New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-10-07
TRANSIT RATES.
The Railroad Commissioners, Agains,
Transit Rates-Their Report.

Transit Rates-Their Report.
The Minnesota board Of railroad com.
missioners have made public their report
in the matter OF transit ratesa subject
which has been very widely discussed, and
in which buyers, sellers and shippers
are deeply interested. The proceedings
taken are based upon complaints
filed with the commissioners by citi-
Gems OF Carver, Mcleod, Renville, Chip
peWa, Swift and Big Stone cou..ies.
MINI, against the Chicago, Milwaukee
~ st. Paul railroad. These counties ara
dependent upon the Milwaukee road for the
necessary transportation to get their Grain
into market, and they claim that the svs.
tenn ofpre sent transit rates is a burden nm
on them which should not be tolerated by
the state. Thecommissioners take position
against the transit rate system-as at pres
ent en1orced-and declare that the shipper
must be given the option ofhaving his grain
carried to Minneapolis at a reasonable
freight charge, or OF awaiting himself of the
privilege OF the transitrate through to Chica-
60 or the East. The commissioners do not
abolish the transitrate atall. 1.-THE simmer
and the railroad company agree upon terms
the transit ate system can be carried ont. as
isnow being done. The effect OF the order OF
the commissioners is that the Milwaukee
and other roads, having Chicago or Eastern
terminal facilities, cannot force the shipper
to pay freight charges to Chicago, but al
lows him the privilege to paw oniy for car
riage to Minneapolis The railroads affect
ed are thus compelled to give a reasonable
Local rate on grain, which is not doneunder
the present order of things The only
roads affected by the commissi oners' order
are the Milwaukee and st. Paul, Minneapo-
lis d St. Louis, Omaha and Duluth roads.
Gen. Becker is OF the opinion that the
farmers along the lines OF roads tributary
to st: Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth will be
beneflteH by the decision of the commits
have been demanding an abolition Of the
transit. They desire to ship wheat at
reasonable rates to terminal points with.
out being compelled to bill the same
through to Chicago. The only way in which
the railroad companies can evade the
ruling, In order to retain the shin.
ments through to Chicago, after the
grain has been sold at Minneapolis
or 81. Paul, will be by competition. This
WILL OF course, be beneficial to the shipper,
py giving him a lower freight rate to that
point. In his opinion the decision, if com
pied with, will be OF benefit to St. Paul,
A.AAtSeVp''AAo tVuu DuluUll. tUrsl1n WnlCn mere.
to1ore could not reach Duluth will do so
now The claim setup by the railroads that
the transit system has done much to build
up the milling system appears to be indis-
putable; but on the other hand, the farmer
has suffered. The shippers have been
Obliged to protect themselves from an
accumulation OF rebate freights, and the
only way in which this could be done was
70 reduce the price OF wheat. The railroads
may refuse to comply with the decision OF
the commissioners, but in that case the
law will be appealed to. If that is not
strong enough the legislature, at it's next
session, will be called upon to exact a law
sufficient to meet the emergency. The com
m!lss!oners, in considering the matter, had
IN mind the relief OF the farmers from the
burdens that had been imposed upon cher,
by the railroads. They had made an effort
to secure free trade in grain, which t1sey
hoped would be successful.