Smyrna times., 1873-07-23

week 10 eStaDIS0 q new WdleIlHS pIhSS'
The FARMERS AND THE RAILROADS.
There seems to be something of a parallel
between Delaware and Illinois in their method
of dealing with, or trying to deal with, the
railroad monopolies which they cannot getalong
without and which cannot get along with
out them. Both States passed laws last
winter to prohibit determinations in fare of
long over short distances, and both, it seems,
blundered alike in trying to accomplish their
object.
Our readers are, we suppose, familiar with
the Delaware law, the 4th section of which has
already been declared unconstitutional by the
Court of Errors and Appeals, every Judge on
the bench, FIVE in all, asserting. This law de-
clared that no railroad company in the State
should charge greater rate for passengers or
freight carried from place to place within the
State than was charged from places within the
State to places out of the State. 1t was
shown before the Court above named that
this law, if it had gone into effect, would have
had contrary effect from what was intended
It would have increased rather than dimin-
ished the rates. Where a class OF freight,
under the old law, would only cost $l2 20 per
ton between two stated points, it would have
cost, under this law, if allowed to go into effect,
$52 40 if the railroad company had chosen to
exact it.
The Illinois law, from what we can learn, is
something similar. 1t was passed in April last,
In obedience to the urgent demands of the farm
er's clubs, or oranges of the Patrons of
Husbandry, an organization that is now WELD
ing great influence in the West, particularly
against railroad monopolies. This Illinois law
went into effect on the first of July, and the
railroad companies revised their freight taria
to comply with its provisions Said com
panies, according to the \. Y. Tribune, frou
which we get our information, were required
to establish strict pro rata schedule, to give
no preference to through over local buusnes
or TO wholesale over retail shippers, or to charg
under any circumstances higher rate for goin
ten miles than for going five. They were com
PEELED, after establishing a certain rate frou
the starting point to the first station on tn
road, to fix different and higher rate for eac
subsequent station, without any regard to th
peculiar demands of trade or the circumstance
which make it possible for a company to
business much cheaper at one point tha
another The effect of such an infexibe an
despotic rule is of course just now an interss
ing subject of speculation. 1t seems to b
understood, however, that most of the farmer
will have to pay heavier tolls under the ne
law than under the old, or else the railroad
must lose money. On the Chicago and Roc
Island road, for instance, the old and new rate
per hundred pounds for first class merchandis
compare as follows: from Chicago to Roc
Island lSl miles, old tariff, 60 cts. new tariff
sc cts. 1t is thought that these changes wi
not only prove disadyantageOus to the farmers
but they will probably work great injury to tn
commerce of Chicago. For example, an in
portant trade centers at Quincy, on the Illinoi
side of the Mississippi River, and Chicago an
St. Louis have been competitors for it. Hitt
erto it has gone to Chicago over the Bu
lington road; but the Burlington roa
must now raise its through rates. or els
carry the Intermediate traffic at loss, whic
it cannot afford to do, and the Quincy trad
will consequently be diverted to St. Louis.
is also thoucht it will be found in practice tn;
the grea'.-, nnmler Of way stations on
line, the higher will be the rates between ii
termini of the line, because the tariff on
bushel of wheat is not estimated on the cost I
transportation for the whole distance, but /
taking the sum of fifty or a hundred loc
tariffs on wheat, from one station to anothe
This is much like the proposed alteration
our law. For instance: under the law now Il
railroad company charges for distance of OIL
or two miles cents per 100 lbs. of freight, al
from Baltimore to Delmar, l63 miles,
charges 81 cents. At this rate, if the ne
Law had gone into effect, the compa
would only be allowed to charge 81 or
hundredths Of cent for 100 lbs. of freight
distance OF two miles, or it could char
$2.62 where il now charges 81 cents.