Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-23
Eastern Lines Suspected Of Con-
spiracy by Board OF
Trade Dealers
AFFECTS CHICAGO MARKET
Charged That Plans Are Being Made to
Divert Shipments From Lakes to
RaiIroads-Protests Made in Vain
Against Discrimination - News Of
Iowa.
Iowa.

railroads engaged in a conspiracy to
drive the independent lake carriers out
| of business, force all grain to be car
| ried to the seaboard by rail and to
transport all lake package freight in
bottoms owned by them?
This question has been propounded
by the board of trade interests here to
the leading railroad traffic officials Of
the east. The suspicion that such a
Conspiracy" exists is given rise by the
peculiar adjustment of grain rates east
of Chicago to the seaboard, which Is
operating severely against the Chicago
market Furthermore it is making it
impossible, it is claimed, for the AM
with the Canadian dealers and is fore
ing an enormous quantity OF grain
thru the Canadian ports. The rail-
roads have been importuned to correct
this alleged discrimination against the
Chicago market, against American
grain in favor Of the Canadian ports
Thus far, however they have exhibited
little inclination to take the protest
of the Chicago grain interests serious
ly.
Ex-Lake Grain Affected.
The discrimination is said to be due
to the rates on grain from Buffalo to
the seaboard, when the grain is trans
ported to Buffalo by boat. This grain
is called "ex-lake" grain. 1t appears
that on "ex-lake" wheat the roads
east of Buffalo demand ass cents per
100 pounds for domestic, and 2.S9 cents
for export in excess of the proportions
of the thru rates which they accept on
grain coming all rail from Chicago and
destined fo1 the seaboard These are
the excess charges over the p" Dor
tional rates if the grain goes to 3os-
ton. If it goes to New York the ex-
cess charges are 3.16 and 1854 cents
respectively. and if to Philadelphia
they are s.51 and 2.1O The excuses
on corn and oats run about the same.
On the other hand, Canadian wheat
coming from Lake HurorS and Geor-
gian Bay, destined for Montreal and
Portland carries a rate of 3.34 cents
under the American 'ex-lake'rates,
Canadian corn, 2.63 less and Canadian
oats, 3.13 cents less.
Six years ago the Canadians North
west produced 100000 bushels of
grain. Last year the production was
S5,0OO,OOO bushels, and it is rapidly on
the increase This enormous crop
must nearly all be exported, and under
the present adjustment of rates, it is
claimed not a single pound of Amerf-
can wheat can be exported until all
of the Canadian crop is disposed of.
The suspicion that there is a conspiracy
among the eastern roads arises from
the fact that there is now Il common
ownership of the railway mileage east
and west of Buffalo between Chicago
and New York, and that the lake pack
age transporta ton is controlled by the
same eastern interests. BY this COM
mon ownership the railroads are en-
abled to neutralize the advantage
which this market ought to have by
reason of it's location on Lake Michi-
gan. The railroad rates to Buffalo are
lowered to compete with the lake routes
to Buffalo, but the "ex-lake" rates
from Buffalo are increased above the
proportional all-rail rates cast Of there
with a view of neutralizing this ad
vantage and forcing the grain onto the
all-rail route.
Many Low Rates Expected.
The decision of the Rock Island to
put on a rate of 1 " cents for the mer-
chants meetings to be held in Chicago
and other cities bids fair to bring down
an avalanche of reduced rates. The
Alton road is preparing to make similar
rates for fully a score of conventions
and meetings in the east and in the
west. The executive committee of the
Western Passenger association will
meet today to consider the entire stu
alton, but it is said that nothing can
now stop the making of reduced rates
in all western territory.
The meeting of the national commit
tee appointed by the Illinois Manufac-
turers' association to combat an in
crease in rates will meet morrow, and
a good attendance has been assured.
The committee will have no trouble
with transcontinental rates because of
the fact that the transcontinental traf-
fic bureau has just decided to reissue
its tariffs in the present form. 1t was
thought at one time that transcontf-
toll toc OH ha Increased