The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-16
TRANSIT RATES.
h Railroad Commissioners Agalns.
Transit R~ates-Their Report,

The Minnesota board OF railroad com
in the matter OF transit rates-a subject
winch 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-
zens OF Carver, Mcleod, Renville, Chip
pewa, Swift and Big Stone counties.
MINI, against the Chicago, Milwaukee
q st. Paul railroad. These counties are
dependent upon the Milwaukee road for the
necessary transportation to get their grain
into market, and they claim that the sys-
TEN o tpresent transit rates is a burden up
on them which should not be tolerated by
th~estate. The commissioners take position
against the transit rate system-as at pres
ent enforced-and declare that the shipper
must be given the option ofhaving his grain
carried to Minneapolis at n reasonable
freight charge, or OF awaiting himself OF the
privilege OF the transit rate through to Chica-
go or the East. The commissioners dc not
abofsht the tra~nsitrateatall. 1.-THE shipper
and the railroad company agree upon terms
the transit rate system can be carried out,as
isnow being done. The effect O 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 pay only for car
riage to Minneapolis. The railroads affect
ed are hus compelled to give u reasonable
local rate on grain, which is not done under
the present order OF things. The only
roads affected by the commissioners order
are the Milwaukee and st. Paul, Minneapo-
lis q st. Louis, Omaha and Duluth roads.
zen. Becker is of the opinion that the
farmers along the lines OF roads tributary
20 81: Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth WILDE
benefited by the decision OF the commits
sioners. For some time past the people
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 ship.
ments through to Chicago, after the
gram has been sold at Minneapolis
or st. Paul, will be by competition. This
Will, OF course, be beneficial to the shipper,
by giving him a lower freight rate to that
point. In his opinion the decision, if com
Piled with, will be of benefit to st. Paul,
minneapolis and Duluth. Grain which, here
tofore could O reach Duluth will do SO
now. The claim set ply 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
to reduce the price OF wheat. The railroads
may refuse to comply with the decision OF
the commissioners, but in that case the
law VIII be appealed to. II that is not
strong enough the legislature, at its next
session, will be called upon to exact a law
sufficient to meetthe emergency. The COM
in considering the matter, had
In mind the relief OF the farmers from the
burdens that had been imposed upon them
by the railroads. They had made an effort
to secure free trade in grain, which they
hoped would be successful.