The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-14
MEET TO TALK
OF NEW RATES
Railroad Men Consider Re
vised Northern Schedules
NO BIG AREA AFFECTED
Reductions to the Southwest Will
Cut Little Figure.
NO BIG AREA AFFECTED
LUMBER RATES NOT TOUCHED
Western Lumbermen Were Hopeful,
but Reduction WOuidn't
Have Helped Them.

Representatives of many of the north
western roads conferred yesterday in
the ganeral offices Of the Great Northern
over the rate reductions proposed by the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific The
lines represented include the 500, st.
Louis. North Western, Milwaukee, Cedar
Rapids and Burlington. The work began
at II a. M, and much of the day was
taken up with explanation of the pro-
posed changes by representatives OF the
Great Northern. The conference will con-
tinued through to-day. Much detail work
is necessary. Following the morning
skirmish, none of the traffic men sitting
in at the conference was willing to give
an opinion or any information on the
proposed changes.
1t develops that the territory affected
by the reductions is not as large as sup
posed when the first announcement was
made. The Great Northern has lines into
the southwest, some of which were built
to retaliate on the Milwaukee and North
Western for encroachments on the terri
tory of north coast lines. Reductions in
rates on these lines will not be as large
proportionately as on the lines north
and west of Minneapolis. This has had
reassuring effect on the Milwaukee and
the North Western, which, when the first
announcement of the Great Northern
program was made, looked for disturb
ance in rates over a large part OF their
southwestern lines. The Great Northern,
it is said, takes the position that 1t is
not seeking to make trouble for other
roads, and in it's efforts to readjust and
reduce rates to the north and west OF
Minneapolis desires to accomplish it with
as little trouble to other roads as pos
sible. The 500 road has several cross
ings with the Great Northern and North
ern Pacific. The Milwaukee is affected at
two points in North Dakota, the North
Western at one and each is affected at
several places in South Dakota. The
Burlington is affected at Billings; the
Minneapolis & st. Louis at WATERFOWL,
S. D.
The regarding of the rates on the lines
affected will not be difficult, and as the
percentage Of reduction into the south
west is to be comparatively small, the sit
uation is much simplifled. The reason
given for smaller reductions on the south
west lines is that reductions have been
made from time to time as result Of
various market conditions which did not
rule in the northwest.
Lumber Rates Untouched.
The Great Northern, as far as can be
learned, has attempted no reduction in
rates east on Pacific coast lumber. Since
the Great Northern's intention to reduce
rates was announced, the FEASIBILITY of a
reduction in the coast lumber rate has
given white pine lumbermen much con-
Germ. The situation was canvassed last
week and it was practically determined
that any reduction in rates that would
give coast lumber a better chance at the
markets of the southwest than on the
present basis, would be followed by a
corresponding reduction in favor of Min
nesota white pine by the Minneapolis
Missouri river lines. Nothing was de-
veloped to indicate that any reduction in
the coast lumber rate is contempla ted.
Traffic men say that the Accent rate to
Minneapolis and the 50-cent rate to the
Missouri river is as low as the coast
| lumbermen have right to expect. 1t is
also said that President Hill still holds
to that conviction, and his officials point
! to the fact that the rate is but one-half
| the average rate per ton per mile Of the
| Great Northern system last year.