Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-05-13
HIGHER FREIGHT scHEpuI
SOON THROUGHOUT WESTERN
TRUNK LINE ASSOCIATION.
RAISE WILL BE 10 PER CENT
CHANGES WILL AFFECT
CLASSES 1 Tos.
WAGE REDUCTION AVOIDED BY
THE INCREASE OF CHARGES,
SAY OFFICIALS.

Awaiting only the final agreement
and signatures of the higher executive
officials of all Of the lines In the West
ern Trunk Line association of western
and western lines of railway, one of
the most complete and sweeping ad-
vances in all classes Of freight in 20
years has been prepared and carefully
outlined by the traffic officials of these
roads.
Under the recommendations that
have been made by the latter officials,
an advance of practically 10 per cent.
in every class of freight, from class
No. / to class No. 6, inclusive. will be
put into effect July 1 from all west
ern points, such as Milwaukee, Chi
cago, Minneapolis, st. Paul, st. Louis
and other gateways, as well as from
ell intermediate points in the trunk
line territory, to all eastern points,
and seaboard points, New York, Bos-
ton, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Baltimore
and other points. The same advance
viii be made from eastern points to
the west.
This step. said to have been made
because the roads have found it alb
solutely necessary to either increase
rates on freight or lay off rlany thou
sands more men, or cut wages ma
terially, is to be similar in its sweep
ing character to that announced Sat
urday at Washington, d. c., as hav-
ing been decided on by all southern
roads. with reference to meat rates
and some other classes of freight.
Bottom Point Reached.
But the step about to be taken BY
the big trunk lines operating in the
west and northwest and covering many
more miles of territory than are taken
| in by the southern lines will be much
greater in extent and general charac-
ter, as the move will mean an adj
vance in all kinds of freight, both
ways, between eastern gateways and
the seaboard, and western and north
western territory points.
For the past 20 years freight rates
! in almost every class of traffic havC
been gradually going down, until they
are now not much more than one-half
what they were 20 years ago. While
the rates have been tending down
ward all these years, there has not
been. in all that time, a general and
! sweeping advance in all ella ,ses of
| freight and the proposed step, July /.
next, promises to he the first in that
direction in all these years.
Idea Of Present Rates.
As an idea of what this means, the
following present all-rail rates, Mil
yankee 10 New $ ork and the seaboard,
are given: Rates per 100 pounds, Mil
waukee to the seaboard or New York,
| first class, rs cents; second class, 65
cents; third class, 80 cents; fourth
class, 35 cents; fifth class, 80 cents,
and sixth class, 25 cents. These rates
vary a few cents to and from other
gateways and there is always a diff
ference of from to 21a per 100
pounds, between the all-rail routes,
and the lake lines except In the mat
ter of the carferry lines, which are
| all-rail lines and their rates are the
same as the ao-called rail Lines
THE rumored sweeping advance in
! freight rates, between the west and
the east, while at present before the
executive officials for final decision
are the direct result of present rail-
way and traffic conditions throughout
the country" said one leading freight
man.
Saves Cut in Wages.
This condition has just been shown
By the announcement of southern lines
to the interstate commerce commits
sion. which are going to advance meat
and a few other classes of freight. 1t
was announced some time ago by a
member Of the interstate commerce
commission that in all probability the
railroads shortly would be compelled
either to reduce their wages all along
the line or advance freight rates. An
advance in rates seems to be the best
way ont Of the existing situation"
Il. Is said that for some time about
2, 800 special representatives, or the
Interstate commerce commission have
been travelling over the country in the
capacity Of inGps ctors, and that much
information has been gathered by
them as to present conditions in the
railway world, with which knowledge
the members Of the commission are
- .,,~..rtz<a ~ Tho u1an IN advance