The sun., 1901-07-07
FREIGHT WAR THREATENS:
ATcHys0v ANNOUNcks AN OPEN CUT
IN RATES,

IN RATES.
Allssins That It's Rivals Have Cus Then
oecrstty -Othsr Roads 70 Meet Reduction
-CAicase Great western HOLD the Key
-Trouble East Of Chicago MAY Follow.
Freight rate troubles which have been
brewing among the Western railroads for the
past three months have eliminated In an
s6iciAl announcement by the Atchison. To-
pehn and Santa Fe that hereafter an open re-
ductton OF from 10 to Cd per cent. would be
made on eastbound traffic from Kansas City
points. The Atchison trafac officers say
that this reduction Is made because the COM
petitors OF the Atchison system have been
making secret cuts in the rates, and much
Of It's legitimate business has beon diverted
by irregular man nipulation Of the standard
tariff.
That this open cut by the Atchison Ia likely
70 result in a general rate war on the part OF
the Western railroads Is clearly indicated
by the prompt announcement from head
quarters OF the Atchison's principal COM
pettors. shat the new rates will be met and
underbid II necessary. Traffic Manager
Biddle Of the Atchison system says that the
freight business OF that road between Kansas
City ana Chicago has been decreasing week
by week until now It Is not more than 4 or s
per cent Of tho total traffic although the
Atchison has the shortest and quickest line
between the two posts named.
'One Of our weakest competitors 10 carry
Ing about 10 per cont Of the business, says
Mr.. Biddle. Such a condition OF affairs
could be caused only by secret rate cutting
on tho part OF our competitors To stop
such business we have determined 20 make
4 WhAlAaata radunttop m rat forcA fha
fighting In the open"
The Chicago and Alton aud seven or eight
other Western railroads are directly affected
Ry this sotion Of the Atchison. President
FELTON, Of tho Alton has announced that his
road will meet any reduction In freight rates
made by any Of Its competitors. and II Is ex-
pected that all OF the other Western roads
will adopt the same policy The Chicago
and Alton Ia a Hartman road and Il II Harri-
Community OF interest" idea with q view Of
establishing permanent harmony among all
OF the Western railroads on the rate question
Atchison is regarded as very serious blow
TO the community OF interest" Idea Just
one year ago the Presidents Of nearly forty
Western railroads met in this city and formed
what was commonly formed the iron clad
agreement" TO- maintain regular rates on
all ssfG n.Ssss IN rere s4e
up to President Stickncy OF the Chicago
esn regarded as sa distarbins m % factor in the the
rate situation. said, somewhat Cynicallv.
'Tf the rest. OF you fellows will stand BY this
The new agreement went into effect on
July l. 1900 Within 4 few weeks of that
time there were complaints that rates were
house products bound East from Missouri
River points. The Western railroad pres
idents were hurrihdly called together in
fla.A 40 tte,4- Ia l.aI
from certain road, suspected Of irrsgplari-
ties. President Stlckney OF the Chicago
Great Western did not attend this meeting
however, and bluntly intimated that while
the Chicago Great Western had maintained
tariff rates other roads had broken faith
up with very unsatisfactory results Chair
man L. !. Jonry told the newspaper re-
porters that there was some friction but
In the main matters are satisfactory"
Sub-comniittees we're appointed TO visit
the localities where the causes of the rate
outing were believed 70 be operating Orders
that looked imperative In their ofNcial word
Ing were issued by the presidents OF the chief
Western road, to stop all rate cutting. y.
n. FELTON,. pre'ido1' ofihe CHICAGO and Alton
lieutenants, took the matter In hand and
went personally into the Kansas city terri
tory Rate cutting increased and semi
house shipments ont of Kansas City Pres
ident FELTON, dlsbanded his special committee
to have heon held IN this city early in Ma,
was indefinitely POSTPONED cnll is now
out for a conference Of Western presidents
expectation that anything definite will come
out of IT, For thrco months. at least. COM
plete demoralzation IN the Western freight
President Stickncy. 0t the Chicago Great
Western is snid 20 hold tho key TO the -itua-
ton His road has long been accused Of
riman. Gould and Morg1n interest. orc be-
leved to have tried from time 10 time to get
control OF the Chicago "reaL Western That
foreign ttockh6ldor.. who appear p 10 be in
sympathy with the indcpendent and ag-
gressive Stitude. ass1mcd by, Pre- 'dcnt
Stlckncy. Only a few Wcck~ nCo Mr.. S'icknov
announced publicly that hia road would not
enter into any more rate agreements. lie con.
tended that such agr"oment,, were t.,n2
secretly by the stronger roads l. thc
president OF a comparatively weak road hs
declared that II Wa his duty TO get traiic
MhereyGr ." could End IT. lienc" the Chicago
Eastcrn railroad men say that this Western
rate VIZ i certain % cause serious trouble
between Chicago and New York unle,, It /.
tp be rNsrtInG hi- influence To- tho utmost t.
i"-tore pea,. and hnrnpny lie has asked
rect aud q conference II representative
raiirold men j. - b" held In this city next
week which ia expected - be productive Of
Ic.uts
In the mrantIme the Western Freight
Association. which comprise ABOUT nfty
railroad-. large and small. D, doing ~ boat to
restore normal condition thairman j. Y.
Mnhonev ha' called "A meeting o' this assoCia-
ton rof next Iuursdav u CAlraRo,
Not les tnnh thirty Me'irrn railroads will
be- Affected by the Atc'u.un'- open cut in
rnte,, and If al Of them FOLLOW the htchison
lead the loss in rrycuur To the railroads will
aggregate. II Is estimated about sjOp00 per