The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-13
Aim Blow At Jobbing Centers Of
the Middle West.
Railroads Plan Discrimination
to Favor New York.
PROTESTS ARE LIKELY
Gigantic Scheme of Revision OF
Freight Tariffs
Embracing Almost Entire C0un-
try West of Mississippi.

1t is not improbable that the mer-
chants and manufacturers of st. Louis
and Kansas City will have the same
grievance against the railroads which
have terminals in the two cities men,
toned, that the Chicago shippers have
against the railroads which will on
August 1 put into effect a new set of
tariffs on freight to northern Pacific
coast points, discriminating against
Chicago in favor of New York city.
An effort has been made to get a re-
vision of freight tariffs on goods ship
ped from Atlantic coast points to Col
orado and Utah as against shipments
on the same classes of commodities
from Mississippi and Missouri river
points to the same destinations in Col
orado and Utah.
1t is known that meeting of freight
traffic officials of the lines which would
be affected by this proposed revision of
freight tariffs was called for the pur-
pose of a discussion of the problem.
What was done or what is being done
cannot be stated in this article, but the
proposed plan makes New York city or
other Atlantic coast points a baSing
point for freight shipments to western
points instead of st. Louis and Kansas
City, known as the Mississippi river
and the Missouri river basing points.
The plan would be to increase the
freight tariffs from Mississippi and Mis-
souri, river points to Colorado and Utah
the said destinations from Atlantic
coast points would be lowered.
The project is not improbable. Great
er difficulties to Surmount introduce
themselves in this scheme than were
presented in the scheme of new tariffs
to Northern Pacific coast points. The
case becomes more complex. Chicago
as basing point would also enter into
this scheme. The fact that SO many
short lines enter into this scheme
makes it seem that an agreement
would be hard to reach which would be
satisfactory to all lines interested.
Chicago considers the proposed
change as direct blow to her rightful
commercial supremacy in the north |
west. So also would this other plan be
a blow to St. Louis, Kansas City and
Chicago as equal masters of the west |
arn and southern commercial field
In Chicago the new rates which be- |
come effective August 1, are looked up |
on as the result of an agreement !
among officers of the Great Northern, |
Northern Pacific, Southern Pacific and |
Oregon Short Line railroads, and the |
1eal is looked upon as the first move in
what is believed to be an effort on the |
part of Hill and Hartman, working |
with friendly commercial interests, to |
corral the north Pacific coast trade for
New York as against Chicago and the
middle west jobbing centers.
1t is expected that Chicago manufac-
-urerS will enter a protest at the new
-ates. Among the articles on which the
change is made are canned goods,
stoves, agricultural implements and
furniture.
From information at hand it would
seem that an effort is being made to
work out the details of a gigantic plan
@ also corral the bulk of the western
md southern trade for the New York
iealers.
Do;Irood fairs ora co ir1trioata and
mergers are so frequent that it is not
Unlikely to believe that plans are on
DOT for gigantic revolution in the
hipping and commercial business OF
he United States.
ST. Louis and Kansas City merchants
nd manufacturers, jobbers and ship
ers will undoubtedly begin an investi-
alton looking towards preventing II
ossible any revision of freight tariffs 1
etrimental to the commercial interests
f the middle west. ,