The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-11-17
An Accountable Monopoly.

re- As another item connected with
the abominable Freight management at
DUBUQUE and Dunleith, we publish the
following
ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD Co., }
GENERAL FREIGHT OFFICE,
CulcAGo, ILL, Nov. 10, 1852
NOTICE To GRAN SHIPPERs.-The Illinois
Central Railroad Company VIII not receive
Grain in elevator at Dunleith, consigned to any
Special elevator in Chicago
The preference of shippers, for any partleui-
lar elevator, will be respected when It'll posi-
he to do 80. but the interests OF the Company
demand that they may elect to whom to deliy-
~. He'pf Robert FORSYTH.
Gen Freight Agent.
This means, probably, that the Freight
Agents Of The Illinois Central Railroad
have extended their special privilege Of
robbng the people TO some parties IN
Chicago owning elevators. For some
time shippers have had the privilege oil
elect'ng the parties TO whom they would
consi-n their grain, thus inducing a
competition among elevators, and bring
inc down the cost of handling the grain.
Much of the graip sent from this por-
ton of the State, took the Racine road,
and went into the Northwestern elevator,
at less cos, than by any other route. Tie
above pronunciamento is doubtless III
tended TO stop this, and TO force the grain
to pay tribute to some favored parties IN
Chicago, just as it was forced TO do to
sMessrs. MERRY and FoRsYTn, in its pas
sage across the River.
I, is certainly time that the people Of
this section Of the State had awakened
to the Importance of some change OF at
fairs at the Mississippi. Probably few
are aware of The immense tax which the
monopolists there are levying upon the
farmers and consumers of this section OF
Iowa, who are compelled to ship and re-
ceive produce and goods through that
channel We've the same facilities offer
ed by the Dubuque and Sioux City, and
Illinois Central Railroad Companies,
that ere given to shippers BY the Chicago,
Iowa and Nebraska, and Chicago and
Fulton Roads, we are assured by some
of our shippers that they could afford to
pay at least three cents more on every
bushel Of Wheat than they now pay.
On the lower roads, freight is carried
from Marshalltown 10 Chicago without
breaking bulk. The cars are ferried
across, and the freight is not handled,
and reaches Chicago as promptly, almost,
as if The Mississippi did not intervene,
Shippers know precisely ow long their
produce will be in going to Chicago,
and can afford 10 buy up close TO the
market, which they could not do if their
grain had to 90 into an elevator, AM re-
main there an indefinite length Of time.
Our shippers repeatedly wait weeks be
fore they can get their grain across the
River. In the meantime, grain may 60
down. All this has 10 be calculated for
in buying. Then there is the handling
and storage at Dubuque, and the re
handling at Dunleilh, all to be paid for,
and altogether. the farmers get Gas
shippers have informed us1 five cents
less on every bushel of Wheat they sell,
than they would if communication at
the River was immediate, and if freight
was not re shipped. And do the people
realize how much that mounts 10 :?
Last year there was shipped from this
Station 1853, lis bushels of Wheat. That
was short crop. The year before we
shipped goo, 447 bushels. This year
we shall probably ship 100000 bushels
If it is true, then, that tie abominable
monopolies at Dubuque and Dunleth.
depreciate each bushel sent from
here cents. they create "a tax
upon the farmers Of Buchanan
County, in the single article of Wheat,
of S12 10000. Our Oats, and Barley,
and Hogs, and Cattle, and Butter, and
Eggs. and our half a million pounds of
Miscellaneous shipments, are also sub
iect to the same forced tribute, as is also
the goods we import. Put the estimate
as low as Joy please, and there can, we
think, be figures shown TO prove that
Buchanan County pays $4,000 a year
10 support the state of affairs now exist
ing at the Mississippi River, in the tran
shipment of freight.
And the farmers and people Of Du
buJue, Delaware, Blackhawk, Butler,
Floyd, Bremen, Chickasaw, Grundy,
Hardin. Webster, Hamilton, and the
whole Northwestern portion Of the State,
are alike subject 10 The robberies Of these