The Saint Paul globe., 1897-09-25
LET THE WISCONSIN GEN.
TRIAL SHOW
WHAT IT INTENDS DOING.
MEETING HELD YESTERDAY WHEN
1T WAS DETERMINED TO RE-
MAIN INACTIVE.
If 1t is Only Bluff the Fact VIII
Not Cause ANY Regret in st.
Paul.

1t is the Wisconsin Centrals move.
The ST. Paul jobbers, after having in
formally, but nevertheless thoroughly,
considered the intended scaling of the
local freight rates between Chicago and
ST Paul, have decided to take no def
mite action at this time, but TO await
further developments.
From the beginning the jobbars have
shown a disinclination to be led or
forced into what might seem to be
conflict between their interests and any
railroad coming into st. Paul. The
more conservative ones decline even to
discuss the matter, but the impression
exists that the road in question, feeling
that it has not been given it's share Of
the lake and rail business from the
East, has made a bluff which to date
has not even been called. 1t was tie
intention to lay before the meeting
yesterday afternoon what further in
formation regarding the intention of
the freight officials could be secured,
but even this was given up, and the
matter is now up to the Wisconsin
Central.
It was reiterated that it was doubt
full if the Wisconsin Central could af-
ford under any circumstances TO dis
turb the local rate situation between
Chicago and the Twin Cities, and it is
added that it can be demonstrated to
its officials that the company will hard
ly be the gamer, if the talked of reduc-
ton is put into effect.
The Wisconsin Central maintains a
lake and rail route New York to ST.
Paul, via the big lakes to Manitowoc,
and thence by rail to ST. Paul. The
contention on the part of the road
seems to be that this route has been
apparently overlooked by Twin City
merchants, although the Wisconsin
Central officials claim that the rates
are substantially the same as those On
the 500 via Gladstone, and this state
ment is taken by the wholesalers to
mean that the Wisconsin Central is
seeking to get business by the oropos-
ed reduction.
1t has been said that with more
business between Milwaukee and Chi
cago and the Twin Cities the Wis
consin Central would be in a position
to re-enter the freight bureau and de-
mand OF the other association lines a
snare of the unrouted business west
bound This is eXtraneous to the ques-
tion between the road and the jobbers
and was not considered in any way at
the meeting of the latter yesterday
Inquiry at the offices of the Wiscon-
sin Central yesterday brought out the
fact that nothing new in the matter
had been forwarded from Burton
Johnson, the freight agent at Milwau-
kee, by whom the first intimation Of
the proposed reduction was made to
the G 10 e.
If it is actually the case that the
Wisconsin Central has been putting
UP very large bluff the news will be
received by many of the interested
jobbers with glad acclaim. On it's part
it may be said the Wisconsin Central
has not been at all sorry of the chance
to put on the thumb screws a little.
1t gave out the impression that were
it not so sadly neglected by the freight
men it would never have thought of
such thing.
With the passenger situation as bad
~ demoralized as the freight the local
association seems about to breath its
last. 1t has been wobbling on three
legs ever since some of the Chicago
lines refused to join. Now dispirited
and forlorn it is about to yield the
ghost The obsequies may be expected
about the first of the month. The
Omaha, one of the interested lines, Is
looked upon as largely responsible for
the action to be taken. It's officials de-
clared they could not see any use of
an association with only half of the
interested lines in the membership.