The herald., 1897-11-20
WAR is BEGUN
By Roads Running Out Of
Chicago
WESTERN RATES IN DANGER
WITH BIG BUSINESS TO FIGHT
ABOUT
WESTERN RATES IN DANGER
The Government Preparing Its Case
Against the Central Pacific in
Anticipation of Default
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
CHICAGO, Nov. 19.-The war between
the Chicago-St. Paul lines has COM
menced, The Wisconsin Central today
announced that it would make an open
rate of IS between Chicago and st. Paul
and Minneapolis, to become effective at
once. This is a cut of $3.50 from the
present regular rate. The Wisconsin
Central announced yesterday that if
something was not done by tomorrow
to straighten out matters it would make
an open reduction in the rates. The
other roads did not take it seriously ana
To show that it was not bluffinG and that
II was determined to fight for its tra1flc,
the Wisconsin Central made the reduc-
ton today without giving the other ROADS
as much time to straighten out matters
as il said it would. The news of the re-
duction was a surprise to the competi-
tors of the wisconsin Central, but they
lost no time in declaring that they would
make the same rate as that announced
by the Wisconsin Central. There is con-
siderable apprehension among the lines
of the Western Passenger association
lest the trouble spread out of the terri
tory of the ST. Paul-Chicago lines ana
create decentralization between Chicago
and the Missouri river. The executive
committee of the Western Passenger as
sociation will take the matter up at its
meeting tomorrow and an effort VIII De
made to settle the row or at least confine
It to the territory between Chicago and
st. Paul.
1t is expected by the passenger officials
of the Atchison road that soon after the
beginning of next year they will run an
extra fast train each week to California
from Chicago. The trains are being run
twice each week at present and the vol
umeo traffic is SO large that it Will be
necessary to add another train within
short time after the holidays. as the
California traffic always increases at
that time. The through passenger busi-
ness to California is now heavier than
at any time since 1882.
The twenty-third annual convention
of the Passenger and Freight Conduct
ors' Mutual Benefit and Aid association
convened today at the Palmer house
with o large attendance. The day was
taken up by the reports of the officers
and routine business.
The executive committee of the West
ern Passenger association did not meet
today as was expected.
THE FAMOUS BRIDGE CASE
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-The inter-
state commerce commission today, in an
opinion by Commissioner Knapp, an
nounced it's decision of the case of the
Commercial club of Omaha against the
Chicago and Northwestern Railway
company and other carriers. known as
the Omaha bridge case. The object of
the complaint was to compel the carriers
to charge in like freight between Council
Hluffs and the same points in Iowa. The
committee decides that Council Bluffs
on the east bank of the Missouri river is
more favorably situated than Omaha, on
the west side of that river, in regard to
the traffic with points in Iowa. and that
the carriers are not to be condemned for
recognizing such natural advantages of
loca ton in adjusting their charges nor
does it follow that rules should be the
same from Omaha and Council Bluffs
into Iowa because they are the same
from those cities into Nebraska.
The decision states that Omaha and
Council Bluffs enjoy equal rates to and
from substantially all points except as
to this traffic in Iowa, and it is shown
that rates from the south are made the
same by competing roads on both sides
of the river: that rates from the west
are the same rs far east as Chicago and
are part of an extensive system Of trans
continental rates and that rates from the
east being the same result in considera-
BILE advantage in Omaha. In view of the
conditions affecting the transportation
from and to points in Iowa and of the
whole rate situation of the two places,
the commission holds that the charge of
unjust discrimination against Omaha is
not sustained and that the complaint
should be dismissed without prejudice.
a CONTRACT AWARDED
Ell PASO. Nov. 19-Today the con-
tract for the construction of the El Paso
and Northwestern railroad was awarded
to George S. Good of Loeb Haven, Pa
This road opens up to FL Paso the rich
gold, silver and coal fields of the White
Oaks country and one of the finest agri-
cultural and stock regions in the west.
Vast quantities of material for the new
road are arriving and the contractors
will begin their work Monday.
CENTRAL PACIFIC AFFAIRS
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19.-The Gov
ernment is actively engaged in the pre-
paraton of its case against the
Central Pacific Railway in anticipation
of the company's default in it's payments
due on January l, 1888. What action
will be taken in case Of default has not
yet been decided upon. The only pres
ent purpose of the Government in look
Ing up the law in the case and preparing
a statement of its financial transactions
with the company is to be in readiness to
institute proceedings, should such
course be decided upon.
The following is said to be an approxi-
mately correct statement of the Govern
ment's account with the Central Pacific
Company:
Bonds maturing January /. 1895. $40 614 l2O
Bonds redeemed by the govern
ment ...-...................... 6,OH,O00
Interest paid by the government. A. $40 220
INTEREST due January !. 1895. 59i 1893
Bonds maturing Jan. l, 1S99.... 9197, OO)
Total debt .........................s ST. 119, ,673
The credits are as follows:
BY transport ation.... $S057, 500
BY cash repaid. Observation-Disclosures. Cos, ,2S3
BY unpaid judgments and claims
against the United States. s......... 2473, 306
BY cash in sinking fund. ............ 1908, $50
Total credits. SIS 192, OH
Net amount of debts. $52 920, ZIG