The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-21
1T MEANS MORE WAR.
Will BE the Greatest Texas Has
Ever Seen.
A CIRCULAR LETTER FROM ST. LOUIS
To-day Set for n Meeting In New
York Betwccn Ocean Lines and
Railroad Representatives.
LETTER FROM ST, LOUIS

Galveston, Texas, July Gothic New
York Galveston rate war will be settled at
the conference to be held in New York to-
morrow. or the greatest rate war In the
history of the Southwest will be precipitated
within the next forty eight hours T4ls
statement is not a threat in the interest
of peace, or bluif on the part of those who
pretend to believe that nothing can prevent
the rate situation going to smash. 1t is n
cold, bare statement OF fact.
The personnel of the conference COM
mittee Is as follows: p. II. Goodwin, San
ia Fe; c. Halle, Katy; D. +. Yoakum,
Frisco. and Il. o. Becker of the Could
lines.
1t has been hinted here that the steam
ship lines will refuse to go Gto the con-
ference. This may be a diplomatic move
and 1t may be case OF contrariness. 1t
is said that General Agent Ripley has tel
egraphed his people in New York to ad
journ the conference to Galveston. But
If move of that kind is undertaken 1t
will likely result in q decentralization of
rates, which it will take months 10 cure
At the meeting of the representatives of
the rail lines in St. Louis. General Man
ager Yoakum OF the Frisco gave unms-
taxable signs of not being in too much
favor of the rail lines waiting too long
before getting into the fight. 1t has also
been openly asserted on seemingly good
authority that it was all a mistake to think
that St. Louis jobbers were getting the
worst of 1t. If anything was needed TO
confirm this view, that one or more or the
St. Louis lines were toying with existing
tariffs. 1t is furnished by q circular issued
July l6 by the Ely Walker Dry Goods
company, a copy OF which reacheo hers
today. Here it Isl
MIR. -, Dear Sir: OWING TO
freight rates recently made to Texas by
steamship lines via Galveston, We have De
cded to protect our customers and VIII
guarantee as low rates from St. Louis 90
all points in Texas as any tarii rates IN
effect from New York Considering the adj
Fditonal cost of insurance and the long
delay by water routes. requiring double
the time In transit--steamers Leaving once
n week only--together with the courtesles
extended by our Merchants Transportation
association, 1t will be greatly 10 your aa-
vantage to buy in this market
Tomorrow will tell the tale as to whether
1t is to be war or peace, and at this end
OF the line and at this distance from the
base of operations In the efforts 10 bring
about q compromise. 1t is impossible to
estimate accurately which side is the
stronger. The Lone Star line can not ut
this stage of the fight sue for peace, and II
might be that the Mallory people will not
recognize their rival without more ado
The greatest interests are those Of the rail
lines and no one questions that they VIII
force peace II they can. II one side or
the other to the fight insists upon pro-
longing 1t. regardless OF the consequences
to the rail- lines, the rail lines may find it
incumbent upon them to unite TO crush the
refractory obstructionists OF peace. since
the Lone Star line has become a factor In
the New York Galveston business, and has
been recognized as such BY rail lines. the
rail lines, to all outward appearances nave
treated all rival steamship companies alike
But should any Of these warning rivals
persist in the war, In spite of q well formed
plan for an adjustment OF their differences
it IL not too much to expect that Its pun
ishment by the rail lines would follow
swift and sure
As result OF the cut rates an unusual
amount of freight for this season ~ the
| year is coming South from the Eastern sea-
board Usually one ship n week is dis
patched from New York by the Mallory
line during the dull spring months, and
the tri-weekly service is not put on until
about the middle OF august An average
cargo under those circumstances was 1900
tons The Comal, now in port, brought
1000 tons. the Alamo, which sailed this
morning, brought 1900 tons. the San. Mar
cos due Wednesday, has 1850 tons on board,
and the Lampasas. now at sea. en- route 10
Galveston, is said to have full cargo, This
docs not include the freight brought and
to be brought. in ships OF the Lone Star
| line.
Inquiries are being made of both the Nal
lory and Lone Star lines by shippers Of
both Cincinnati and ST Louis, with view
to shipping freight by rail from those cities
to New York. and thence by sea to Calves
ton, the combination OF locals being less
than the all-rail rate TO Galveston. So far
ms known no such shipments have been
made. but existing rates. II they are main
tanned for any length OF time. and are not
met by the rail lines will suggest such
| wound abcut shipments.