St. Paul daily globe., 1892-09-11
NOT RATE CUTTERS.
The Great Northern Defends 1t
TranscOntinentaI Position.

The Great Northern Defends Its
TranscontinentaI Position.
The Associated Press dispatch of the
9th instant from Chicago was shown 10
Great Northern official. He laughed
at this attempt to convict the Great
Northern of cutting rates on canned
goods, etc, from San Francisco to the
Atlantic seaboard, and said: I'VE en-
phatically deny having made the reduc-
ton. We have the reputation of enforc-
ing conservative policy. We are not
rate cutters. We reduce rates as fast as
the company's prosperity justifies. and
maintain the obligations of our securi-
ties. The smut machine has been work
ing vigorously during the past few days,
but 1t Will do no good, as the Great
Northern caunOt be cOerced or
bulldoZed into a position which is un-
fair to its own interests and to those of
the people along its lines. AT q meeting
held in New York, in the latter part of
August, the chairman OF the Transcon-
tinental association was instructed, in
case the Canadian Pacific made its re-
duced rates OIL Sept. 10, to give the Pa
clfic Mail Steamship company days
notice OF the intention of the association
TO 3terminote the agreement for space
rental. He was further instructed that
III case the rates should not be made eI-
fectlye prior to Sept 30, aud in case be-
fore that date the Great Northern
should cancel its notice of withdrawal
(note the suggestion), to give the Pacific
Mail Steamship company notice on
Sept. 30 of the Intention of the aSsocia-
ton to terminate the agreement for
space rental, thereby throwing the onus
OF such termination OF agreement upon
the Great Northern in withdrawing. At
a meeting of the TranScOntinental assO-
citation in Chicago on Sept. Z the Cana
dian Pacific gave verbal notice that
1t would postpone action regarding
the reduced rates which il pro-
posed to make effective Oh the 10th in
stant. This leaves the chairman in
structed to give notice to the Pacific
Mail of the intention of the Transconti-
mental association TO terminate the.
agreement for space rental, in case the
Great Northern does not cancel its no.
tice of withdrawal. Immediately fol-
lowing this verbal notice of the Cana
dian Pacific, the Southern Pacific COM
pany telegr aphed from San Francisco,
under date of the Sth instant, to the
Great Northern that they could no long
er participate in, and would withdraw
divisions now in effect in connection
with our line OIL California traffic, eff
1CSOlNC tuC 1~lll luSldUt. we have
no quarrel with any road. Our
policy has been determined upon, and
no Smut-thrOwing OF miSStatements can
change this company's policy, nor in
the least fret us. We are not ANNOYED
with these attempts and do not intend
to further notice such misstatements or
efforts to compel this company to ride
in the old tranScOntinental band wagon.
After the 18th instant we will retire
from the transcontinental business to
California points, in obedience to the
notice from the Southern Pacific COM
pany, except via the Canadian Pacific,
and | presume that any cut in rates
made to Jerusalem, Sydney, Aus
tralia, or to Cape Town, Africa. will
from now on be attributed to us.
The loss of revenue to us by the abrOga-
ton on the part of the Southern Pacific
railroad of the traffic relations hereto
fore maintained with us is so insigniti-
cant as to be unworthy of consideration.
as we have not carried l per cent of the
California business. By the end of the
year. when our line to the Pacific coast
will be completed, having less than It's
miles to build. and now laying track at
the rate of four or five miles per day,we
will paddle our own canoe. No miSrep-
resentatiOn through the press, or other
action, will change our policy nor deter
us from atfording to the communities
which we serve the full benefit of the
conditions under which our line has
been constructed"