The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-02-06
THE FREIGHT QUESTION.

The ADVANCE, as our readers are
aware, has not INDUCED in abuse of the
st. Paul 4 Sioux City railroad COM
pany. On the contrary, we have often
had occasion to acknowledge their lib
serality and especially the accommodate
ing spirit they have generally manifest
ell. But we, in common with all other
settlers, believe that their freight rates
are too high. We shall not attempt to
remedy this by abusing the railroad
company. AS we have frequently said
our only hope is competition.
We cannot hope to secure our share
Of immigration without another rail-
road. Setting aside the question Of re-
duced freights and better prices for our
products, we ought with one voice and
one effort to set to work securing more
direct outlet to Chicago and Mllwau-
kee, us the best means of securing i'm
migration and the occupation Of our
lands. In coming West, the great tide
of immigration flows through Chicago
and it follows the lines of road leading
out of that city. Those coming to Min
nesota, are run up to st. Paul, and
there they are taken possession of and
sent up OH the St. Paul & Pacific, the
Northern Pacific or into some part Of
the country more directly tributary to
St. Paul than our own. We are drain
ed into the lap of St. Paul and she gives
US little OF nothing in return.
But our primary object in this article
is to speak of freights. Since the Mil.
Waukee & St. Paul reached Sheldon and
the Southern Minnesota reached Jack
son, we already feel somewhat the ben
efits Of competition and begin to see
what a heavy tax we are paying be-
cause we have but one railroad to Wor-
Ellington. Let us look at some figures
illustrating this: We are assured that
lumber is $3.50 to 81 less per NJ at Shell
don chan at Worthington. Coal is 50
to 81 less a ton at Pattersonville than
ut Luverne. A gentleman who recent
ly visited Jackson looked up the differ
ence Oh staple articles, and he informs
US that we pay 50 more per ton for coal
aid 81 more per NJ for lumber than is
paid ut Jackson.
Let us now look at some freight bills.
We have canvassed the matter among
our business men, and here is the re-
port rs taken from the freight bills:
One merchant shipped show cases
from Chicago via st. Paul. The freight
to st. Paul was SlO.65 and from st..
Paul to Worthington, Sll.39.
a package shipped from New York
via st. Paul, cost as mucl. from st.
Paul to Worthington as from n. Y. to
st. Paul.
n package shipped from LII Crosse
via Mankato cost 60 cents to NIankato
and IS cents from Mankato to this
place.
n package from Milwaukee cost Sot
to St. Paul and $1.Os from st. Paul tc
this place.
A package from Pittsburgh cost 81
.O3 to St. Paul and $3.50 from St. Pau
to Worthington.
Another package from La Cross,
cost 81 .38 to Mankato and $2.14 from
there to Worthington.
One of our firms shipped a barrel OF
oil from Chicago via I.emars and two
barrels via of Sheldon. The one barre
cost $500 while the two barrels viz
Sheldon cost but $1.92. This speaks
volumes III favor of the Milwaukee &
St. Paul.
We are informed that the rate or
first class freights from St. Paul ta
Sheldon is SOC per hundred, while tc
Worthingt0n, 40 miles nearer to st.
Paul, it is s5c per 100, or nearly three
times us much.
We. repeat again, that the hope OF
Worthington and of this county lies in
railroad competition. What can our
people do to secure the Southern Min.
nesota or the Milwaukee Il St. Paul, OF
both?