The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-15
Atlantic Seaboard and Gulf Lines
Are Fighting.
SOUTHERN PORTS GROW IN FAVOR
Their Sudden Prominence u,.
Aroused OppOsittOn-St. Louis Is
Interested In the Contest,

=
ter tight between the Eastern trunk lines
and the Southwestern railroads for the
control OF the grain trade of the West
and bring about such a slashing of rates
as has not been seen in several years. The
Post Dispatch of St. Louis says:
The action taken by the local grain men
at meeting brought the Atlantic seahoard
cities to realization of the fact that for
the past two years their grain trade has
Eeen gradually slipping away from them
and was being captured by the Southern
ports. The New York Produce Exchange
then filed a complaint with the interstate
commerce commission in regard to ex-
cessive terminal charges at that point with
view to compelling the railroads to
grant the same facilities for loading ocean
steamships as are offered at the Southern
and gulf ports.
Boston and Philadelphia were preparing
to make similar demands, but the Eastern
trunk lines have at last voluntarily de-
cded to take hand in restoring the grain
trade OF these cities, as they see that they
nave been heavy losers by refusing to Of
fer as good facilities 10 Western shippers
as are offered by the Southern roads.
In New York. boston and philadelphia
they are now granting concessions to ship
pors which they have refused for several
years, but it is doubtful If they will be
able to repair the damage which has been
done to their own business and the grain
trade of their terminal cities by their
prohibitive terminal charges
1t is only within the last few years that
there have been any heavy shipments of
grain by way of the gulf ports. all grain
for export going by way of the Atlantic
seaports.
The gulf ports had no facilities for hand
ling and loading grain, and climatic condi-
tons were such that grain could not be
stored at these cities for any length of
time without its becoming heated" This
caused the Eastern railroads to feel so Sc
cure in their control of the trade that they
became arrogant and refused TO grant any
concession to shippers one charge after
another was added to the terminal charges
until they became almost prohibitirc.
Prior to 1881 the trunk limos al New York
and Boston kept dredges at work TO main
tain sufficient depth in the slips leading
to the railroad elevators, to enable large
steamships TO load direct from the elevators
and ocean vessels were loaded without
extra charge. but at that time al If the
railroads adopted an elevator charge of
cent per bushel in addition to the regular
terminal charges, Then the drodges were
taken OF and the slips allowed to I'LL up so
that large steamships could not get up to
the elevators. and grain intended for oX-
port had to be lightered, thus necessitating
another charge
In III, meantime the gulf ports took cd
vantage OF this situation of affairs and
made the most of their opportunities, New
elevators sprung up at New Orleans and
Galveston, and every inducement was made
TO exporters to ship their grain by way of
those cities. The railroads terminating at
these points took a hand and offered rates
that, in addition to making other ,ilscrim-
nations in favor of these cities, practically
offered the free loading of grain on board
the vessels
AS result while the grain trade of New
York Philadelphia and Boston has been
slipping away, the export business at New
Orleans and Galveston has grown to Won
derful proportions.
The export OF grain in each OF these cities
has more than doubled In the last year
and the facilities for handling grain have
so improved that cargoes can he loaded
without delay and the danger of heating
greatly lessene1,
The Eastern trunk lines have at last be-
come thoroughly aroused. however. and
recognizing that the business interests of
their terminal cities are identical with
their own are voluntarily making conces-
sions and are making strenuous etfor,s to
regain their lost trade by Offering to ship
pers as good terminal facilities and rates
as are offered by the Southern cities
II is claimed that the Joint Traffic as
ISOLATION has taken action in the matter
and there is a thorough understanding
among the different lines in regard to
the line of action to be taken. While this
| is not known TO he a fact the truth OF the
claim is borne out by the fact that mmed-
| lately after this action was claimed to
have been taken all of the trunk lines as
if of one accord drodged out the slips lead
ing to their elevators and began to make
preparations to resume their former actiV-
| ity In .he export grain trade,
| I gtn n
cargo of 100 600 bushels Of No. corn at
the Erie grain elevator In Jersey city
! THIS Is said to be the first large vessel
| that has loaded at n railroad elevator IN
that vicinity for several years.
| 1t Is claimed that Inducements are now
| being Offered by the trunk lines to the
! shipper in the West that practically Onset
the elevator charges AMI virtually oher
! free loading of grain. II is also claimed
| that all Of the trunk lines nave agreed upon
plan TO wrost the grain export trace RON
the gulf PORTS at any cost sud that 'neF
are prepared to Offer any Kind OF 'hdnce"
monts IN secure the business.
/ The South, rn lines, however, are not 10
he caught mapping. Lines which nave acVer
before been made 20 pay have been DONG a
good business lately hauling grain to the
| gulf and they will not let so oil TINS pusi-
ness without a struggle.
The tepacity with which they have held
out against the abatement OF the dis,rlh
nations in favor of the gulf ports ana
AGAINST St Louis at the meeting az nan
sas City last week, which was heia ior 'ho
purposo of adjusting these rates, shows
that they are preparing to resort to any
means to hold the advantage which ,hey
have gained and they VIII quickly 20
the trunk lines zone better on any con-
cossiops they may make.
This Will. in all probability, bring atout
a lively rate war. but in the meantime me
grain trade of st. Louis is suffering 'iIsviy
by these determinations in favor OF me
gulf ports. and the grain men mere are
anxiousy awaiting the outcome OF the Hgh'
|
pcnths In 1SoI.
In the past year, all told, $50 prominent
officials and ex-offcials passed away of
this number there We're twelve active pres
idents and vice presidents, while twenty
six deaths occurred among those who were
out of service: twenty one active general
! don, and hiNigiOu