The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-25
CANNOT GET JUSTICE
NEW YORK WILL PRESENT A CASE
TO THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION.
Decrease I'm Tonnage with Local Lines
-North-and-south Lines DON'T Like
the New Classification.

The Joint Traffic Association is 50 indif-
ferent 10 the petitions of the New York
Produce Echange that the latter has decided
10 present its grievances to the Interstate
commerce Commission Meantime, Phiia-
delph5a. Baltimore and Newport News will
prepare their side of the question TO pro-
tect their respective interests. 1t is stated
that the counsel for the exchange viii, IN
preparing his case against the Joint Traffic
Association for discriminating against the
port OF New York, bring the action on the
-four matter in as strong evidence. The
subject has been bearing upon the question
OF discrimination in this way: The new
rules provide that storage at New York
shall not begin on -four covered by through
bil1s Of fading for sixty days after the date
OF the bin of Iading-in other words. after
che date OF shipment from the initial point.
As * takes only about ten days 10 bring
the flour TO New York. there still remains a
free storage right for the through flour OF
nifty days, against twenty days storage OF
local -four. Such a condition of affairs. ii is
argued, cannot continue without driving the
local export trade from New York The
railroads are in this way not discriminating
IN favor of other ports. but in favor OF
themselves as through freight agents. In
other words, they acknowledge that twenty
days Tree storage IS not sufficient to obtain
ocean freight accommodation for them
selves, but they compel the local merchants
10 operate on that basis. When the railroad
issues a through bill of lading il names a
lump sum from the point it receives its
goods 10 the foreign port OF destination.
Under the terms of the joint traffic agree
ment sucn a lump sum must be equal to
the fuil rate plus the actual ocean freight
rate. AS. however, the ocean freight rates
are constantly fiuctuating, the long storage
privilege accorded 10 through flour gives it
the railroads are in position to wait for a
favorable opportunity to ship. IL is thus
evident a II is claimed, that the railroad PEG
expense or New YorkS local export bus
mess.
Through business at n Minimum.
The train records show still further de-
crease in freight traffic. Last week 81 few
er loaded cars were received and forwarded
at Indianapolis than in the week ending
May Is; the decrease is wholly in through
business, and largely in east-bound freights,
local business making a more favorable ex-
hsblt than in any week for many months.
Tae falling of in east-Eound traffic is chief
ly In grain. flour and lumber. The ship
ments OF Live stock. dressed meats, pro-
visions and produce we're never heavier in
May than this year. the shipments Of live
stock and dressed meats being about double
those of the corresponding period last year.
and of provisions fully one-third heavier.
Usually. in May. shipments of oats to New
England points are very heavy, but this
year seems TO be an exception. For some
time past the shipments of produce have
been heavier than usual in May. The last
ten days the cerealine and hominy mills
have begun to make heavier shipments, and
the same Is true OF the starch works; and
or this increase considerable percentage
Is for export. The light business the flour
ing mills are doing tells in a marked man
ner on east-bound business, both for New
York and New England points, and also for
export. AT no time in the last five years
has the business In exporting -four been as
Hight. WestIbound well as east-bound,
the tonnage OF freight going forward Is not
up TO earlier expectations of the freight Off
Gals. While ii is not dropping much below
May last year, " IS, as compared with pros
porous years OF the past, very light. There
| Is one thing in favor OF the roads-the east
and west-bound business carried is moved
at much better rates than have been re-
ceived in any year since the early eighties.
Local business SHOWS O. marked improve
ment Manufacturers are shipping more
| goods and the wholesale houses and the
commission men are doing more business.
The large business the Indianapolis stock
| yards doing is big item in local traffic.
In harvest implements, threshers, engines,
etc, the roads are handling good deal OF
business. Street improvements have COM
menced, and it takes t.ainloads Of ma
ter1al daily to supply the contractors. Be-
low is given the car movement for the week
ending May %, and for the correspo nding
II L.