The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-18
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BUSINESS IS BAD.
Freight Business Of Steamer
Lines Is Demoralized.
Excessive Railroad Rates Are
Blamed for the Trouble.
GOES BY THE LAKES.
Montreal Is eating Bu.k OF
Wheat Exports.
Owing to a Rate War Among
the Lake Steamers.

New York June 1S-The agents OF the
ocean steamship companies which have
been hard hit by general depression
In freight traffic to Europe, say that no
relief is. in sight Since the first Oh
the year they say there has been
gradual falling off in freights. and
number of lines have decided to either
take some of their freight ships on al
together or to transfer some OIL them
to- other ports where the shrlnkage III
freights has not been so great as mere
They say that although the depression
in the freight and carrying business Is
general at the principal ports 1t has
been felt most heavily by the steamship
lines at this port.
The laying off of five freight steam
ships blythe White Star line last week,
was attributed in a large measure TO
the diversion of grain shipments from
this port to Montreal. but many othe,
lines besides the White Star has also
felt this diversion of freight keenly..
A joint meeting has been called Tor
tomorrow, between the trunk line as
ISOLATION and the special committee
appointed by the produce exchange
This melting will be for the purpose Of
trying to get the railroads 20 agree TO
lower their rate on grain between new
York and the northwest, so as to put
a stop to the great increase of grain
Shipments to Europe through Montreal.
= The steamship men do not take the
position that the grain situation is en-
tirely responsible for the present de-
PRESTON but admit that it is at the
bottom of the trouble. member of
the executive staff of the international
Marine company, said that compete
ton between the lake boats for the
grain transportation is in large
measure responsible for the position
York via Buffalo, since the railways
Ia coy
that the shipments of spring wheat
We're not so large as usual this year.
and that lake lines began cutting
prices in their efforts to get full car
goes
Prior to this year the lake boats
were working together in the matter
of freight rates. but now they are
fighting one another, with the result
that shippers can send their Europe
bound grain over the water route to
Montreal much cheaper than to New
York via Buffalo, since tn erailways
have held together in the matter of
In addition to the cut in lake rates.
the transatlantic steamship men
whose lines ply to and fro mthis port
find themselves up against a gradual
increase in rates which the railroads
have made during the ,Iast few years,
They say that in 1905 and 1906. the
grain rate from Buffalo to New York
was u cents bushel. 1t was then
jumped up to four cents a bushel and
In the spring of 1879. the rate was
boosted to s. u cents the present rate.
The rate. from Duluth and Fort
William to New York, via Buffalo is
now TAO cents. which includes deliv-
cry free on board the steamers. The
rate from the same ports of shipments
TO Montreal free on board is Az
cents a bushel. and from Toledo to
Montreal 3% cents. The discrimfna-
tion, say the stea mship men and the
shippers is nearly 4 cents a bushel