The Saint Paul globe., 1896-11-20
FLOUR FREIGHTS KEEP THE
WESTERN ASSOCIATION IN A
VERY FERMENT.
CAR FERRY DIFFERENTIALS
GIVE RISE TO STILL MORE TROU-
BILE AMONG THE FREIGHT
MEN.
Hereafter the Association VIII Ex-
ercise a Supervision Over That
Branch of Affairs.

A war cloud is hanging over the
-four rate situation again, much to the
annoyance and chagrin of Western
freight men, who were sanguine of
prolonged peace under the new asso-
citation rules. The trouble occurs over
the same old thing, the lake car ferry
companies which kept the railroads in
q perpetual ferment all summer long
A new company is at fault this time.
The Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern
Michigan Railroad company, which
also operates a line of steamers and
car ferry boats, has issued a circular
announcing the close Of their business
between Michigan points and Menom-
inee and Gladstone during the winter
months. The circular however also
contains the announcement that winter
freight, which practically means flour,
will be carried East from st. Paul,
via Manitowoc and Kewaunee, con-
Meeting with the Wisconsin Central at
Manitowoc and with the Omaha at
KeWaunee, in conjunction with the
Winona, Green Bay & st. Paul road.
The whole situation is summed up
just there. A differential Of two cents
per hundred pounds has been allowed
on east-bound shipments, via the lake,
when the bulk is broken in transit be-
tween the lake and rail lines Some
Of the steamer lines operate car fer
ries, and do not break bulk, but claim
a rate of two cents less than the all
rail lines.
1t is generally supposed that the To
ledo line is going to apply the differen-
tial, claiming that its freight is broken
in bulk, but it is believed that the
company named will use it's car ferries
and will not break bulk. The change
goes into effect Dec. 1. It brings up
the old question as to whether the car
ferry companies must break bulk to be
entitled to its differentials. If the To-
ledo line carries it's purpose into eff
feet and takes east-bOund shipments
via its car ferry line under the differ
entfal, it will precipitate another war
on -four rates, in which the Chicago-St
Paul lines will take an active part in
order to force the Toledo line out of
business.
The board of administration of the
Western Freight association has made
two important rulings since it's initial
meeting Monday, with the intention
lAldl oil lilies SHOULD embark unO6r
rules with a fair understanding of the
situation. A question was recently
raised upon the authority Of the asso-
citation to make and change classical
tiOns of commodities. The board has
ruled that it has similar control over
matters Of classification to that con
veyed to it in the matter of rates and
that no change in classification should
be made by members Of the 1associa-
ton until the changes shall first have
been approved by the board of admin
istration, the same as in matters of
rates.
The board has decided, also, that
hereafter, at the motion Of interested
lines, all traffic, including cement, re-
ceived from or delivered to boat lines
at Mississippi river crossings, destined
to points within Western Freight as
sociation territory, shall be subject to
established local rates to or from st.
Louis, as the case may be.
The question of issuing transporta-
ton to parties desiring to go over any
of the roads which are members of
the association and who desire to pur--
chase stock along such lines was also
discussed, and it was decided to pro-
hibit the issuance Of passes, and the
refunding of money for tickets sold to
such parties.