The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-11-23
WESTERN RAILWAY AFFAIRS.

Freight and Passenger Rates Democrat
tzed-Probability of Reduction in
Passenger Affairs Extending to the
Missouri River-Westbound Traffic
Largest Since 1892.
A special dispatch to the New York
Evening Post from Chicago tonight
says: The freight and passenger-rate
situation in the west has never been in
a more demoralized condition than at
present, and the freight business east
is In about the same fix. Freight rates
have been cut in the scramble for bus
mess, despite the fact that westbound
traffic for months has been the largest
since 1892. and gives every indication
have not had their proportion of the
traffic have cut the rates on the quiet
to get 1t, and the stronger ones have
retaliated, so that it has been case of
cut all around. Traffic officials say that
the chances for a restoration in the
near future are very remote. Passen-
ger traffic, which is only fair may be
increased by the reduction in Chicago
and st. Louis rates from $11.50 to So.
The Wisconsin Central mede the initia-
tive, and the other lines have met it.
Efforts were made Saturday at a meet
ing of the Western Passenger associa
ton to induce the Wisconsin Central
to withdraw it IS rate, and vote of
the association resulted in all but the
latter road favoring it, 1t was finally
referred to the executive committee.
In the meantime, however, the IS rate
stands. If it is not withdrawn the
western lines fear that it will result in
reduction of rates to Missouri river
points, and that it Will eventually
spread to the east, as the 500 will not
stand by and see low rates made to Chi
cago without making reduction to
eastern points to secure its proportion
| of the business
| All the southwestern lines have as
| sented to the proposition to restore
| grain rates to 1Sc on export business
from southwestern Missouri river
| points to the gulf. The only exception
| is the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf
] which refuses to join. This practically
makes the agreement imperative, as
| the other lines will not stand by and
lose business for the 8 cents 100 pounds
difference, as the present rate is Is
| cents.
| Colorado rates have been again re-
| duced, making the third reduction
| within short time. Taking effect No
| vember 81, rates to Denver, Colorado
Springs, Pueblo and Trinidad only, via
| all lines, will be reduced to s1.19 Chica-
go, first class; from the Mississippi riv-
er, SO cents; and from the Missouri riv-
err, 80 cents. This is a reduction of 4S
cents from the tariff before the reduc-
ton started. The last cut is to meet
the new rates put in by the steamship
companies from New York to Calves
ton, thence by rail to Colorado points.
The roads have met the reductions and
| will probably have to make still fur
Their. The ocean and rail lines via the
gulf have had the largest traffic in
their existence for months, and from
the way they have taken goods one
would think their capacity was enor-
nous.
The Santa Fe is having more general
traffic than at any time since the pres
ent management assumed control and
its earnings will be more than suffi-
Gent to meet all it's obligations at the
end of it's fiscal year, June 30. While
earnings are increasing, operating ex,
penses are being kept down unusually
close. The cotton movement on its
southwestern lines is heavy, and the
general local business is improving, the
result of the removal of quarantine re-
strictions. The company has equipped
all it's chair cars running between Chi
cago and Denver with electricity 1t Il
generated with a belt on the car axle
The system has proved so successful
that all the other lines have adopted it
There is 100,o0O000 bushels of corr
cribbed along the lines of the western
railroads, the Burlington having 3S,
900, 900 bushels. The grain movemen
here last week aggregated 5,9S6,00
bushels, an increase over the previou
week Of 397, 900 bushels. There wer
also good gains compared with tn
three previous years. The gain owe
last year was 2,1S5,0O0 bushels; owe
1895 in was 1,273,O00 bushels, and owe
1894, 5000, 900 bushels.