Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-13

In the annual report just made by
President Truesdale of the I.ackawanna
railroad are some interesting remarks
on the general rate situation and fore
casts Of the future. He says In parts
THE general rate situation during the
past year has shown some Improvement.
though the cutting of rates on a large
amount OF the east bound traffic Of the
trunk lines would seem to have been
almost unwarrantable in view Of the
large tonnage moved during the year
and the difficulty experienced during
the greater part of it in furnishing cars
and engines to handle the traffic Offering.
Had the same control of rates on this
traffic been exercised during the year as
was apparently used in respect to rates
on bituminous coal. through the COM
munity of ownership understood to ex-
list between the large carriers Of this
commodity, much better net results
would have been obtained by all the
leading trunk lines of the east,
There can be no doubt. however. that
marked changes in the method Of ham
ding competitive traffic can be made
without burden or detriment to the pub
lie at large and with great benefit to
.he railway companies.
HAT tile tfenu or alalrS is IN this
direction admits of no question. and.
when accomplished. this company will
be in position to reap it's full share of
the benefits from the establishment of
such an enlightened and business-like
method of handling the transportation
interests of the country"
Commenting on the remarkable in
crease in earnings of the passenger de-
n a
Tho increase in earnings from transport
tation of passengers was due to increase
in all classes of business done by the
company. local, through and commuta-
ton. This is very largely due to the
increased and improved facilities fur
nished. coupled with the active and in
telligent work of the passenger represen-
tatives of the company"
Secret rate cutting by lines both east
and west of Chicago prevails now to a
greater extent than al any time during
the past two years. The greatest de-
moralization is in rate on grain and grain
products. provisions and coal. To COM
pete with the rates made by the lines
from Ohio and West Virginia to ST.
Louis, the Illinois Central has just made
IN open rate of Is cents ton from
the Illinois and Indiana coal centers
to East St. Louis. No open reductions
in rates to Chicago have been announced
but all the lines are making CONCESSIONS
An investigation by the interstate COM
merce commission will determine wheth-
err special favoritsm has been shown to
certain firms by the Baltimore and Ohio
road on coal from mines in West Vir-
ginia of which it has been charged GER
tain officials of the railroad are part
owners.
So bad is the cutting of freight rates
among western lines that the farce of
holding conferences of executive officers
in New York has been abandoned. An
effort undoubtedly will be made to re-
vive them, but there is no prospect of
early success. The ending of these con-
ferences proves that blind pools" cannot
be operated while existing laws are in
force. Few railway officials have faith
that bill legalizing pooling will ever be
passed by congress. Many able railway
managers are opposed to the principle OF
pooling, while others believe that pooling
is the only remedy for secret rate cut
ting.