Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-05
RBITRARY TARIFF TO Be DISCONTINUED
Puts Gate City Freight on Equal Bass
with that Of Bluffs.
PENS NEW FIELD FOR oMAHEs TRADE
Packing House Products to Go Over River
Without Toll.
IOWA COAL TO COME IN CHEAPER, ALSO
Arbitrary Charge 20 He Discontinued
June 10 and Omaha JObbera and
Manufacturers EIated over
the Prospects.

The Western Trunk line committee, at Il
meeting in Chicago yesterday decided to
abolish the arbitrary bridge toll on freight
shipments TO and from Iowa points and
omaha, effective June IL. The concession
is one vital to every industry of Omaha
ana south Omaha and has been gained
after more than fifteen years continuous
enort, including a case before the Inter
state Commerce commission. No other de-
mand that the business men have made OF
the railway lines for years Is regarded as
so important kilograms received by the
railway agents and large business firms
yesterday afternoon caused general con-
graduation among the Commercial club
members and men I'm every line OF trade.
BY all 1t was recognized that a considerable
obstacle to Omahas commercial prestige
has been removed. Although the action was
anticipated, II had been so long waited for
that 1t caused feeling akin to surprise.
Removes Heavy DiHerentinI.
By the removal OF the bridge toll freight
from Omaha to Iowa points and freight
originating in Iowa and destined to this
city will be carried for the same rates as
are now applied to Council Bluffs. The
heavy tax and differentiRl in favor of Coun-
ell Bluffs and against Omaha is lifted. In
other words the two cities are placed on an
| equality so far as transportation rates and
advantages are concerned Council Bluffs
since 1882, has not been imposed with the
bridge toll on goods from the west nor
going west into Nebraska and beyond
Omaha, to the contrary, has been mulcted
by the eastern lines on the plea that the
State Railroad commission Of Iowa made
made their distance tariffs so low that they
had to recoup somewhere.
Packers Reap Big Benent.
Aside from the wholesale houses the man
ufacturers and packers will be benefited
| immensely by the dimnution in the Iowa
rates. 1t means that Iowa coal is to enter
by IS a car less than II did. that Iowa
| live stock may come in 81 car cheaper
and that packing house products may be
sent into the Hawkeye state for IS car
| less than heretofore. For merchandise the
| arbitrary rate has been cents per 100
pounds. whether in carload lots or not.
on flour. green fruit and lumber in car
load lots there has been a tax OF cents
on every 100 pounds. All commodities have
| been levied upon proportionately. the arbi-
| trary toll in and out having been simply
added to the Council Bluffs distance rate.
thereby giving that city an unquestionablc
and a great advantage over Omaha in all
matters concerning Iowa commerce.
Lets Iowa Stock In.
The good effect which the new tarifrs will
have upon the South Omaha packing houses
can scarcely be estimated at this time. It
has been hard for them to get cattle and
other live stock out OF Iowa from a dis
! tance Of from fifty to 100 miles because
of the 81 toll which practically resulted in
an embargo on inland cattle The stock
man found II cheaper to send his product
to Chicago. He footed the freight bill and
| he learned by experience that the Omaha
bridge arbitrary was costly thing. Con-
sequently the cutting out OF this charge
! will offer greater attractions for the local
live stock market TO the Iowa stock raiFsr
the packing houses are again affected in
the subtraction of the IS toll which they
had to pay on their products destined TO
Iowa cities and towns This was so high
as to discourage nearly all competition and
the field has been left largely TO Iowa
| packers.
| Considerable Iowa coal is burned in
Omaha. The reduction OF IS a car on the
transportation should logically result in
lower fuel prices in this city. The lumber
market also should be affected to a limited
extent, while exports acrossl the Missouri
ought to be greatly augmented.
News Reaches Omaha.
The first news OF the action Of the Trunk
Line committee received in Omaha came to
the Milwaukees general western freight
Office in a telegram from General Freight
Agent e. S. Keeley. announcing that after
July Is the bridge arbitrary differential
would be abolished Nothing was said
about the Western Trunk Line committee
and for some time it was not known
whether the Milwaukee road was taking
Independent action or not Assistant Gem
eral Western Agent Duval, however, dis
seminated the information as rapidly as
possible and with all the appearance OF
pleasure in doing. Not long after ward
the Burlington. Northwestern end the
managers and proprietors Of the large in
dustries all heard the news through pri-
vate advices from Chicago during the aft
ernoon. Scarcely any piece OF business
news could have made them appear hap
pier. Each realized well what II r,eant,
for they have been working collectively
for years, through the Commercial club
and otherwise, 20 have the arbitrary bridge
toll knocked out. Recently the railroad
committee OF the club and Secretary Ctt
have been unusually persistent, but the
present members of the committee are In
cllned to give the credit of accomplish
ment TO all the men who have been hnip-
mering away on the proposition for years
/ IL was naruly Dy chAnce iha- Secretary
UT was in Chicago yesterday when tie
committee made its decision. He had other
business there. but was looking or Rcme-
thing TO drop concerning the bridge differ-
entail.
JObbers Are Jubnant.
Asked as 10 the effect Of the elimination
OF the bridge charge. Charles II. Pickens,
manager for the Paxton & Gallagher
co. and a member of the Commercial club
railroad committee, said;
"It means an immense widening OF the
scope for Omaha trade in Iowa an op-
portunity for successful competition in the
territory already covered, and the incen-
tive OF fair prohts on business that has been
yielding but a small margin. I estimate
that about 20 per cent OF the entire Job
bing business done by Omaha jobbers Is IN
Iowa. The total reduction in freight
charges by the adjustment Of the bridge
tax win Be great Where We have been