The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-01-14
Interesting Interrogateries.


One hundred and twenty three business
firms in Chicago have addressed the following
interrog.Aories to the Railway and Express
Companies c%of
To the Hesidents and Directors oftAe several
Rdilroads eenterfns in Chicago:
DEAR SrRs Owing 70 the excited state of
the public mind upon the subject nf freight,
railroad charges and alleged combinations,
we conclnde you will furnish us for publication
a reply to the following inquiries
LIST. What are your present tariff rates for
freight upon grain, stock, farmers products,
merchandise, lumber and coal9
I'd. What difference exists between your
present rates and those charged January, !,
1852
Sd. What are the leading and Deedful causes
for the increase in your rates?
4th What reductions do your companies
contemplate making during the present sea.
son. and upon what articles, II not generally
5th. viii your companies favor an arrange
ment that will open the eleyating and storage
of grain to competition, and that will allow
shinpers to consign grain to such warehouses
rs they may prefer? If not, please state res-
sons fully.
6tln What foundation exists if any. for the
statements that railroad officers are interested
in the earning or income of the Elevators in
our city, or in the stock, earning or income
of the various express, transportation compa
MES, or steamboat lines upon routes leading
TO Chicago thereby creating combinations that
are causes of complaint?
It'll. What construction does your compa-
MES place upon their liability in property de-
stroyed by fire while in transit and in their
custody Please express the nature of such
liability, and specifically, if recognized losses
BY fire will be as promptly adjusted as other
damages or deficiencies.
CHICAGO, Jan. 4, 1866.
To the serera3 Express, Railroad aud Trans
portatton Companies, running into Chicd
60:
DEAR SIR On account of the refusal OF
the propretors of the Merchants Despatch to
pay for goods destroyed by the late fire at De-
troit, it has become important that the con-
struction plaeedby express and transportation
companies upon their liability for property de-
stroyed by fire while in transit and in their
custody should be definitely indicated
Will you please favor us with an early re-
ply. stating the views of your company upon
the extent and nature Of such liability: and
specifically, if recognized losses by fire will be
rs promptly adjusted as other known damages
or deficiencies.
VIII you also please state whether your
company assume direct liability, or act as the
agent of the several railroad companies over
which yeu transact business?
win you also furnish us with the names o.
your officers, and the kind of charter or or
ganlzation YOU operate under, with che loco.
ton of your principal Office and upon whom
legal service OF papers can be made in time Of
need?
We also desire you to state if your compa
nv contemplate any reduction OF your tar II o
charges upon freight, valuable packages, ant
your general business during the coming sea
son, and if so, TO what extent? ssz1..
ANSWER OF THE RAILROAD COMPANIES.
To the Merchants aud Business men Of Chi
cdgo
Owing to the excited state of the public
mind on the subject OF values and prices o
nearly all articles Of merchandise and pro
duce, on account OF alleged combinations ant
CORNERS, we conclude you viii each furnish
US for publication full reply to the folfowin.
inquiries:
LIST What are the present prices charged
by you for all articles sold by you in you
business
2nd. What difference exists between you
present prices, and those of January, 1861
Sd. What are the leading and needfu
causes for such differences in your prices?
4th. What reduction do YOU contemplate
making Iii your prices during the presen
season, and upon what articles, if not gener
ally?
5th. viii your firm favor an arrangement
that will open business to ''free trade" b,
which any party can send orders to you to b,
filed from the stock of some other coneer,
that the man ordering may take a fancy to
although at a great Inconvenience and loss O
time to you, when you have equal faciltie
for dong the same at your own house? Or
in other words, are you willing to do bushes
on other peoples premises when you hav
equal facilities for doing the same on you
own? If not. please state your reasons why
9th. What foundation exists, if any, il
the suppositien that merchants and produc
dealers are inclined, when there is a shor
supply of any article in the market, to 5,
control that article and advance the price
and thereby create causes OF complaint?
It'll. Suppose any of you hold in your pos
session as warehousemen, or otherwise, prop
erty belonging to another party, what con
struction would you put upon your liabilit
for the loss of such property, if destroyed b
fire, and what is the moral difference if acel
IDENTITY destroyed under such circumstances
and If accidently destroyed while in trans
by railroad? fq4 -t
Sth. Which is man most likely TO un
derstand well, his own business or that G
others ~
The above. if circulated diligently, woul
obtain - I NAVY : Y: s ~ =.
Wit.
The habit Of mind, however, which wi
cherishes, is obviously not desreble. Wi
Il