, 1874-01-06

Doard Of Railroad aud Warehouse Commissioner ana
house Resis rars to rag they have erinsed ing ,.,.a
deare to promote the interests OF the trnde ana nase
sought TO know the s1ews md wishes OF the members
Of your body it must also be said that under ther
inspection complaints for unsatisfactory and effo,
inspection hare lecn as frequent as before ana
ian duty Of lis Officers 10 pre7ent, detect and expose
warehouse frauds, the members of THIS Board nave,
for their own information and protection, been obliged
institute Investigation into warehouse management.
The investigations Of year more ago disclosed The
preparation, tunder State Teg1me} OF aErfsolartes
and fr-uis Unparalleled in TIE history Of the gram
more recently chow continued violation Of the laEs
It would tecn that few moments OF reaectlon
would suffice to convince e,,a any rh;n,o ana s
matter Of such yEst importance affecting as II uoea
The value CT millions Of dolars worth Of property
which changes ownership many tisnes annually, and
the rules governing grain inspection and the regtr
ton Of warehouse receipts requires fuch practcni e.
ty With tie wants the trade, together with Euch con
slant care, and much Of thought aud time, as 10
render 1t absolutely fmEuss:ble for Board of nree
Commissioners having headquarters 100 miles distant
from this busfnes to s.tl facoF control ifs con-
duet and at tie time succeed in enforcing laws
regarding the management OF railroads. II ~ no.'
therefore, surprlsng that the present law and It's I'd
ni1aisrltion las proved uuHntEf1ctory In this co-
reccu. it may no: be improper to say that 1t ls ths
unanimous opinion Of your Board Of Directors tlat
compulsory Inspection conducted by this State is not
onlv wrong IN principle and theory, but Is IN practice
detrimental to tho interests Of tue aticurists o. ne
Northwest, and damaging to the trade and commerce
of Chicago TIC question presents itscf to tho Linus
Of the Directors, aud they submit the same to YOU
has not the time arrived ior THIS bora OF
ess Of this city md Of the welfare OF the coantfy
tributary to it, to take active measures to enghen
* htir true interest in this matter, with view Of Oh
tan:.g thar influence and operation TO place tue
inspeciaoa Of grain the same system Or basis anu
under the control as Is the lnsrcction Of hour
aud that Of prosisiona hlshwinc and other property
bought and SOLD on Change IN tnis city
SHORT WEIGHTS.
ComrIaInts uade of grIn arriving BY railroads fal-
iag short III quantity, as compared with SHIPPERS
weights numerous and serious a8 TO Justify anu
suggested that weignen appointed ~ the boasa & Q.
Trade, should be paced III tie elevators TO see hat
grain as it is ordered is eorrecy weighed. Elevator.
proprieors nuow public weghmen, shtp-fseters. hna
agents to watch and tally the weighing of grain r.
ceired from, and shipped Us, vessels end ca1ia-bone
and they have expressed willingness to accord Ike
privileges 10 those moving grain by railroads; but
ii long railroad corporations do not ackuo"ledpo o.
admit their responsibility by guarantee bills OF laang
in tbs opinion Of the board Of Directors,
s,en5s 81 s a X goes P nty so1s wess
70 lave Law that, if enforced, would most edeo:ualy
remove these complaints. law passed ut the instance
Of the members OF this Board, and approved In April,
ls71. That law requires corporations In this State,
receiving grain for transru ation to weigh the same
and to deliver quantity equal to that received. & Us
weights By placing the responsibility and loss whore
belonEs and thus insure proper caro- of grain Whilst
in transit and correct fe.nTn 81 We,gh sut Us en
ing Of the s5stern Of railway management that re-
fuses to recognize the responsibility OF tho care end
delivery Of what il received for ran5Eoi taton, and II
would also re1uce the cost Of transportation. What
cyer lost OF property by accident b stealth or other
wise, whilst it is being rored adts to the esIense "
grain By wafer routes issue tils Of la<iing
guaranteeing delivery ct ond of route Of fun amount
are Of service in co,uerolAl transactions. and aao,d
material aid in moving the crops 10 the markets o. tug
world whilst the bills Of ladng given by railroad
corporations, although, in degree aordinE facilities
ior legitimate business avo evidence Of quantity
Or vauo Of property shipped, They. therefore, pr.
oasr reward Tor rascal.y s1rn blu. Vt lading are
unsuitable for co,nmerciai pu5rcses Believing that
the law referred to is mo-s w,aa and th4: Its enforce
business generally VI this State :han the enforce
ucnt Of recent cnactments regarding railroad
corporations, the boasd oi Directors wonu reeo
son1rs te Importance Of tia law, with request that
compliance with lis requirements be enforced by then
TRANSPORTATION FAc1LI11Es.
With view Of calling public attention to the noccs-
sy Ct increasing transportation facilities to the sea
board, and to obtain IN expression oi olanon upon
the subject, memorial to Congress Was preparing
some months ago by the Board OF Directors, setting
forth the 1narquacy Of present means for carTyng
property and t1e advantage to be derived from the
coustrucion and operation Of double rack railway
between Chicago and New York. to he worked c1clu-
syelv In the tonnage business and asking Tor Charter
for construction OF anch work undcr 1uuic1ons
ard proper restrictions nad requirements as IN capital
.,ocf toil-rltes, inp.r4iity IN the occupation aud
;aurtoraticu OF freight, aud Of belonging to in
dtrtd1.!. companies. aud corporations and RESPONSE
blity for tile Of property received for
ton It is perhaps unnecessary TO state that this &C
ton Of the Boar OF Directors not In the interest
of ary party parties who hlve sought or who may
seek to ottn subsidies special aid from the Gore1n-
Importance and teesfity Of improving water COM
municaons with tie East tho Board OF Directors beg
to e1pr.ss their belief that there 10 equnl need o
increasing the number OF railway lines to the East ana
Southeast. The water-routca In this latitude are
closed opehird Of the year Neither the Eass nor the
West can afford TO depend entirely upon such avenues
for an exchange for their productions. The move-
aud canal navigation So large has become the busl-
ness Of Chicago with tbs Earopecn markets that new
and cuuetanty-oEcuing avenues Tor its prosecution
must he provided. trcsent railroad companies ara
unable to meet at reasonable rates, the wl1tI de-
mand for freiGht-roo Now roaGs ale needed to cre-
ate that competition that is required TO cheaper coat
OF transportation nnd to correct the evils anti abuses
Of present railroad management. But, whilst tue
Directors would encourage enterprises 20 we'll cAtcu
lated to promote the prosperity and growth OF Chi
cago +! the ceapenE Of the cost OF transportation
Of Western products, they would not APPROVE Of
asking Congress t. make grants or landa, suDsdlea
If ucncy, remission Of duties to auy corporation.
Nor would they recommend Congress- to grant
charter for railroads without tie restrictions narned
in the memorial to which reference has been made.
It must not Ee forgotten that said ruiroad corpora
tjous are seeking TO e:tshsh cuson3 and principles
for common carriers by rail- different from those
observed By other carriers, an1 the issue to-day ts IN
1Art whether they shall be subject to the same re-
spcnsililtes and penalties ss are osha5a who aro
To-