The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-28
NEW WESTERN FREIGHT.
Will Commence Operations Sunday
If Possible.

1t has been definitely decided to put the
newly formed Western Freight association
into effect on Nov. 1, provided that by that
time the thirty or more roads accept the
terms of the agreement. The new associa-
ton is looked upon as go, for there now
remains but one place to fill upon the new
board of administration. Chairman Midg-
ley, Of this board, who was elected to that
office last week, is very busy nowadays get
ting matters in snaps, and Is in daily COM
munication with each of the roads. cir
cular from the chairman received yesterday,
stated that a majority of the members of
the new board of administration would report
in Chicago in time to take up the work on
the first OF the month. The acceptance Of
General Freight Agent J. ]. Fletcher, of
the Kansas City. Fit. Scott & Gulf road,
to the appointment on the board has been
General Traffic Manager c. A. Parker, of the
Missouri Pacific, will accept the appointment
within few days. G. l.. Wellington, general
traffic manager Of the Wisconsin Central
has already accepted the appointment, and
this leaves only one place in doubt.
The Western Freight association was re-
within two weeks there will be an unprece-
denied rush of business caused by the closing
of the lake transportation season. The i'm
mense fleet Of lake carriers will for the most
part go out of commission for the year, as
the government will soon declare an official
close of navigation. Many of the independ-
ent ship owners, however, will continue to
ply the lakes long as the weather will
allow, but the all-rail lines will feel an i'm
menSe impetus to trade within a month The
movement OF grain via the lakes cannot
keep up much longer and the railroads will
get all the business they can handle, not
only in grain, but in all lines Of merchandise.
The lake lines are still doing an immense
business. considering the lateness of the sea
soin.. The movement has been phenomenal
for the end Of the season. If harmony Is re-
stored among Western lines this great volume
of business will be handled without fric-
ton and on stable rate basis.
railroad freight association like the
Joint Traffic association and the Southern
association is not looked upon with affec-
ton by the shippers, who. under the old
system of independent tariffs used to secure
the benefits of the cut rates, ETC. A shipper
WHO sends out tons of manufactured prod
ucts from st. Paul every week said to the
G o concerning the pooling and associa-
ton problem:
at strikes me that Joint traffic asso-
citation is like q big trust formed to force
all weaker or courageously independent lines
Into line. l could cite the instance of a.
association. although efforts were made from
time to time to compel the road to come In
Failing in this the association attemDfed
bull-dozins tactics and boycott was insti~
tuted against the refractory line. The asso-
citation ordered sill freight and nasseroer
relations with tho line broken off immediate
ly. Connecting lines were ordered not to re-
ceive passenger tickets from the road or to
Issue Joint tickets over the same nor to re-
ceiSe freight from K In the usual way or
course the boycott told In time The line
was forced to point where It had to WELD
in order to preserve itself. believe that
traffic association Is unlawful pool and
] believe further that the Interstate commerce
laws. which protect competitive traffic are
constantly violated. do not see hut what
II Is iust as great violation Of the anti
trust law as boot and shoe trust would be
or any other kind. for that matter