The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-28
THE WORLD ON WHEELS.
Another Turn Given the Screw to
Force the Alton Officials to
Terms.
The Boycott Coming to a Crisis
and u Big Out in Rates
Probable.
Thc Great Northern Buys n Block of
Northern Pacific Stock-AGent
veaxle to Retire May 1.

Another turn has been gwen the boycott
screw by the board of ratings of the Central
Traffic and Trunk Line associations in it's
fight with the Alton road. Heretofore east
ern agents have been selling tickets to Chi
cago to passengers desiring to go through
to their destination over the Alton accom-
panied by an order for a ticket from the
Alton agent at Chicago. Passengers fur
nished with such orders, on their presenta-
ton to Frank Parnielee's agent on the
trains, were given transfer checks to the
Alton depot and had their baggage re-
checked as formerly. So long as this plan
was carried out the boycott had very little
effect. Parmelee's agents were furnished
with Alton tickets md were able to supply
them to passengers right on board
the eastern trains in exchange for
their orders, SO tho passengers were
saved any trouble in exchanging them.
Tie board of rulings has notified PaImelee
that his agents must no longer furnish
Alton passengers on eastern trains with
transfer checks. exchange their orders for
Alton tickets or recheck their baggage on
their trains. If they do they will be denied
access to the trains and his business in
transferring passengers from II depot to
another will be destroyed. He has applied
for a few days sufferance In the matter, but
this the board of rulings does not appear
willing to grant. Chairmen Blanchard and
Donald are now in communication with
Chairmen Goddard and Farmer, and unless
thev decide that the request for a delay is
reasonable the order will 60 into effect
Immediately.
fnhi~ro n~N ro~,llp o,,,Sr ko n nrior ~ |
connection with the boycott and decisive
steps are to be expected at any moment. It
is expected thas the Alton will apply for
from cutting it off from an ex-
change of business as they have done. 1t
is also fully expected that it will announce
a Wholesale reduction of rates between its
terminals. It can do so and still leave its
local rates untouched. If it does the bust |
ness of other roads will be more affected
than it own. One result of the boycott has
been to demoraliZe rates in eastern terri
tory. The Alton is operating there through
agents of its own and through the brokers.
1t is paying such commissions as enable
the brokers to shade rates materially, and
the business of a number of roads there is
suffering in consequence. Much interest
attaches to the meeting of the
Western Passenger association which
is in session to-day considering
Lue AlGOu 8 uemauO UQdU CeTCIlCateS or the
Trunk Line and Central Traffic associations
be no longer honored in western territory.
If the other roads refuse to concede this de-
mand the Alton will withdraw from the as
ISOLATION and will Immediately announce a
reduction of rates. The western roads want
to avoid a rate war, however, and it is very
probable that they will concede the de-
mand, especially as the boycott is extreme
ly unpopular with them on account of the
way it threatens to cut into their revenues.