The Minneapolis journal., 1901-05-27
R. R. RATES MIXED.
Community of Interests Idea a Fail
ure at Present.
HAS BAD EFFECT ON BUSINESS
The Stronger MinneapOlfa-st. Paul
Lines Are Accused of Starting
the Trouble.

The community OF ownership" idea,
which blossomed so beautifully In rail-
road circles last January, has been tried
in the local territory and found wanting.
Rates both east and westbound are In q
decidedly unsteady condition, and ii is
no exaggeration to say that if the pres
ent cut and slash gait is kept up for
few more days complete decentralization Of
the rate situation will destroy the last
vestige of the community of ownership
fetch.
The conditions growing out of the break
which was inaugurated about ten days
ago are Of the utmost significance to the
entire northwest. Jobbers, commission
men, the big and little merchants and
their country customers are again en-
barked upon a sea OF rate troubles with
out sail or rudder. AS a prominent trafhc
manager put 1t this morning: THE whole
business must drift until 1t gets so bad
that the powers get together and call an
other halt"
Stronger Lines Blamed.
The trouble appears to have started
with the stronger lines; at least, that
is the reiterated and vehement assertion
of the weak lines, who are doing most Of
the talking. Their officials say that since
the agreement Of last January inaugu-
rated by the financial heads of the north
western Chicago lines. they have kept the
faith and been good. The Milwaukee,
Omaha and Minneapolis & st. Louis, how
ever. have squabbled among themselves,
and in the attempt to hog" most of the
business, have laid low the tabled goose.
A traffic official said this morning that
the eastern lines were largely RESPONSE
BILE for the present unhappy condition of
affairs. They had been victims Of jealousy
and distrust ever since the community of
ownership idea was promulgated, and
their frequent differences had shown the
Minneapolis Chicago lines the futility of
sticking to tariff 1.-The Vanderbilt, Har-
riman and Gould interests" said the au-
thority in question. ARE, of course, ae-
tuated by the same old desire, to get the
most of the business for their lines. The
community of ownership idea is all
right, and it worked for a few months.
The trouble is it has not yet been per-
fected and 1 doubt if it will be very soon.
There are too many conflicting interests.
The Missouri river lines pointing to the
gulf have been largely instrumental in
kicking up strife among the eastern
roads, and there is no telling where it
will end"
Unfortunate Situation.
The situation is accounted most an
fortunate by both traffic officials and ship
pers. So long as rates were stable every
thing moved as smoothly as well-oiled
machinery, but now everything is in the
air or worse and there is no assurance
that things will mend in the immediate
future. Minneapolis and st. Paul have
always been storm centers because Of
their geographical position, and there is
no plsee~in the United States where rate
manipulation can be worked with more
combinations than in the twin cities. The
break in flour rates east has tended to
accelerate the descent from tariff figures
which all of the lines are making with
more or less haste, according to the clev-
erness of the several traffic men in Sc
curing business at the most favorable
rates. lake and rail rate of IS cents
will be inaugurated tomorrow, and this
the millers hope will remain in effect.
They do not want lower rate and will
be satisfied with Is cents to the seaboard
for grain products. The all-rail rate of
81 cents will hardly be cut to meet the
lake and rail tariff. The fight which has
been going on was due principally to the
fact that there is not much flour business
to do at present and all of the lines were
hungry.
member of a large wholesale house
said to-day that the rate decentralization
was having a bad effect on business "A
break in rates." said he, makes every
thing drag. We don't know where we are,
and the result is disastrous. 1t really
stops things, as we are compelled to go
shopping around for more favorable rates
instead of being able to facilitate busi-
ness by going ahead under stable rates."