Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-05-19
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS IN AUS
TIN.

TIN.
Monday afternoon, at two o'clock, q
conference was held in the court house
between the Railroad Commissioners of
Minnesota, Jas. H. Baker, George L.
Becker and s. s. Murdoch, and the Far
mers' Alliance, to hear any grievances
presented by the latter.
D. B. Smith was elected chairman, and
E. s. Warner of the Commission, served
rs Secretary of the meeting.
The first remarks were by J. J. Furlong,
who spoke to the point, and said many
good things. He complained of the high
rates of freight tariff. and talked as though
he believed in living and letting live.
ID. Allen of Leroy followed with
remarks on the way dividends are reck-
oned in railroad matters, upon large
amount of watered stock. Also that
while rates from Faribault to Chicago
were cheaper than from Austin to Chi
cago, yet rates were just as high from
Leroy to Chicago as from Austin to CHI
cago. Said that passenger rates should
be reduced from to 8 cents per mile,
and that the Commissioners might as
we'll do it. and get the credit, as it would
be so fixed by the next Legislature. Mr..
Allen then asked the Commissioners what
was the valuation of the c., NJ. & St. P.
r. r. per mile. They replied $3.50, 708, J"
stock and bonded Indebtedness.
They said the freight and passenger
tariffs were too high. They had prepared,
and would soon submit to the railroad
companies a schedule reducing rates. and
their decision would probably be reached
within a month.
Mr.. Allen said that the railroad COM
panies, at the approach of hard times. on
account of short crops, would put up their
rates, when they ought to bear the bur
dens equally with the farmers and mer-
chants.
Unjust discrimination was made in rates
as relating to Duluth and Chicago. THE
rate on grain from Austin to Duluth, $50
miles, is 20 cents per hundred, while the
rate to Chicago, 400 miles distant. is only
IS cents.
The Commissioners said they were in
favor Of having this lrregularity, amount
ing to practical prohibition of the use of
the lake port, removed, and new rate
of tariff prepared and published.
Thos. Varco asked if the railroad CON-
panies were not compelled by law to fence
their road, saying the road had not been
fenced In his vicinity, although it had
been finished 10 years. The Commission
ers said the companies were compelled by
law to fence their roads, and complaint
to them would doubtless secure the desired
result.
They also said that this state had ne
power to fix rates to another state. but
that was matter Of interstate legisla-
ton, and that Senator Collum of Illinois.
had carried bill through the United
States Senate, for the appoin :ment of a
national commission to adjust such mat
tiers with the cooperation of the State
Commissioners.
Minnesota has an advantage over Ne
braska, Kansas and Iowa in that she has
a lake port.
Commissioner Becker said railroads
should be appraised at their real worth.
and allowed to declare fair dividend on
the appraised value, not on watered stock
In answer to an inquiry, the Commits
sion said the grain rate per hundred
pounds from St. Paul and Minneapolis to
Duluth, $50 miles, was u cents, and from
Anstin to St. Paul and Minneapolis, 100
miles, Is cents, and this 10 cent rate is q
reduction from former rate of 10 cents
by influence of the Commissioners.
The Commissioners are arranging new
reduced freight tariff throughout the
state, which they believe will be accepted
by the companies. and put into operation
with the beginning Of the new fiscal yeal
Jnly l. They said that in Wisconsin, the
only state where the rates are fixed by the
legislature. they are higher than in Mime
sofa.
! Mention was made of the stock yards
located in the residence portion of Aus
tin. After the adjournment Of the con
ference, the Commissioners walked dowr
and looked 1t over, and promised to re-
port the matter to Mr.. Stickney.
| The Commissioners assured the citizens
that, for the most part, the companies
were ready to abate all grievances.
Thomas Furlong and Mr.. Herzog com
planned that the Minnesota & Nortlfwes
tern r. R. Co. had set their telegraph
poles over on their land. The Commits
sioners replied that in that case the Com
pany was trespasser and should be mott
fed to remove the same.
| The Commissioners were very affable
and ready to entertain all complaints il
q kindly and patient manner.
Are Married People Happy.
Do you think married people are hap
py, Uncle Jake7 Dat ar 'pends alto
gedder how dey enjoy demselves; if dey
hab chiluns and keep DR.. Biggers' Huck
leberrv Cordial, dey Ar certain to be, fo1
| hit will cure the howell tronhles and III