The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-05-30
THE SIOUX CITY AND ST. PA UL RAIL
R0An,

=
=. =. sh0AD sssz,.s
We have letter from the General
Manager of the railroad saying that our
article Oh the New Rates - does in
justice to the company, to2.the railroad
law and to the Railroad Commission
|ers: The General Manager evidently
writes under misapprehension of the
meaning and animus of the article,
which was designed chiefly to give his
own explanation of why tile special
wood rates had to be abolished. AS
the letter just received gives a still
clearer explanation, we will let the
General Manager speak in his own
words. He says:
1.-THE special wood tariff in force on
our roads since last September was
found to be III conflict with the Act
approved March 4th in two particu-
lars. 1t fixed the charges for u car
load of wood to Worthington, for in
stance, and gave the WortIington buyer
the option of taking the wood Mt Mal-
kato, 81 miles, OF at Brentwood, 1879
miles, or at amy station between those
points at the same charge from any of
these stations where wood could he
purchased. The act referred to forbids
the same charge for less as for a
greater distance.
I" TIe special tariff gave these rates
only to certain stations named therein,
not including, for instance, Madelia or
Lake crystal, which stations were not
dependent on the railroad company for
| .lC ri RI fl1,o ;n1 IN
The Act would forbid us to haul Il
car of wood to one station. saw ioO
miles, for any less rate than to any 9TH
FL station for the same distance.
1T is not the intention of the COM
pany, nor is it required by the Act ,
nor by the Commissioners that the dr-
craze wood rate shall be any higher than
the late special tariff rates, but the
rates will be so adjusted as to conform
to the law prescribing i greater charge
for the greater distance. Until new
tariff is prepared and published wood
will be shipped under the rates given in
our general tariff for coal.'
The rates on wood will therefore not
average any higher than they did he
fore.
And now word as to the Railroad
Company. At tins time of general and
often inconsiderate cutlery against rail
roads, much injustice is done to railroad
managers. We believe that the com
pany which has the management of the
line between st. Paul and Sioux City is
among the most liberal md just of the
railroad companies. The first year they
supplied the National Colony with
wood ut a probable loss to the company.
The first winter they spent from $780,.
600 to $1,000 in all effort to keep the
road open, instead OF leaving it block.
AIDED with snow, as other roads in the
State have done. Each year they have
carried trees to the settlers along the
line Of the road either entirely free OF
ut half rates. Last winter they donat
ed the timber Oh their lands along the
!, line Of the Sioux City and St. Paul end
OF the road to the settlers, and carried
the supplies sent for the relief Of set
) tiers without charge. When the new
railroad law went into effect, the com
,, pany promptly accepted tie situation
and are making their rates conform Il
the requirements Of the act, and the.
p will of course lie governed 10y thu
, schedule adopted by the Commissioner:
so soon as that is arranged. In man!
casts the company might have gained
!, friends 10y a more liberal policy towart
4 business men wanting facilities along
:, the track, but we believe that the man
8 agement is generally popular with tin
: business neil along the line. Presiden
T Drake, especially, has always shown :
liberal spirit, and generally when an!
relief or favor from this quarter ha
been asked a disposition has been shown
u to grant it. In response to a recen
e application from our Town Council
!. President Drake offers, with the Col
I ony Company, to give ten acres on til
I lake shore to the town for a park, ant
S also to give block 80 in the town pla
+ for school purposes.
|. This much is due to the railroad com
q pany. AS we shall not hesitate to speal
e when we think the railroad company a
fault, we shall the more readily spea]
when there is anything to commend.
s The Jackson Republic says that Prof
y Humiston has driven the grasshopper
= out Of Mobiles county by proclamation
\ They lave been making toward Jack
It son county for several days, as hard a
I their legs and wings can carry them
v and the editor Of the Republic is in dis
J. tress. He admits that the editor q
Il the ADVANCE brought the grasSh0l
J. pers and the wet season last year by
" " single wave of his pen, and Prof. Hum
8 iston simply issues proclamation all
" all the grasshoppers emigrate to JACK
l. son county. Again, at one fell swoo
e we took the Land Office from Jackso
'e and brought it over to Worthingtor
y And if the Republic is not duly pen
IS tent we shall issue a proclamation con
polling every m;sn i'll Jackson count
l. to stop the Republic and take the Al
e VANCE. We shall turn that rush Q
It Job work" into our own Office, leav
l., that ''new brick office'' untenantet
il and make that new Court House" AM
= the two or three houses besides, whic
mako ,,N fho tOvn IF TooEco,, n hnx,