St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-10
Traffic Managers Assemble to Discuss
Their Fairness with the Grain
Commission.
Arguments Used by Both Sides to Sustain
the Actions They Have Taken in
the Matter.
President Gowen of the Reading Road
Inviting Proxies for His
Reelection.
Generalization of Passenger Rates
From st. Paul to the Sea-
bOard--N Notes.
commissioners and Traffic Men.

From two to five representatives of each
OF the Chicago railway lines assembled at
the Ryan last evening to confer with the
grain commissioners and find out what
their objections were to the revised tariffs
on grain, which went into effect on Nov. l.
The railroads. at meeting the middle of
last month, lessened the rates considerably
from local and competitive points to st.
Paul and Minneapolis, conforming with an
order OF the grain commissioners. The re-
yiSed tariffs were issued and showed a re-
ductIOn Of from to cents per 100 pounds
from the previous tariffs. But this reduc-
ton does not appear to satisfy the grain
commissioners, who proclaim that they are
altogether unsatisfactory, and state
that they are much higher than
those of the Manitoba Railway company.
1t is now the general opinion that the COM
mlSSlonerS have been using the grain tariff
OF the Manitoba road as basing sheet.
Should this be the case and the Chicago
lines be able to prove that the commits
slonerS take line not competitor as a
criterion, the latter will have a job on hand
to enforce their order, if they really can.
The matter is generally discussed in rail
road circles and the verdict is that the rates
are as low as the railways can possibly make
them without cutting off the profits. Rail-
way men state that the commissioners do
not view the matter in the right light, or
take an unprecedented view of the situation.
The Chicago lines, which are all operating
in the southern part of the
state, cannot carry as cheap as the Mani
toba road can. The Chicago lines are all
competitors to each other. The commits
sioners state that the rates from such points
as WinOna, Mankato, Shakopee, Zumbrota,
Merriam Junction, Kasota junction and
st. Peter
ARE TOO HIGH
higher than the rates for like distance
on the Manitoba road. While the Chicago
lines admit the rates are higher, they state
that the commissioners do not take into con-
sideration that there are five roads after the
business. And more than this, in the north
ern part of Minnesota an immense amount
OF wheat is grown. In fact, this is the only
grain that is grown for shipment to distant
markets. OF this the Manitoba has the
exclusive haul. Its grades are light. as are
its operating expenses. Twenty cars
OF wheat can be carried much
cheaper than one can. For every
car of wheat the Chicago lines take from
points in Southern Minnesota the Manitoba
discounts them about twenty times or more.
Grades are heavy on the Chicago lines,
therefore the operating expenses are heavy.
They get very little wheat to haul from
southern points, and cannot give wholesale
rates on retail lots. This comparative state
of affairs has existed since competition in
Southern Minnesota has become so fierce.
AS means of protecting their own inter-
eSts the Chicago lines formed an association
whereby they made certain rates, which
were considered fair and just, and which
were equally advantageous to the shipper
and the railroad companies. By forming
the association rates were not cut all to
pieces and rate wars were not being partici-
pated in all the time. 1t is the opinion of
railway men that the commissioners
have been acting against the Chicago
lines simply because they are
members of an organization called
and therefore believe they monopo-
rates, and they imagine they are sustained
in their opinions by comparing the tarins
of these lines and that of the Milwaukee
road, which is member to no traffic associ-
alton. Where the Chicago lines have
heavy business, their rates are much
cheaper than those of the Manitoba COM
pany. For instance, the rate from Fargo
to st. Paul by the Manitoba is % cents per
100 pounds for a haul of $50 miles. From
st. Paul to Chicago, distance OF 400
miles, the Chicago lines haul wheat for
1719 cents per 100 pounds. and have been
doing it all summer for Is cents.
All these points have been discussed
time and again in the various railroad
offices of the city, and
CONCLUSIONS DRAWN
therefrom by the railway officials. One of
the highest officials of the Milwaukee 81 st.
Paul road said last night:
We have been told by the commissioners
that shippers are making complaints to them
about the rates we are charging on grain,
but as yet we have not received one COM
plant. We have taken nucn pains to secure
the best wishes of the shippers along our
line and develop trade. I do not say that the
commissioners have not received complaints
from shippers along orr line, but it is rather
odd that the commissioners receive so many
and we have failed to receive one.
These views were re-eXpressed in the
hotel lobby last evening. This morning at
$50 o'clock they will meet the commits
sioners at the capitol. They did not meet
last night as they intended, on account of
the absence of Mr.. Becker.