, 1874-03-27

SUITS UNDER TIE ILLINOIS RAILROAD Law.
Tho opinion prevalent in railroad circles IL TINT
nois Railroad law viii not be brought to trial
speedily. Actions have boon commenced against
four companies-the Chicago d. Northwes1ern
Chicago . Alton, Chicago. Burlington l. Quincy.
aaoa sas ssanst ali f sI o1oe 'eo n
tho State. Mono Of them regard the schedules
put out by the Commissioners, alld aro beloved
to havo no intention Of complying thorowith
unless re9ul, cd by tho highest authority in tue
land. Tie suit against tnu Alton is sot for trial
Ill Springfield next May, but it is not
expected to DO called at that time. The Chicago,
Burlington Il Quincy caeo comes next in order.
Mr. Writ Dexter II no" engaged upon it. Unless
so S nq So 70
dent exists for these casoH reuders them ex-
tremely difficult to prepare. The point ut which
rate ceases to TO reas enable, and becomes OK
toitionate, il an exceedingly fine one to ostab-
mined III the caso OF the Northwestern Company.
That sult waB instituted before tho Commlssloll-
ers schedules were declared priMa facie
evidence Of reasonable rates. The burden OF
proving what is reasonable. therefore, devolves
upon the Attorney denelal. Nov there has aa
yet betn ascertained but ono way of determining
the question. requiring Ill accurntl knowledge
Of the nnnlEer OF nIlea lun by all the truins OF
tue Company over tho particular limo for, say.
the last fiscal year. tho total number Of nilos run
rate1y, the gross receipts ot fyoight-seryice aud
Of pas6onger-aerv!co, the total lumber Ut tons
Of freight carried aud also tho number OF Ions
carried one mile. From these data aud detailed
accounts Of tho operating expenses the nprroxl-
mato cost Of moving one ton Of freight QUO milo
can TO aHccrtained. The result, aftur detlucling
operut.ng expenses, Interest Oh bonds, md all
nccoxaarY expesos, will TO not, which, takcn in
connection with the valuation OF tho road, will
show Whethor 1t IL Il la4r rotulu upon tls invoBt-
ment.
IhiH detailed information Is precisely what tho
Companies proceeded aguiust aro nov procuring.
mud without it tliey cannot satisfactorily proceed
to tra1. 10 keep these figures at hand ready for
mon1entary uBo would require vast army Of
clolks; but it iH not appai cut how tho railroads
Gun otherwise present tleir cascR in the several
Western Sgatos undtr the now LAWS. Greatly in
oreaBed expenses and almost continuous Htiga-
tion viii accompany thor enforcement.
UPPER MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS,
A. meotn!g Of all tue 6nperitltondonls n1Ml
General Freight Agents intereatod1n Upper Niar~
issipM business waA hold in the general olies OF
the thicugo l. No:tlwcstorli 1sailnuy Wednesday
laHt. A lrotracted discussion ellsuoa, lut NO
definite conclusion wuB reached, owing IN part to
the 1lhnoiB Contra! Cuul a"y holding nlouf from
ihe Conv ntiun. That Company. by liz oonuco.
sion with tho Northern Pao6et Linz, hand!os
vast amount OF Minnesota business. ard no
agreement would be satisfactory 10 which tho
Coatral was not pagty. They thorolule nd
1our1loa unll! Monday afternoon, When result
will doubtless DO arrived at. rliB busiuoH8,
originating In ono 6tate md EasAing through
othora, Ia not Infected by tho reoaut logtlation
Of MiuneEota aud Wisconsin,