The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-27
RATES ARE NOT GUT
Local Shippers Explain Why Wis.
consin Central and 500 Roads. ]
. Get Minneapolis Trade.
They Say These Roads Give Better
Service and Cater More to
the Local Business. -.

Minneapolis shippers are deeply inter-
ested in the coming Investigation by the.
federal court Of alleged rate cutting by /,
certain roads out of Minneapolis, the most
frequently mentioned of which is the Wis
consin Central. There is a general impress
sion among many shippers that the in
vestigation will result unsatisfactory to
the roads which are promoting it. -
They say the Wisconsin Central has
greatly increased its Minneapolis business
because in the past year 1t has identified
itself greatly with this market, increased
it's facilities here and catered to the Min
neapolis trade by furnishing high class
service to and from the east. One Of the
local flour manufacturers says: -
"Since the injunctions were placed on
most of the Chicago roads forcing them
to maintain rates, the Wisconsin Central
has been increasing it's earnings from
Minneapolis traffic. This, has caused
protest among the Chicago roads and the
only theory which they have had to offer
is that rates have been cut, which is un-
true. I have nothing against the two
roads which are said to be the prime NOV
ers in this investigation. 1t is their right
and their privilege, and its will probably
be a good thing in that 1t will set at
rest some of the wild rumors which have
been circulating in the local traffic world
for some time.
"The real reason why the Wisconsin
Central has been increasing its -four traf-
fic steadily in the past year is that 1t has
catered to our trade by giving us the
best possible service and a service SUI
perior to that Of the other Chicago roads
| Under a condition where rates are main
| tanned it is natural that the business
should go to the carrier offering the best
service. The Wisconsin Central takes
good care of the flour trade at all seasons
| of the year. During periods when the
supply of cars is short and other roads are
cutting down their supply to the mills
materially the Wisconsin Central is max
| ing itself solid by keeping its proportion
up we'll.
| 'The road has also gone to some pains
to give us fast service to the east and
through Chicago. There are many rea-
sons, hinging on good service, why the
| Wisconsin Central should share well in
the neapolis flour traffic"
A prominent Minneapolis jobber said:
''Some Of the Chicago roads are un-
able to understand why when rates are
maintained, this market should give in
creased traffic to the Wisconsin Central
and the Soo There are two roads which
seem to think that unless rates are cut
they should get all Of the business. Chi
cago is the big market of these two sys-
TENS. Minneapolis is the principal mar
ket of the Wisconsin Central and the 500.
"Those systems give Minneapolis the
best service at their command 1t is
natural that when good service is the
principal factor, together with the fact
that those systems are closely identified
with the interests of Minneapolis. they
should be given a fair share Of the trade.
1.-The Wisconsin Central has increased
its earnings on Minneapolis traffic prob
ably beyond the expectations OF some o1
2 its officials simply by paying special at
t tention to the needs Of this market. The
500 earnings on Minneapolis traffic ough
to show big increase every year, as Ii
l has long been one of the main bulwarks
e of this market"