Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-17
BLOW At GRAIN EXCHANGE
Secret Change IN Rate BY Northwestern
Inimiosl 10 Omaha.
ONER1s HEAVY SHIPMENTS FROM HERE
Refuses 90 Deliver Cars of Grain 60
Great western ut Council
BIuns for Local
Market.

BY a recent secret change In tariff II IL
alleged by responsible grain dealers that
the Northwestern railroad has struck
severe blow at the Omaha grain market
II is alleged that for the last ten days since
the Inauguration OF the new tarin, the
Northwestern has refused to deliver cars
OF grain to the Chicago, Great Western
at Council Bluffs for shipment TO Omaha
at the reduced rate Of s. per car given by
the latter road The Northwestern viii
ship the grain to Omaha, but at its reg
ular tariff OF So per car, which means
loss of 81 for each car to the shipper, who
is thus precluded from taking advantage
Of the lower rate offered by the Great
Western
Formal complaint has been filed before
the transportation committee OF the Omaha
Grain exchange by several grain dealers,
who allege their business has been ma
terially injured by the new conditions
caused by the action Of the Northwestern
and the matter will probably be taken up
by the transportation committee at its
regular meeting next week
Result would he Serious.
The result OF the action of the North
western. II allowed to continue, will be that
farmers in Iowa and other eastern points
on lines OF the Northwestern will not be in
a position TO take advantage OF the Omaha
market, the delivery costing them 81 more
per car than their neighbors, who ship
over other lines
The Rock Island company and the MIL
waukee, as we'll as other roads, deliver
cars to the Great Western at Council
Bluffs for transfer TO Omaha or South
Omaha without question at the request Of
the shipper, and,this was also done by the
| northwestern until about ten days ago.
In order to assist the Omaha and South
Omaha grain markets some time ago the
Great Western reduced It's tariff for ship
ping cars from Council Bluffs to South
omaha and Omaha from the regular rate
Of SO per car TO 81. While the other rail-
roads centering at Council Bluffs did not
meet the reduction, cars OF grain consigned
to Omaha were cheerfully turned over to
the Great Western company at Council
BLUFFS on request until the recent abroga-
ton of this custom by the Northwestern.
Shippers were not advised of the change
by. the Northwestern and n consequence
OF the refusal Of the Northwestern TO de-
I liver the cars for transfer by the Great
Western many cars of grain have had
to remain in Council BLUFFS and be sold at
a material loss. The new tariff has been
kept secret by Northwestern officials and
| the change only leaked out when shippers
complained to dealers OF the fact
Grain shut Out of Omaha
| Should the Northwestern adhere to itG
new policy, grain men say, 1t would mean
that all grain originating on the lines of
| that company would be shut out of the
Omaha market and shippers would have
! to use other roads or seek another market.
even though special advantages in price
might prevail on the Omaha market. The
difference OF a per car in the transfer
price from the Council Bluffs terminal to
omaha would cut OF competition by North
western shippers with those whose grain
was shipped over other lines, which now
transfer cars 10 the Great Western and
give the shipper the benefit OF the 81 rate
p. e. Bruce, chairman Of the transpor-
tation committee. of the Grain exchange Is
out of the city so an opinion could not
be secured as TO the probable steps to be
taken by the exchange in the premises. but
It is certain that the new policy OF the
Northwestern will be bitterly opposed.