The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-10
THE RATE SLASHIuC CONTINUES
MAY END IN A FREIGHT WAR.
BIG RAILROADS LIKELY TO HAVE
NEW BATTLE GROUND.
Advantages secretly Employed by
American Roads Which the Cana
dian VIII sooner or Later Take
Up-A shading in Rates Already.

The fight on transportation business in
which such unusual rate cutting has fol-
loved the announcements by the Canadian
Pacific and 500 Pacific and which is now
confined TO the Canadian Pacific. the
Northern Pacific and Great Northern
roads. has thus far been confined eX-
elUsiyeiy to passenger business. no de-
nlo radiation in freight tariffs having been
suggested. How long this condition will
prevail remains TO be seen. there are
rgnors Of advantages secretly enjoyed by
the American lines that tho Canadian
sooner or later Will take up in one OF its
famous crusades on d maintenance in
tariffs.
These rumors have been flying around
for several days past and until yesterday
were sourceless. but a digging process
brought to light the fact that the passen-
ger rate war between the three great
transcontinentai carriers is not the only
thing that VIII be of interest to the pub
lie at the Pacific coast terminals. particu-
larry that portion OF the public that brings
its goods from the East in car load lots
There is more than a shading in rates
already and the inciplent warfare that
certain roads east of the Missouri river
have inauguTated TO secure a proportion
on transcontinentsl business Is spreading
in cutting and slashng on through ship
ments to the Coast. The roads that are
involved IN the Canadian Pacific battle
for business are maintaining tariffs and
even the various competitors have nothing
TO charge against one another. and the
freight departments stoutly deny that
they are manipulating tariffs. This may
or may not be true. bat il Is a fact sub
gtantiated In at least two of the local Of
nces of transcontlnental lines in this city
yesterday that their Eastern connections
are cutting and delivering to them at
Eastern terminals for the remaining part
OF the long haul across the country.
IL may he that the same Ines are deliv-
ering 70 all three OF the Northern lines at
ST Paul. and in this there ia small ad-
vantage 10 any one, but the struggle for
business VIII surely precipitate a cut west
of St. Paul. II absolute decentralization in
freight rates follows the present course
OF the roads east of the Missouri. The
cut was first made by one OF the big roads
Ia the middle West. and gradually spread
during The past few weeks until hardly
a road enters Chicago or St Paul from
the East that Is not believed 10 be manp-
ula ting tariffs.
This Is all 10 the advantage OF the man
In the Pacific Northwest who buys In car
load lots in the East He finds that he is
paying fun tariff on the roads entering
.'t'ANAstA iFStSt. Ia belrScS he fS-aNd
that he Is getting unusually low rates
from these lines Eastern connections
One osicial went FAR enough Yesterday To
say that the war IN freight rates is al
ready on. lie charged that the local agents
or lines east OF 81. Paul ara Offering shin
ments AZ less than tariff. ard that tho
agents Of The same lines I'm the Fas. ara
tn constant communication with those in
the West as 20 routing. The shipper quite
~ often specifies the entire routing OF his
freight now as not, and mary wholesalers
10 Seattle who buy in the East are now
quietly taking advantage OF the cuts in
rates that are offered At the origin OF the
shipments or by intermediate lines that
share IN the hauis
There was nothing particularly new IN
the passenger rate war yesterday. the
9. +. y. the Short Line and the Union
faeiHe quietly Withdrawing. ard the RIO
0rande Western and Denver 4 RIO Crau,ia
following suit The Burlngton's report az
It's participation IN the cut rates Vas not
confirmed by later advices and the North
eTn Pacific has had no Instructions 20 sell
for tAs Burlington by way Of Billings
private adV,ce~ were received Yesterday
that ara adjustment az differences be-
tween the American roads and the Cana
dian Pacific s. possible in which event
There Will be an end OF the passenger var
and a consequent end og any chance At
freight Generalization