Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-07
AT ODDS OVER
SOUTHERN RATES.
Fight is on Between 3. & o. and Big
Four-Oid Controversy Over
Difrcrential Up Again.
Baltimore American.)

! Baltimore American)
| The old controversy over the differential
rate on southern business has come up
again, and the Big Four and the Balti-
more and Ohio and the Pennsylvania are
almost in a rough-and-tumble scramble
over it. The latest development is that
the Big Four has announced, through the
rate meeting at Cincinnati, that it will
make the same rate per mile through Gin
cinnati that the Baltimore and Ohio uses
through Washington. This makes a
wholesale reduction Of rates to Jackson
| ments.
The controversy started year ago. The
Big Four had been enjoying practically a
| monopoly on southern business, and hoped
to continue it. This was shared in a
mild way by the Pennsylvania doing
business through Cincinnati, but the lat
ter is not overly strong between this ter
ritory and Cincinnati, leaving the field
largely to the Big Four. The Pennsyl-
vania having line through Cincinnati,
and through Washington as WELL as a
non-combatant. The Baltimore and Ohio,
| however, wanted to get into the southern
business from Ohio, and wanted a change
in the differentials both out of Columbus
and Cleveland. It asked that the differ
entails on Cincinnati against Washington
be wiped out, but it resulted in reduc-
llOIl Only. AS IL was, ll1S De4lAA1AoA0 e1A1o
Ohio got good share Of the business.
RATE CLERKS MEETING
T When the time came for the meeting of
the tourist rate sheet clerks, to fix up the
fares for this winter. the Big Four as
serted that it would insist upon return
to former conditions. or at least proper
tionate reduction In It's rates through
Cincinnati When the rate clerks met at
Cincinnati the first Of the week the tug
oSf 10
and Ohio rate between Cleveland and
Jacksonville was $3.50, and that Of the
Big Four was $45.15. BY making the same
rate per mile over the Big -Four as
charged on the Baltimore and Ohio, the
latter adhere to the $46.o rate the tare
via the Big Four would be s4l.So, re-
duction of $3.50
The rate clerk of the Big Four, bearing
instruction from the general passenger
agent, insisted upon the road naming the
latter rate. The other lines marked it in
| their sheet, but it is understood that the
Baltimore and Ohio has not decided as
| yet what it will do about it. If the pres
ent action stands, the whole scheme that
was worked through last year Will nave
been undone and the roads will be back
with the same diferentials as heretofore
on Cincinnati, but both roads will be ope-
rating on a lower rate than formerly.
| OTHER ROADS INVOLVED.
The change of fares has considerable
Significance, and will drag into the pres
ent controversy not only the Ohio roads,
but will extend down into the trunk-llne
| territory. The routing of business from
| Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland. Erie, and
Buffalo will be changed by this arrange
ment, and ticketing passengers out Of Buff
falo, according to the c. P. A. ruling, will
| likewise affect that business which goes
| south from Buffalo through the Albany
gateway. The little tussle between the
| two Ohio roads for little business, there
fore is likely to have serious conse-
| quences.
The announcement has been made by the
| lines in interest that the winter tourist
rates this year will be available October
18th, whereas it has been customary lot
| the roads to introduce the rates about
| November list. The extraordinary demand
for special rates this year brought out
| the concessions earlier than usual.