Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-07-25
Musl REDUCE RATES.



Energetic Action of tho Missouri Railroad
Commissioners.
KANSAS CITY. Mo-, July 19-The State
Board of Railroad Commissioners yester-
day rendered a decision concerning the
proposition to reduce rates on grain, live
stock and coal on all railroad lines in the
State of Missouri, and issued a notice to
the managers of all roads in the State di-
recting them to reduce freight rates on
grain 10 per cent and rates on livestock
and coal % per cont, the reduction to 60
into effect without delay. The news will
be received by the railroads with any
thing but joyful expressions, but farmers,
livestock shippers and coal operators
will hail the reduction with great salts.
faction.
Last night a reporter called upon Coll
onel j. b Breathitt, one of the Commits
sioners, who is in the city and stopping 1T
the Midland. When asked in regard to
the reported sweeping reduction of rates,
Colonel Breathitt said: Eyes, we have
just concluded q ten days. session Of the
board at Jefferson, during which time we
have been in conference with the general
managers and traffic managers of the diff
ferent railroad lines in the State regard
ing the proposition to reduce rates and
the result of the hearing will be made
known to all the roads in the State to-mor-
row, copies Of the opinion and order of the
board having been mailed to-day TO the
general freight departments of all the
roads. The order takes effect at once,
and applies to every line of railroad doing
busip ess in the State"
"What are the reductions?"
1--WE made a careful examination of the
railroad earnings and expenses of the
roads for 1887, 1888 and the first half of
1889, as far as we were able to obtain re-
! ports for the latter year and ordered q re-
duction of % per cent in livestock rates,
! 10 per cent. in grain rates and % per cent
in coal rates-the latter reduction bringing
| all the lines down to that ordered in the
! Lexington coal case"
"What will the redu ctions amount to-"
1--WE estimate" replied Colonel Breath
/ lit, that the reductions will amount to be-
tween 500, 600 to $500. 600 per annum,
| which. however. will not affect the roads
| SO seriously might be supposed on first
thought. The annual report by the board
/ of the condition of the State railroads for
! 1888 has been delayed in the printing of
| fee, but will appear in few days. 1t
| shows that during the year 1888 there
| were 5S4 IS more miles of road in opera
ton than in 1887, while on the other
hand there was falling off in earnings
under those of 1887. The earnings of State
roads in 1887 were $33. 116 3l3. IS The ad.
| vance sheets of the report for 1888 show
the earnings to have been 500 es3, 977.22.
decrease S. s32 334.sS. These figures rep
resent the total earnings from all sources.
| The freight earnings for 1887 were $24, 01S,.
346 25; 1888 they were SIT, 436 96a 50, fall
ing off of Sc. 5s1 ,614 IS. On the other hand
| the expenses for 1883 We're SIG, 3TS 676 81
while in 1887 they were SIS. Al. 1856 81, q
differ ence of 81 $40. 1885, o."
How do you account for such a falling
| off of earnings?"
by reductions and cutting Of rates by
| the roads themselves. In 1887 the roads
| in the State received $1.92 per ton for all
freight hauled In 1858. they received
only SLIP per ton, an average reduction of
80 cents per ton, beside which the present
reduction appears trifiing by comparison
The business for the first half of 1889 is
| very much better than it was last year."
when will the new rates 60 into It.
fect?"
LAS soon as possible" said Commits.
sioner Breathitt. The secretary is send
ing the order out to all the roads and our
object is to have the new rates 60 into
effect in time to move the present crops
There will be no delay in the matter"
In regard to the new Grain Inspection
| law and the process which the State Grain
Board is making in putting it into effect
Colonel Breathitt. who is a member of the
board by virtue of his Office as Railroad
Commissioner, said:
1
tion law into force. The commission will
go to Chicago about August and will
| spend ten days in that city investigating
the workings of the law, after which
the new inspection law of Missouri
| is modelled As soon as we return.
which will be about August 10 we
will appoint the chief grain inspector
There are over a dozen applications filed
with the board for the position, all of
them backed up by good Endorsements.
| We shall appoint the very best Democrat
we can find who is qualified for the posi-
| ton, without being influenced by location
or favoritism. The pay is about s.. 500 per
year and the inspector will appoint his
! own force"
"How many assistants or deputies will
be required?"
About fifty. There are forty-five in
Chicago and we have estimated that it
will take about fifty for the whole State of
Missouri. We have received q great
many applications. which have been
placed on file and will be turned over to
the chief inspector when he is appointed.
The law requires that no member OF a
board of trade or proprietor of grain
warehouse or elevator can be q grain In.
spector. He must, However. be grain
expert and will have to undergo an ex-
animation into his ability in that line"
~