The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-27
BOYCOTT ON RIVER TRAFFIC.
NIuskogee shippers to Fight Roads for
Stand Taken.

MuskOgee Shippers to Fight Roads fOl
Stand Taken.
Muskogee. L T., Dec Authorization
has just reached Muskogee that the
eastern railroads, at the instance of the
roads running out of Muskogee. have de-
ciared a boycott on the Arkansas river
shipping and have sent notice to the
shippers that they will not accept freight
to Muskogee if it is billed via the Ar
kansas river.
Muskogee's Commercial club and the
Arkansas River Navigation company, as
well as the business men of the town
generally, Will fight back. They propose
first to prosecute the roads that have
entered the boycott under the interstate
commerce laws. Besides this, they pro-
pose to boycott all roads that have gone
| into the com binatiOn which has for its
purpose preventing a water rate being
made on all freight at this point. It is
proposed to select a competent business
man who will so far as possible route all
the freight that comes to MusgOkee and
none will be routed over the boycOtting
roads if it can be shipped otherwise. It
is proposed to extend this tight to pas
senger traffic also, and it is believed that
public sentiment will add greatly to the
effectiveness of the movement.
The president of the Commercial club
and others declare that they believe that
this movement was inaugurated by GER
tain roads which enter this city and also
Kansas City and st. Louis. 1t was to
their interest to demand of the eastern
roads to boycott the river transpOrta-
ton because if the water rates are rec
down the high freight rates which they
have been carrying. The Commercial
club men state that the direct boycott
came from the roads that shipped wire,
steel, nails, etc, from KokomO, Ind, to
MuskOgee via the river, and reduced the
freight one-third. Other eastern roads,
upon pressure being brought to bear
by the three western roads mentioned,
demanded that the officers refuse to ship
freight routed on the river, ami these
roads responded by sending notices to
shippers that they would not receive
freight billed that way Il is proposed
to begin prosecution by federal process
under the interstate commerce acts IN
less these roads lift the boycott.
The NJ o. and G., the Midland Valley
and the Kansas City Southern loads are
believed to be willing to help Muskogee
in the fight, because the K. G. and 5
does not get Auskogee Araffic except by
boat, and the other two do rot nave
Kansas City and St. Louis connections,
but would be great distributors of
freight in the extended TERRITORY that
MuskOgee would cover if she cOould get
water rates.
Muskogee's freight shipments now
amount to 100000 annually. water
rate would reduce rates One-Inlrd, or
5000 900 a year on the present amount of
shipping. Business men figure that with
water rates the shipping would be ire
bled and the trade territory extended to
cover many times its present area.
Therefore they estimate that a cash ex-
penditure of 100000 at this time would
be a good investment to make a winning
fight against the railroads 10 secure
water rates.
The government inspections of the var
department for the past twenty-five
years show that the Arkansas is navi-
gable to Aduskogee and the government
inspectors who have gone over the river
within the last sixty days affirm these
records. This gives Muskogee people
faith to fight for water rates.