New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-28
MR.. GOULD'S ROAD OUT.
MISSOURI PACIFIC DIRECTORS ACT.
FORMAL WITHDRAWAL FROM THE WESTERN
TRAFFIC ASSOCIATION - UNFORTUNATE
RATE CONDITIONS BEYOND CHjAGO

TRAFFIC ASSOCIATION - UNFoRTUNATE
RATE CONDITIONS BEYOND CHjAGO.
The Western Traffic Association has long been
regarded by railroad men as near dlssoiutioh
Jaw Gould yesterday finally put II out OF pain
The directors of the Missouri Pacific met ana de-
cided formally 10 give notice of withdrawal from
the association The Wabash directors took sinl-
| lar action a few days ago, and II Is un'ers'oog
that the Union Pacific and the Iowa Central VIII
act in few days In the circumstances 1t Is con-
sdered doubtful that the meeting OF the AoVisorS
| Beard, fixed for October IL, VIII ne neid'
| George J. Gould was not disposed yesterday 10
max. apv "alarmist" statements respecting the ac-
ton Of the Missouri Pacific. we nave "i'h-
drawn from thc association he said, "because
the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and the SOUTH
ern Pacific had already done So mat lelt 'he
Missouri Pacific's hands tied where other roads
were free besides throwing upon the roads re-
naming in the association an additional proper
,ion to hear of the expenses The case OF the Chl-
caco. burlington and Quincy especially inhuenreu
| us "A that road is 10 close competitor OF uie
! Missouri Pacific We thought 1t only justice 10
our road. as we'll as an act Of economy, 10 WIN
| draw from the organization. NO, don't oeheNe
| this will necessarily lead to decentralization III
| rates There s no need for II with all the DuSi-
ness now offering. There are the ola frelgliI anu
| n,ssorcor organizations to fall back on, and some
roads ore members of these bodies. which were
NOT members of the Western Traffic Association.
I do not think thai rates West are as much dis'
| turbed as the public seems to believe they are
"W,ll not the failure of the association be q
great dislppontment?" he was asked
There has lccn plenty Of time for disappoin'-
| ment 70 work off, Mr. Gould replied, with de-
| l,boration. "Ihe Western Traffic Association was
failure from the start. II was only rope o'
sand do not know of any negotiations OF CUT.
rc>pondcnce going on looking to the formation oil
| a new central organization.
| Tho Wes.crn Traffic Association was the outcome
| of a conference Of bankers and Western railway
r,esidcnts held at the house of J. Pierpont
| Morgan on December -. 500, one month ai''F
the collapse of the Barngs had been announced.
7, T. soid to have bc,n the first time Jay Gould
WAS in Mr.. Morgan's home. Tho Western railway
situation had been dcmoralizcd. similar assocla-
| ,io, ro,ularlc dubbed the "Gentlcmcns Agree
| mont having gon. 10 pieces. In January, lsol'
tho oroanizatioa If the new association was coiii-
| nle,cd Int upon lines less stringent than lau
| bccn earnestly advocated by Mr.. Gould ana -
| u urrt;ngtor The rejection Of Mr.. Goulds
scheme for consolidating all the compeu"Hc
| freight soliciting agencies OF the western ro""'
| apparcntly left nin without faith IN c'e e''-
| hility Of the organization. At fhe irst mee'lhs
NJ the Advisory Board in Chicago, on April ~
| 1901 the Missouri Pacific. Union Pacific, southern
Pacific and Great Northern were not represeh'ed'
| In May therc was meeting Of the Advisory
poard in mi, ci.v. whore Traffic Manager j. y
| l oeds' Of The Missouri Pacific adjudgcd guilty
Of ratecutting, and promptly discharged ny
Mr. Gould that being the penalty for VIOLATION
| of the agreement.
In January last, the Advisory Board met here
nd Mr. Gould resented the refusal or the poaid
70 demand the discharge OF the general freight
agent of the Chicago. Burlington and quincy,
accused Of tho ratc-cutting The board in May held
tho Opincy official, to he guilty. hut since that
| time no step has been taken Ivy the Quincy ~ en-
| force thc punishment. On the contrary, on jury
| 10 when the Advisory Board assembled for reg
ular session a communication from President Per
| kins of IN, Chicago. Burlington and Quincy, was
| nresentrd protesting against the condemnation oi
his subordinate and declaring that II was IN Vlo-
lation of the agreement governing the AhNiSTH
Board A resolution was presented by Nlr rer-
kins and It's adoption was made the cohul'l"h VI
the Omncy's attendance at the meeting lhe Al
visory Board instantly aijourn"d until ocfoher H.
hut most members left the meeting with strong
expectation that the action Of the Quincy m'ah'
| disruptiou or the aeeOclhtOn n'ihi'"' '' wv
West WAS unanimous on this point.
Tho withdrawal Of the Missouri Pacifc rom
tho Wes,arn Traffic Association generally IN
tcrpreted in Wall Street yesterday aS threatening
s,rious rate complications beyond Chicago. IL Is
oneplv confessed at the West that freight rates
have been unsettled, and below the regular tarlil
for nonths In fact even in the nominal NE
| time of thc Western Association there was con-
| tinuou. fling of charges and countorchargcs Bnt
heretofore the situation has been prevented from
Incoming acute by the big traffic hauled by the
| roads In couscq ucncr of the enormous crops al
1901 Railroad men are now confronted WIN ION
naue that will L.. ha-cd upon much smhHor NlerlS
| of cereals and by complications outside OF th'
| Western Traffic Association. Inc lrahscoh'in'h-
| tal Association had already lost as members the
| Canadian Pacific the Northern Pachc ana thc
| Great %ortLcrn Chicago dispatch Yesterday
| announced the official withdrawal OF the Atchl-
SON Topcka and Santa Fc.
| Tho cutting Of trLnscontncntal rates now under
| vav covers 40 extensive n territory that railway
| mon fear that u must affect the rates OF con
| tignous tranc. The old freight aSsoratlons Irlo
| aIivn after the practical abandonment OF the
| Westcrn Traffic Association have been unable 10
| como throuo1 the summer with the problems com
| inc before them. Even where tonnage pops
! have had a nominal existence, several or the
| roads have seized the lions share Of traffic IN
| thc month Of June the Commissioners OF the
| Wcs.crn Traffic Association directed the diver
| sion OF tranic 10 Southwestern Missouri points
| " the Missouri Pacific. the Mchson ana me
comrnnies has obcycd the order; An earnest
| effort 10 avert decentralization will be needed 70
| prevent the Western rate situation from passing
into serious stage
| Dorp BOBBEHY IN NORWICH