The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-18
FALLS ON DEAF EARS
OMAHA CANT HEAR MINNEAPOLIS
PLAINTIvE AND PATHETIC
HOWL
SHOPS TO REMAIN IN ST. PAUL
The Up-River Town Makes Itself
RidiculOSs by Asking for
the Shops at Hud-
son.

O'iC1oAS VI ftles Nh1cagO, st. Paul, Min
neapol1s az Omaha announced yesterday
at conference With a committee of the
Minneapolis Commercial club and the
railroad committee of the Minneapolis
city council that the company could not
see It's way clear at present to agree to
any Oh the numerous and sweeping con-
cessions demanded on behalf Of the Min
neapolis business men and that city 1T
large. 1t was agreed, however, that at
a meeting, to be held in the near future.
the railroad officials will present in writ
ing their detailed answer to the written
argument submitted on behalf of the
Minneapolis business men.
At the meeting yesterday the railroad
company was represented by General
Counsel Thomas Wilson, General
Superintendent Trenholme and Vice
President James T. Clarke. This
Commercial club committee COM
prised George H. Partridge. F. F.
Lindsay, e. c. Best, S. H. Hall and Ern-
est f. Smith, and of the railroad COM
mittee of the Minneapolis council there
were present President Jones and Aid
Chatheld, Merrill and Rand.
AS basis for the discussion of the
question to be considered the Minneapolis
argument was read by Mr.. Partridge.
This argument, while it purports in some
of it's passages to consider the interests
Of both Of the Twin Cities, is, as might
be expected, radically Minneapolitan in ita
premises. st. Paul is mentioned merely
as an adjunct of Minneapolis, otherwise
inconsequential, and only at such periods
as the consideration of the shipping bust
ness of both cities will add force to the
demands of Minneapolis. The argument
sets forth in support of the allegation Of
discrimination in favor of St. Louis as
against the Twin Cities that the roads
east of Buffalo get the same amount as
their proportion of freight charge wheth-
err goods areu consigned to the Twin
Cities, Chicago or ST. Louis The lake
haul should be practically the same to
Lake superior points as to Chicago, as
the distance is thessame. St Louis is $50
miles from Chicago, her nearest lake
port, while the Twin Cities are but $50
miles from Lakeif Superior. The Twin
Cities should be entitled to lower rates
as the all-railerates are governed by the
lake and rail5situation. Instead of that
the Twin Cities pay S1.15 first class and
st. Louis 81 cents. The argument further
cites that theJbusiness done by the Twin
Cities last year was greater than that
done by st. Louis the last years in which
1t worked on the old rate; that the popu-
latlon OF the Twin Cities is larger than at
the time st. Louis was granted the new
rate; that on account of size and volume
OF business the Twin Cities are entitled
to the same consideration as was granted
st. Louis. 1t is alleged also that on mer
chandiSe moved from Minneapolis and St
Paul to all points in Southern Minnesota,
Northern Iowa and South Dakota the
freight charge for given service is twice
as large as when the goods are moved
from Chicago. Practical Illustrations Of
this argument are cited.
MINNIE rs MODEST
Among the many demands presented on
behalf of Minneapolis is that the shops
and general offices of the road be Ie-
moved from st. Paul to that city. Tie
committee modestly says, eve have not
asked for the removal of your shops now
at Hudson, but of course this city will de :
sire to have an opportunity to bid should
your company at any time in the future
contemplate their removal from that
point"
Mx. Clarke, on behalf of the Omaha
road, said that the argument contained
TOO much detail and covered too many
points for him to answer it comprehen-
slyely at that time. In a general way
he would say that he did not believe
that the allegations that the Omaha COM
pany had acted adversely to the interes g
OF the Twin Cities could be borne out.
Many of the statements contained in the
Seio OiAACAib IiC StlU, were DdSeQ on D.
position only, and the figures were in
correct. Rates from tidewater to the
Twin Cities, he said, were less than from
tldeWater to Chicago or st. Louis. The
Omaha road had not the power to read
just rates, but it had always been will
ing and DESTROYS to get the best possible
rates to the Twin Cities, as its interests
were here Mr.. Clarke said he thought
distance tariff would be a bao thing for
the Twin Cities. Mr. Clarke, when asked
directly what the Omaha road proposed
TO DO for Minneapolis in the way of con-
cessions, said that he did not think the
company could do anything more just at
present
General Counsel Wilson said in regard
to the demand that the shops and Of
f1ces of the Omaha road be removed to
Minneapolis, that while there was no
written contract, the company was I'M
der an agreement with ST. Paul to keep
its shops there in consideration of a tract
OF land that had been given the road.
Mr. Smith, of the Chamber Of Commerce
committee, offered on behalf of Mime
apol1s to agree that the equivalent of the
forty acres should be made good. Supt.
Trenholme said that it would cost $780,
600 to move the shops to Minneapolis and
under present conditions it would be i'm
possible to organize the shops there on
a paying basis. Mr. Clarke added that
1T would be impossible to change the To-
cation of the general offices of the road
because in addition to the expense to the
company, the interests of the employees
must be considered and many of them
had homes in st. Paul
Another meeting will be held some
time within week.
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