St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-10
THE MANITOBA RATES.
a Lengthy Document From the Railway
Commissioners on the New Mani
toba Freight Rates.
The Basis of the New System and Its
Result on the Unsatisfac-
tory Tariff.
Samples of The Changes Made
What a Commissioner Says
of Them.
Rates Reduced.

The railroad commissioners are just pub
fishing statement of the reduced freight
rates which have been accepted by the
Manitoba road, with the reasons for making
the same. The commissioners will also,
at an early day. order reductions on all the
other roads of the state, based partially on
the amount of business done and the net
earnings by each road. The board also as
signs reasons for limiting the reductions in
passenger rates on the Manitoba to round
trip tickets. Complaints had been made
to the board of citizens of Grant,
Stevens Clay and Otter Tail counties
that freight rates on grain, live stock, lum-
ber, farm and forest products were Excess
siye and ought in justice to be reduced. In
consequence the board held numerous con-
situations with the officers of the Manitoba,
resulting in reduced rates. The board gives
q complete statement of the business OF the
road for 1888, 1884 and 1885, showing a
very prosperous condition and large accu-
mutation of surplus earnings. Compare
tive statements given by the board shows
for the Manitoba greater percentage of
net income to cost of road and equipment
than any other road in the state, except
the Burlington, and less expense in pro-
portion to earnings than any of the other
roads in the state, and the question for the
board to solve was whether the difference
arose from higher rates or more economical
management. Tabulated statements COM
pairing the Manitoba with
ELEVEN OTHER ROADS
show that the revenue per train mile on the
Manitoba exceeds all the other roads; that
the net earning per train mile are also
largest; that its average rate per ton per
mile was larger than any other road except
the Northern Pacific, and that the rate was
higher than the others. Comparative state
mentS OF the earnings, expenses and net
earnings show that five roads illinois Cen
tral, Ohio d Mississippi, Chicago, Burling-
ton q Quincy, Chicago Sc Northwestern
and Michigan CentraD exceed the Manitoba
III gross earnings per mile, that the expenses
0f all these roads exceed the expenses of
the Manitoba, that the net earnings of the
except the Burlington, that it re-
ceiyes larger net earnings in
proportion to gross earnings, etc.,
all OF which shows plainly that higher
price is charged by the Manitoba in pro-
portion to the cost of such service than the
other roads, The board gives tables show
ing the rates complained of. and compares
them with rates on other Western roads,
and draws the conclusion that the rates
charged by the Manitoba upon grain live
stock and lumber are excessive and I'M
reasonable, that the complaints made were
well founded, and that the company could
afford to reduce the rates and should do so
in justice to the people living
along its lines. These facts were
communicated to the Manitoba officers,
and a thorough inquiry made
into the business of the last year which
showed falling off OH earnings and an in
crease in expenses. A new schedule of
rates was then submitted to the Manitoba
which has been adopted. The new rates
are based upon regular distance tariff,
applying to all stations alike. whereas the
Old rates were unequal. No reduction was
made in merchandise rates as merchandise
forms less than one-tenth of the townnage
OF the road. The recent decrease in bust
ness for the Manitoba road in consequence
OF the loss of Winnipeg business, which
has gone to the Canadian Pacific. is as
signed as the reason for modifying the
boards recent order on passenger rates.
A SAMPLE REDUCTION.
The board publishes tables of both the
old and the new rates, from which a good
lGea of the amount of reduction can be
made. 1t appears that the reduction on
wheat coarse grains, flour, feed, etc., per
carload lots is from 2 to cents per GENITAL,
OF from Sd to Sc per car. On cattle, sheep
and hogs the reduction per carload is shown
by the following table, the reduction on
horses and mules being not quite so much: