, 1873-06-19
FREIGHT CONUNDRUMS,
The Raflrond nntl Warehouse
Commissioners Matinee.
Some Of tho puzz1ors Propoundcd by
Sharp Iai1road Mon.

The Tnilroad md Warehouse commissioners
woro in aoasion again yesterday. T1soy hold a
sort OF reception, mid rocolyod calls from a num-
bor of prominent raifroad managers, who sought
information on tho subject of tho now 1aw. They
rather puzzled tho Commissioners by propound-
ing conundrums 1t would tAko d Philadelphia
lawyer 10 solyo.
They desired 1t to DO informed Of tho oonatruo-
tion put by the Commissioners OH tho Law. For
instancc 1t was inquired II the diatanco from
Chicago to Pana, 225 mics by tho Illinois Com
tral, Was ut tho rnto Of 80 much per car, could
sas s h''s snargs only Sn hs so'
rato to tho samo placc, tho distance being
the Ba1no, or should tho Alton Road charge local
ratos to Springfield, and tho Southeastern local
1lss e. hense o aaa ia Test @ Ess Mss
asked i railroads could bo shippers undor tho
law Tint Ia, II tho Rockford, Rock Island Il st.
Louis Road, for example, could ship. on tho
Northwestern at Sterling tho grain collected on
grain originally continue tho shipper until the
grain reached Ohioago2 or courao II tho roads
could 10 shippers, they could contract for ship
ping largo quantitieB, and tho local ratoa could
agent. Tho railroad men themselves loaned to
tho opinion that railroads could not DO shippers
undor tho Law; that thoy wore simply agonts Of
tho poraons who originally employed them to
CAIEY ING ETlau.
Another Interesting question wns, II ono road,
esy 100 miles long, carried freight to a cor
tain point. would two other roads, reaohinR
tho samo point by roundabout way, say 100
mllca long, 30 allowed to carry tho same GUAM
tity Of freight at Tho same rate ~ tho shorter
route, az they havo dono heretofore, In order to
got some Of tho business2 The Commissioners,
as in tho othor caaeB, declined to give poBitivo
an8wor, but tho opinion seemed to be that tho
shorter route would hayo to tako tho business
nnH inn bu ni1f fn +on3
monopoly Of tho froight now divided between
two roads.
Still another problem was presented. Tho
Northwestern Road has line to Fulton, on tho
Winona BY boat. Tho Milwaukee b st. Paul,
however, has direct line from WinonA to hll-
waukoo, whence the grain is shipped East With
out coming through Chicago. At prosont tho
take the grain to milwaukee,, md tho North
Mostern to bring 1t to Chicago. The rato from
Fulton to Chicago is about double tho rnte from
Wtnona to Chicago by the Northwestern, tho
great quantity OF grain-somo millions OF
rates. Now, Il tho Northwestern is COM
pelled by law to charge on tho grain from
Winonn tho rnte from Fulton to Chicago,
tho trado will DO diverted to Milwaukee,, Tho
bound to charge local rates on freight coming
from without Che State. This also involved tho
questions OF how far existing contracts with per-
sons IN other States will be affected by the new
LAW. and il they arc not affected can similar con-
tracts bo made When the law is In operation ?
Tho Commissioners did not assume tho RESPONSE
bility Of deciding.
Tho railroad mon said thoy wcrc anxious to
obey the Law and its letter os nearly as they
could, but when tho law was equivocal and Of
doubtful construction, they wished to bo guided
by tho opinion Of the Board. Tho Board an4
nounced it's intention Of considering all questions
Us thoy aroso under tho law and OF promu1gating
it's deciaion.
Among the visitors was Mr. Reynolds, propri-
esor Of tho Diamond Joa" line Of boats, ri1u-
ming botweon Wanona and Fulton on tho MiBsis-
sippi: Ho wanted his Inspector at Fulton recog-
nizod as State officer, so that tho grain could
DO graded at IMlton and save timo III Chicago
It ia probable thnt tho matter will be arranged to
accommodate tho trade ut Fulton, N1r. Harper,
tho Chief Inspector, announcing his Willingness
to make tho bost arrangement he obufd under
the law,
Several elevator men discussed with the Board
tho best mode Of collecting out inspection foes,
expressing themselves reRdy to collect tho foos
without assuming any responsibility therefor.
It is not likely, however, that any material inno-
vation will bo made in tho system now in vogue.