The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-08
EYES OF TRAFFIC. MEN ARE LOOK
ING OVER THE SEASONS
PROSPECTS.
VISIT OF STEAMBOAT MEN.
THEY CALL 1T THEIR REGULAR
SPRING ROUNDUP, BUT 1T MEANS
MORE.
ID. & o. Said to Have Made Arrange
ments to Cut Into the
Business.

The opening Of the lake carrying
trade will be the signal for a red hot
campaign among all lines interested
in east and west bound traffic. The
presence in the city of number of
vessel owners and Representatives of
lake transportation companies has
CO used the general feeling that I'M
usually spirited competition will fol-
low the clearing of the first boat from
the head of the lakes. The visit Of
the steamboat men at this time is said
by them to be their regular spring
round up but that means more this
year than usual.
Broken pools and agreements stare
the railroads in the face, and, with the
competition of the lines a certainty,
it would not be surprising If deep In
ciSions were made in present tariff
sheets. A feeling of distrust is evil
dent. The hope of the railroads seems
to be to break UP independent boat
lines like the Great Lakes Steamship
company, run by John Gordon, the
Lake Michigan Car Ferry Transporta-
ton company, the 500 boats and kin
dred lines. AS to the other lines Of
boats, the railroads profess to feel no
alarm from them, claiming that they
are controlled by the Eastern trunk
lines, which will work in harmony
with the railroads and prevent trouble
There was a ru1nor afloat yesterday
that John Gordon had run into a snag
Unless Gordon can secure the Coop
Grafton Of a rail line from Buffalo to
the seaboard, his scheme for an indie
pendent line of boats would collapse.
Gordon is after, it is said the West
Shore road from Buffalo to New York
This road would afford the needed out
let for Western wheat stuffs and inlet
for Eastern freight, in connection with
his boat line, but, if he cannot get it.
what then?
All the railroads are, of course, try
ing to down the Gordon boats. Their
more or less successful efforts to pre-
vent the Gordon company from secur-
Ing dockage privileges in terminal har-
borS are we'll known Officials in ST.
Paul doubt the success this year Of
the Gordon boats.
Another change in the lake situation
just reported is the reappeara nee of the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad company in
steamboat matters. There used to be
time when the Baltimore & Ohio was
counted in with the big lines of lake
boats. change came, and the Balti-
more & Ohio beats dropped out. 1t
was reported yesterday that the Og-
denSburg Transit company had sold
its entire line Of boats to the Baltimore
d Ohio railroad, and that the railroad
would operate the vessels in connection
with their own line. 1t was known a
week ago that the Baltimore & Ohio
would enter the lists again but it was
not known what boats would be used.
The Wisconsin Central has already
announced its plans This line will do
no little debating, and will have lively
competition in the 500, Northwestern
and Eastern Minnesota. Every one
knows the phenomenalsuccess of the
Northern Steamship company boats
last season. The earnings were so
large that only those on the inside
know them. The Northern Steamship
company runs independently of any
trunk line, and being fed directly by
the Great Northern railway system.
has cinch on vast quantities Of east
bound merchandise. The grain trade
alone will keep their boats busy
1t was limited yesterday that the 2215-
cent rate will be cut before it has been
in effect two days