The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-09-28
WESTERN RAILWAY AFFAIRS.


Freight and Passenger Rates-lmmi-
grant Business to be Handled Under
New Plan-Interstate Commerce
Commission.
New York, Sept. 27.-A special dis
patch to the Evening Post from Chica-
so this evening says
The transcontinental rate situation
continues to grow worse. The action
of the Union Pacific in cancelling all
traffic arrangements with the oregon
Short Line is looked upon as an at
tempt to boycott that line and the Ore
gon Railway and Navigation company,
both in the matter of freight and pas
senger traffic. The consequence is that
not only the western lines directly COM
petitive with the Union Pacific, but the
northern and northwestern lines, have
entered the field and put in reduced
tariffs, This is particularly noticeable
IN passenger rates. The Oregon Short
Line and the Oregon Navigation COM
pahy nave put in rates from San Fran
cisco via Portland to the east at regu-
lar California rates, which makes the
rate from Portland and other north
coast points considerably less. The
Northern Pacific, in order to meet this
competition has put in a rate of $57
nrst-class from Tacoma to Chicago, a
cut or $500, and on second-class a rate
OF S42, a cut Of $3.50. The Canadian
racine and Great Northern have an
nounced their intention of meeting
these rates. So that it follows that in
self-protection the Union Pacific will
have to retaliate and it is more than
likely the northern lines will see them
one better
a meeting of the executive officers of
the roads in interest has been called
for Tomorrow but little hope is enter
tanned that the outcome of the confer
ence will have the effect of restiring
normal conditions. The present posi-
tion of the Union Pacific in the matter
OF organization is thought to be in the
way OF an immediate settlement of the
difficulty, and until that company has
been finally reorganized no compromise
or pacific measure will be entertained
The western immigrant business is
hereafter to be handled on a different
basis from that in vogue heretofore. In
the past the steamship agents sold the
business to immigrant agents, and they
in turn to the railroads, the latter bid
ding against one another for the bust
ness, the one paying the highest COM
mission securing the traffic. This led
to a considerably demoralized state of
affairs in immigrant rates. A clearing
house was then established with view
of making a distribution of the business
among the lines interested. They paid
a hxed commission to the immigrant
agents, and matters We're kept In a fair
condition until one OF the latter under
took to pay higher commissions, and
his resignation was asked for and &C
cepted by the clearing house. The west
ern passenger association chairman
then went to the steamship agents and
secured an agreement that all business
destined to points west of Chicago shall
be turned over to the clearing house
on Ellis Island, and there be distribu-
ted among the roads. This will dc
away with middlemen, and is believed
will keep that business on a fairly sta
| BILE basis
The grain movement although heavy
shows decrease of 2464,000 bushels
| from the previous week. AS compared
with last year, there was an increase
of 1,724OOO bushels, and also gain Of
| 924 900 bushels over 1895, and of {, 449 00t
bushels over 1894 Cars are in better
supply, but there is no surplus, and
the railroads have all the business thai
| they can handle, and earnings are ex
| pected to keep up at about the presenj
volume.
| Deliveries OF flour, grain, provisions
and live stock at Chicago by the lead
| ing western roads during the pas
week, as compared with the three pre-
| ceding weeks were1 as follows:
Flour, barrels-ls97, 60,73s; 1896, 81, 1O1
1895, 1888
| Wheat, bushels-1s97, 1887, 900; 1896
$4,000; 1895, 374O0O.
| Corn, bushels-1s97, 3,216,000 1896
2,07S000; 1895 2151 000
Oats, bushels--1s97 2.4S6, 900; 1896, 2,
427,OOO; 1895, 3,020, 600
| Rye, bushels-1S97 5000; 1895, $4,000
1895 II 900.
Barley, bushels-1S97, $4,000; 1896
219, 900; 1895, $4,000
Total bushels of grain--1S97, 1895 900
1896, 5,571 ,00O 1895, 6371, 900.
Cured meats, pounds-1S37 2,T40, 032
1896, 3O56, O4S; 1895, 2,124,964.
Lard, pounds-1s97, 61O,S70; 1885, $50,
700; 1895, 37S,270.
Hogs, number-1S97. i43,5sa; 1896, ISL,
1885, 1896, 13O,077.
Cattle, number-~1s97, 52,1e7; 1896, a.
1907 1885, s0,S67
Sheep, number-1S97. 94,s75; 1896, 80
O93; 1895, SO,367
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Il 60 mn IOp CIR AnJNG