The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-02-13
GRAM SHIPMENTS.

CRAM SHIPMENTS.
Report ef RailrssA Commissioners In ns-
gard - the shipnsnt Of Grain in He
Spouse 20 . Res0lusisa Of Iuquiry.
The House on February Sd passed . reso
luton asking the Railroad Commission fol
certain information in regard to conference
held with Traffic Managers of railroads
respecting reduction OF rates on grain. A
majority responded a. follows.
THE REPORT.
To the Honorable Speaker Of the House o.
Representatives Of Kansas:
SIn:-In compliance with the resolution OF
the House OF Representatives, adopted or
the third instant, requesting Information
from the Board OF Railroad Commissioners
on January last, between the board and the
gentlemen conducting the freight traMc on
the roads operating in this State, and also the
reasons, II any exist, Why reduction upon
able, We submit the following: On Decem
Der . last the board issued an invitation to
the freight and traffc men to meet the board
on January to discuss the situation OF
affairs occasioned by the low price of wheat
and to see what, IL anything. could be done
TO improve matters. The meeting was held
on the day named, nearly an the raiiro 49,
question Of prices and rates on grain were
discussed and also the eject OF reduction In
the rates for transportation upon the prices
grain, when compared with rates in other
States wherein the conditions were similar,
were reasonably low; that the prevailing de-
were quite as disastrous to railroad business
as to other lines OF business affecting the
community; and that II even the rates were
reduced the reduction would not, In the pres
ov1fp a xl,<nvr ~Eof ha r.r.RQ
to the producer, but only to the consumer In
distant market. In several western States
a similar inquiry was instituted by the rail.
way commissioners with like results. If this
board had entertained views different from
those expressed by the freight men. there
was no board to enforce their views. The
board possesses no power under the law to
make any order CONCERNING the rates for
freight transportation which would operate
even as a prima facie rule of the reasonable
ness OF the rates they should fix, unless upon
city or the Trustees of Township. No com
plant from any source was preferred to the
board concerning the grain rates. The board
had but few months previously effected re-
Guiding wheat, and after very full and thor.
ough examination of the whole subject, and
a comparison of the freight schedules of a
large number Of railroads Of other States, q
roads, which the board, exercising its best
Judgment, believed to be reasonable. For
the purpose of enabling the House to form
an independent Judgment on the matter, we
the freight tariffs of several leading roads in
several Western States wiz. Iowa, Wisconsin
and minnesota upon wheat and other grains,
and those In force on the leading lines OF
this State. On the Eastern roads, or roads
east of Chicago, the local grain tariffs are
considerably higher than these. We inst-
and those in force in the above named States
for the reason that the condition of business,
the ratio of population to railroad mileage
and the conditions that enter into test of
those States to those that exist in Kansas
than obtained between Kansas and other
States. 1t will be seen the rates on wheat,
corn and other grains are lover In Kansas
The comparison is extended to 800 reaching
to the western extremity of the wheat region
In Kansas. Comparing the totals of the fou
tariffs given in the table, It will be seen the
rates on wheat in Kansas are 173O per cent.
lower than in Wisconsin, $50 per cent lower
than in Minnesota and 17.40 per cent lower
than in Iowa on corn and other grains ex-
cept wheat. The total of the tariff for three
hundred miles west from the Missouri River
is IS Il per cent. lower than Wisconsin for the
same distance, 29:4 per cent. lower than in
MINI Minnesota nan ans go Per cent lower than in
summary of the financial statements and
the result of last years operation of Kansas
roads by companies operating in this State,
the Kansas Division. The railroads OF Kan
sas are connected with a system of roads
embracing L, 063 miles. The total amount of
surplus earnings over expenses, taxes, rent
ais and interest, for the year ending June 30,
1884, upon the 12,0s3 miles, was f7,45e, $50 81;
these earnings apply to af<2 miles, 2s66 of
which are operated in Kansas. The total
amount of deficiency for the year applying
to 2, 81 miles of roads, ,257 miles of which
are operated in Kansas, WIS q, so, 800 Is,
leaving balance applicable to sinking funds
unless the price of wheat should re-
cover from the present depression it will
be necessary to still further reduce the
rates of transportation on that Product. It is,
portant product Of the State. From it the
railroads derive large volume of traffic,
and 1t is neither to the interest of the rail-
road companies nor of the people to permit
languish. It is better to sustain the produc-
ton and maintain the volume of traffic 1t Gre
ates, If by a further reduction that can be
done. than to discourage its production and
curtail the traffic. We think much could be
done in the way of creating a greater home
demand and a better price for grain in the
State by the multiplication of mills for the
manufacture of -four. The growth of the
milling business would be greatly stimulated
If greater freedom in the laws were per-
mill supplies, care being taken to prevent in
justice or discrimination among parties sim
ilarly situated. Uniform and infexible rates
VIII serve to leave the State in the future as
in the past, a dependent State, its wholesale
traffic carried on beyond its own limits, en-
riching strangers at the expense of our own
prosperity. Respectfully submitted by the
Board of Railroad Commissioners
E. j. TURNER, Secretary.
Topeka, Kan, February 8, 1885.