The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1885-10-08
TRANSIT RATES.
Tho Railroad Commissioners Against
Transit Rates-Their Report.

The Minnesota board of railroad COM
missioners have made public their report
in the matter of transit rates-a 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-
zens OF Carver, Mcleod, Renville, Chip
pewa, Swift and Big Stone counties
Mimi, against the Chicago, Milwaukee
Il 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-
tenn ofpre sent transit rates is a burden up
on them which should not be tolerated by
the state. 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 do not
abolish the transit rate at all. Ii the shipper
and the railroad company agree upon terms
the transit ra te system can be carried out rs
is now 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 pay only for car
riage to Minneapolis. The railroads affect
ed are thus compelled to give Il reasonable
local rate on grain, which is not done under
the Present order OF things. The only
roa Is affected by the commissioners order
are the Milwaukee and St Paul Minneapo-
lis Il 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
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 Il 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 not reach Duluth will do so
/ now. The claim set up by the railroads that
the transit system has done much to build
up the milling system appears to be indls-
! putabe; 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 rsduee 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. Ii 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 eom=
missioners, 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.