The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-05-27
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
ERS.
THEYMEET THE PEOPLE, HEA r THEIR
COMPLAINTS, AND PROM

THEYMEETTHE PEOPLE, HEA r THEIR
COMPLAINTS. AND PROM
ISE RELIEF:
As per several announcements in
the ADVANCE, the state railroad com.
missioners, Gen. J. H. Baker, Gen.
Geo. l.. Becker, T. s. Murdock, and
Secretary E. S. Warner, met the peo-
pie of this vicinity at the courthouse
on Thursday afternoon last.
The meeting was called to order by
Hon. q. II. Smith. Gen. Baker ex.
planned the objects of the meeting,
which were to hear suggestions as to
amending and improving the railroad
law and also to hear complaints as to
any grievances against the companies.
Parties were then asked to present
their views and complaints.
Merchant Peter Geyermann. of
Brewster, said that articles shipped to
and from Hersey fell short. There.
were no scales there and he found diff
Guilty in getting proper weights. He
said that the rate on car of hay from
Brewster to St. Paul, 169 miles, was
s25, and he thought it SIS too high. He
claimed also that there was discrimi-
nation in lumber, some parties having
received lumber at half rates. He
gave data and thought that local pas
senger rates, and in fact all rates,
were too high.
G. P. Shepard confirmed Mr.. G.
statements as to weights. There was
sometimes a difference of SIS on car
load of wood. Sometimes 1000 to
1900 pounds difference. Cars some
times were covered with snow and
sometimes cattle cars had six inches
of offal on the floor. Said that CON-
mon platform scales would vary 250
pounds owing to the weather.
The commissioners asked opinions
as to state weigher at convenient
points and said that the state weigh
ing at Duluth and Minneapolis had
given great satisfaction. The business
men would have to pay the cost of
weighing, but it ought not to be above
10 to 15cts. They said that precisely
the same complaints were laid before
them wherever they went. The rail-
roads had been gradually encroaching
until they had got away from RESPONSE
bility as common carriers, and they
must be brought back.
Grocer Anderson complained about
laying out of rebates for years 1884 and
1885, and of being unable to get satis-
faction for goods broken or damaged
in shipment.
The commissioners said the rebate
| system was against the policy of the
law, which was to make rates alike to
all persons. They requested all par
ties having grievances to make out
statements, give exact dates and facts,
and send their complaints to the COM
missioners, who would do all possible
to have the wrongs righted. They said
they had submitted schedule for uni
form rates to the Manitoba road and
hoped to have it accepted, and if so,
they thought it would he made to ap-
ply to all roads in the state.
DR.. Kenyon, president OF the board
Of health, mentioned the matter of the
cess pool created by running the rail
road track between the two lakes
The commissioners, after the meeting
took look at the pool and vicinity
The lakes being meandered, good
portion of the pool is found to be on
government land. Suggested that il
is matter for the municipal authori.
ties to attend to.
County Attorney Lange mentioned
the matter OF the depot platforms, etc
as being inadequate aud dangerous
Gen. Baker said that the subject had
been laid before the company long
since and thought that if it was not at
tended to in 80 days, an order for max
ing the improvements would be issued
! Several parties complained of block
ing 12th'st. crossing by freight trains
sometimes delaying parties as much a:
an hoar. Also mentioned the crossing
as very dangerous one, as parties
from the town side could not see tht
trains owing to the coal sheds.
Gen. Baker said they would make 8
note of it and lay it before the compa
ny. Parties should make note of ex
act time, number of train, etc., and
| oood IN oornp1 o;0%o o< <Io <;,roo IN .,,r;<
ing. Com. Murdock said the supreme
court had recently decided a cas-.
which covered all this question o.
crossings, and called County Attorney
Lange's special attention to it, anG
suggested that the village authoritie.
also see to it.
Parties suggested that passenge
rates were also excessive. The boart
said they had this matter in hand ant
were sanguine of securing uniform
rate of three cents a mile.
Night-watch Smith mentioned tn
matter Of lights at the depot. Th'
company declines to put lamp ther
and he thought one was badly needed
Mr.. Geyermann said there was n
light kept at Brewster, and for a Ion,
time there had been no one at depot
There was no place for parties to G.
who might arrive on night trains. IL
had known of cases where parties ha'
got off at Brewster in the night an
there was no place to go, no light an
no one to give any information.
The meeting then adjourned.
REVIEWS HER YOUTH.
Mrs. Phoebe Chesley, Peterson, Cha
: county, Iowa, tells the following II
markable story, the truth of which i
vouched for by the residents of tn
town: II am % years old, have bee