Kansas City journal., 1898-01-12
GULF Line STRIKES BACK.
TO ABSORB EXCESS OF ANNOUNCED
FARES ON EXCURSION BUSINESS.
Freight officials Deny Charges That
the Road Has Cut Freight Rates
European Steamship Serv-
ice-RafIrOad News.

The homeseekers' excursion of the Pitts
burg & Gulf will leave January IS and reg
ularly every two weeks thereafter, and
tickets at the announced homeseekers'
rates will be sold in every town in the
United States where passengers can be
found to so and agents be secured to repre-
sent the Stilwell interests. Every Western
line is in a combination against these ex-
cursions of the Pittsburs & Gulf. and all
have refused to allow the use of their rails
for homeseekers' excursions at the low
rates announced. Despite this fact. the
Pittsburg & Gulf, with the characteristic
Stilwell aggressiveness. yesterday sent out
circular notices in all directions that the
excursions would be continued on the dates
and at the rates announced.
The Port Arthur Land and TOwnsite
Company will absorb all excess in fares
over the rates named for homeseekers' eX-
cursions. In other words, the Stilweil rep
resentatives will accept the fares which are
announced for these excursions from pas
SenSerS at all points and furnish them with
tickets for the trip TO all points ON their
line south of Gentry. station near ST.
loan Springs. Ark. regardless of the cost
of the tickets to the land company.
This action will have the effect of placing
the homeseekers excursion rates before the
public in practically every foot of the ter
ton, and may be expected to break down
the agreement of the Western lines within
short time. The Pittsburg & Gulf pas
senger department declares. however. that
its purpose is not primarily to break the
agreement of the other lines, but to follow
out the plan of the road to do business In
its own way. regardless of competitors.
Our taking issue with the other lines Is
only the result Of circumstances said
General Passenger Agent Orr yesterday.
rates to the undeveloped territory along
our line. We regard this as a good bust
ness proposition and propose to carry it
the passenger situation 1t is only Incidental
to our purpose and the blame will really at
tach to the other lines, They have the
it all will be harmonious. 1t has been full
ly explained to them in the meetings of the
Western Passenger Association and they
for disqualification rests with them. not
with us"
Charged With Cutting Freight Rates.
AS indicative that a bitter rate war may
be impending between the Pittshurg &
Gulf and Western lines. Associated Press
dispatches from Chicago say that the Gulf
road has cut grain rates to u cents from
Kansas City to the Gulf ports and agreed
to absorb the elevator charges of about
cents. This charge is denied by the traffic
officials of the Pittsburg & Gulf. who claim
their equipment is insufficient to handle the
grain offered at the tariff rates of q cents
for wheat and Is cents for corn. The low
est tariff rate on grain ever made to the
Gulf ports from Kansas City was 10 cents.
early in the season. its officials claiming
that the Pittsburg & Gulf had been secret
ly cutting to that rate;
The Chicago dispatch says: The Gulf
road apparently does not care whether it
makes money on the transportation of
freight. Its promoters expect to reap a
President Stilwell, of the Pittsburg e
Gulf, claimed that road had not cut the
established rates and said that as a matter
which Is a member of the Western Freight
Association. that has been cutting rates.
He referred to the Memphis road. although
he would not mention its name The Mem
phis officials deny they have cut rates.
European Steamship Service.
The steamer Drumelzier. of the Port Ar
thur & Transatlantic line. operating in
close connection with the Pittsburg Il Gulf.
mas not yet arrived at Port Arthur. al
though she WIS due there January 10. She
is now, expected to arrive about January
II, and to leave on the initial trip from
20, which is four days later than recently
announced. The officials say her cargo is
only for the steamers to sail on later dates.
Her tonnage Is 5000. Future sailing have
been announced as follows:
leave Port Arthur for Liverpool early in
February: and the steamer & Drumfell 300
tons asep in hs % Leo
f.vvo toii"' !oi =" III icdNC
Port Arthur early in February. and the
steamer Aldworth. 1000 tons. will leave for
Antwerp late in February or early in
March A steamer of 4C00 tons will leave
for London in February and one of $500
tons for Bremen in March.
A fast freight train on the Gulf road has
left Kansas City with eight carloads of
meat products consigned to Liverpool by
the Armour Packing Company. The ship
ment includes a large quantity of boxed
meats besides canned meats and lard. 1t
will, be part of the Drumelzier's cargo.
leans and Galveston. principally through
the former port. have been much larger
the past year than ever before. This route
only thing to be developed by the Armour
shipment via Port Arthur is the promise
of the Stilwell lines 20 give better service