New-York tribune., 1905-07-15
FREIGHT RATE WAR ON.
Southern Transportation Men Ready
to Fight Eastern Lines.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

New -Orleans, July 14.-After a conference
lasting several hours tonight, the representa-
tives of all the lines initial to New-Orleans made
formal declaration of war on the Eastern lines.
Important cuts in existing rates on both sugar
and coffee made and the announcement
was added that the Illinois Central had during
the last thirty-six hours chartered steamships
and barges from barge lines on the Great Lakes,
and would at once invade the Eastern Freight
Associations territory. The new sugar rates
nounced this afternoon by the Illinois Central.
followed by other Gulf lines. were as follows:
st. Louis, Cairo, Louisville and Evansville, 10
cents per 100 pounds; to Chicago, IL cents; to
Cincinnati, II cents; to Missouri River points
and points bearing the same rate. 10 cents; to
St Paul and Minneapolis, 10 cents.
This reduction is effective July IS
At the conference that the Gulf line freight
men held here this afternoon the sentiment was
absolutely unanimous in favor Of protecting
New-Orleans against Eastern lines. The dis
cussion for the protection of the Gulf ports was
led by R. c. Perkins general freight agent of
the Illinois Central, who made the announcement
that the fight on sugar rates merely pre-
liminary one, and that his road had been pre-
pairing for it for many years. and in
position where they could carry the fight
into the territory which has hitherto belonged
absolutely to the Eastern lines. He stated that
the Illinois Central had already chartered line
Of steamships across the Great Lakes for the
purpose of invading the Eastern Freight Asso-
cations territory, not alone in carrying sugar,
but also every other commodity produced in
the Southern territory tributary to the Illinois
Central
lie added that if the steamships and barges al
ready chartered We're not sufficient to handle
the business which they expected TO receive, his
line was prepared to build steamships and
barges of its own and to operate steamships
across the lakes from Chicago to Buffalo.
AT the meeting this afternoon the opinion was
that the sugar rate war, which is now on, was
simply the opening gun of the final battle for
supremacy between the Eastern and Gulf lines
sugar only, but would be extended to other com
modities handled by the Eastern and Gulf lines
in common
The various freight representatives present
announced their intention of carrying freight of
every kind between New Orleans and North
eastern and Northern points practically free in
the attempt to protect the differential which now
exists in favor of New Orleans.
This means that the war is to be one to the
finish, and that the Illinois Central in the effort
TO protect its sea ports will, with the assistance
or the other lines entering New Orleans cut
rates now existing on all commodities rather
than sacrifice any Of the business which they
! have gained In the past. Whether the Eastern
lines are to meet the latest cut is a question
which is still a matter of conjecture But at
the meeting this evening, the opinion was gen
orally expressed that the Gulf lines in a long
fight would win.