The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-19
A FIERCE RATE WAR.
THE s. Al. TARIFF CUT STIRRING
UP THE OTHER ROADS.
a Meeting Of the Southern Freight
association Called TO
Meet the Cut.

Washington, July 18.-One Of the
fercest rate wars ever waged in the
South is likely to be the outcome Of
the tariff cut, made by the Seaboard
Air Line. It may last for months and
may be only for weeks, but officials of
roads directly interested admit that
the present situation indicates the
most spirited tariff contest made in the
South for the quarter century. The
cut affects mainly the Southern Rail-
way, but it directly or indirectly af-
fects principally every road east of the
Mississippi river.
So far no conferences have been held
between Officials of the various roads,
though the leading officials of the
Southern and of the Seaboard have
held informal interviews in which the
matter has ben discussed. The first
formal step looking to retaljatory ac-
ION is the issuance of call by Com
missioner H. S. Haines, of the South
ern States Freight Association, TO all
o. the roads comprising that body for
a meeting TO be held some time next
week, either in Atlanta or New York
city. The call originally fixed Tuesday
for the gathering, burt it is Ekely to be
postponed till Wednesday, The place
of meeting has not vet been fixed, but
it is very probable that atlanta will
be decided on, Both OF these matters
viii be determined tomorrow morn
ing.
Pending the meeting none Of the
rOa1s Will take any stops to meet the
curt There viii be twenty or twenty
five roads represented at this meeting,
including roads outside of, as well as
within. .he Association, as all probably
dl feel a direct interest i'm the DELHI
eratjons. These representatives, doubt
less. will decide to make a cut, both in
freight and passenger tariff similar to
tnat made by the SmbOard. and viii IN
all likelihood determine to meet every
new cut made by the road which has
thrown down the gauntlet. Whether
all these roads will carry out what is
ganeIAliy agreed upon at this meeting
or viii take individual action looking
only to it's direct interests IS. Of course,
mere conjecture.
1t is not thought probable that the
war viii extend beyond the Mississippi
and Ohio limits mentioned, but the
rates from adj points east of the Mis-
sssippi will be affected. The rates
from the West bearing a
correlation to Eastern rates and the
roads leading from the Ohio and the
Mississippi river to Louisville viii be
more than usually interested
The adjustment of the rates from
Louisville and Cincinnati to Atlanta
which have been in vogue for many
years, are the same as from Balti
more to Atlanta. Accordingly wher
the rates from Baltimore to Atlanta
are reduced, the rates from all western
points will be correspondingly dimin
ished.
The statement has been made that
the North Carolina Railroad commits
sion will interfere with the rates pro
posed by the Seaboard Airline This
was contradicted at Raleigh by Maj
j. w. Wilson, chairman of the com.
mission. He emphatically denied that
the commission had sent any letter tt
President Hoffman or any other officia
of tie SeabOard or that any order haC
been issued regarding it, abe com.
mission, he said, would not interfere
with the Seaboard rate so long as the
long and short haul clause was com.
piled with and no discrimination was
made in favor of other States.
The refusal OF the Eastern steam,
ship lines, connected with the Sea.
board, to recognize the reduced tariff
has already resulted in the Withdrawal
of the Seaboard's new schedule which
provided a reduction of 80 1-3 per cent
in freight rates from Boston, New
York and Philadelphia to Southern
points. The reduced rates from Balti
more have already gone into effect
The heavily cut passenger rates from
all these points, however, remained
untouched. The action of the water
connections was due to their member
ship in the Southern States Freight
Association and consequent binding
rates and rules.
The Seaboard Airline officials say
they are in the fight to stay and in
tend to make matters very interest
ing for all parties concerned.