ened penalty, and every road IN the aSS0cla-
tion, excepting the Grand Trunk and the
Toledo, ST. Louis ana Kansas City, turned
the AltOn'S tickets TO the wall and COM
menced to force business over other lines.
1t was one of the bitterest boyc0tts IN the
history of raIlrOading.
points on the Chicago and Alton which the
Trunk Lines found it impossible to divert.
they refused to sell tickets beyond Chicago
and St. Louis, checking baggage locally to
former points, thus compelling passengers
to purchase local tickets over this line TO
destination. This was on west-bound busl-
ness. In the matter OF east bound the
Trunk Lines notified all roads In the Trans
continental Association to deliver them no
business over the Alton. either at chicago
or ST. Louis, and also warned them that
they uhe Trunk Lines would not receive
baggage checked through on tickets sold III
connection with the Alton.
This had the effect of forcing all passing
over this road TO purchase at either OF the
Eastern terminais-Chicago or st. Louis.
The effect of such rigid lockout can be
readily understood Under it the Alton
suffered severely and was bound to retalIate
in sumo form or other. This 1t did by eu-
terng Trunk Line territory about week
ago and announcing cut In the rate De-
tween Chicago and ST. Louis.
All the Gould connections and other
trans Missouri Ines, the Burlington, ROCK
Island, Chicago, Milwaukee, ST. Paul. etc.,
will undoubtedly follow the example OF the
Santa Re in meeting this cut, and III all
probability 60 it one better. Suca course
will cause a general Generalization OF rates,
| and fal-seeng railroad men are looking Tor
a sweeping rate-War as result.
Up to and including June 10Th there have
been shipped 31S car loads Of fruit during
the months of May and June OF this year
from Central California. For the same
months during the previous year only 166
carloads were shipped, showing that the in-
crease is heavy and the demand for CalifOr-
| MIA fruits growing greater every year.
General Freight Agent Smurr, who re-
| Gently returned from the session Oh the
ranscontinental Association at Chicago,
reports that the rates on tea have been fixed
at 81 for less than carloads TO Missouri
| River and points East, and 81 80 for ear
| loads. The former rate was SIS and 81 90
respectively.