The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-29
GRAIN RATES SLASHED
GENERAL MANAGERS OF WESTERN
LINES UNABLE TO AGREE.
Joint Traffic Association Refuses Any
satisfaction to the Central
Freight committee.

The general managers of the Western
lines met at Chicago yesterday for the
purpose Of taking some action calculated
TO stiffen the grain rates. but they had
poor success. While the meeting was in
session IL was announced that the Missouri
Pacific had reduced the rates between the
Missouri and Mississippi rivers TO 4 cents
and that the Great Western had taken an
other slice out of the rates between Kansas
City and Chicago by reducing the rate TO
Z cents a cut of 2 cents. This reduction
goes into effect at once. No action toward
meeting il was taken by the other lines,
but there is a general feeling that they
will be compelled to make the same rates
as the Great Western. Among grain men
the opinion is that the rates will be re-
duced still more in the near future, some
holding that the rate will yet be 10 cents
from Kansas City TO New York.
A meeting of the Colorado lines OF the
Western Passenger Association was also
held yesterday for the purpose OF determine
from the eastern territory of the Western
Passenger Association. 1t was decided to
run several excursions during next month.
The excursion business 10 the West has
been lighter this year than for many years
and the roads are very anxious TO do some
thing to increase the volume OF their
traffic.
The Grain Rate i'm the West.
The Kansas City Star says of the situa-
ton in the West:
The grain rate situation was never more
demoralized than it is at present The bot
tom has fallen out of tariffs and some of
the railroads are carrying grain TO market
the East and West lines and the lines lead
ing to Galveston and New Orleans is now
on in earnest, and may result in a duel of
L determination The rare 0f 10 cents nm corn
and II cents On wheat from this city TO
New Orleans made by the Memphis and
Missouri Pacific is an almost unprecedented
cut and Chicago grain dealers at first re-
fused to believe IL had been made. These
roads have practically annihilated the en-
tire rate from Kansas City TO st. Louis.
The Chicago Great Westerns reduced
tariffs from Missouri, Kansas and Iowa
points TO Chicago will go into effect
lines has met the Great Westerns cut. but
will be forced to do SO. just as the COM
p~etitors of the Missouri Pacific and the
Memphis will have TO meet the gulf rates
made by those lines. TIL Rock Island
railway has announced that IL will grant
the privilege to shippers of routing grain
from Western points through Kansas City
as well as through st. Joseph. This is a
recognition of Kansas City as a grain mar
rates at which grain is being carried is
given by the Rock Island, which states on
its new rate sheets these rates are not
regarded as a fair compensation for the
service, but are forced on this company
by the action of competing lines The
Missouri Pacific announces another cut of
from l TO 8 cents on grain 10 st. Louis.
If this goes on the roads will soon be haul
ing grain for nothing. The week just closed
has witnessed the liveliest grain trade in
southern and central Kansas that those
sections have experienced in five years.
Just now the bulk of the old corn from
that section is going TO st. Louis and New
Orleans. but dealers from Northern, East
ern and Southern points are all buying
heavily: The shipments. while enormous.
n 40 -. 49, oonaA eaDHnEan tho sir
done, as a very large amount of corn has
been contracted for but is held awaiting
cars. Nearly all the roads deny from their
general offices that there is a car famine
n claim TO have ample facilities, but II
is a fact, nevertheless. that they cannot
keep up with the demand for empties.
Similar reports come from Iowa and Ne
brask2 and there is no longer any doubt
that the low grain rates are forcing grain
to move in Immense quantities..