Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-09-20
THE RAILROAD OCTOPUS.


Resisting the Law in Iowa-Increasinc
Sc Traffic ON the Trunk Lines.
Th' Iowa Railroad Commissioners are
preparing for another ulSsle with the
railroads of the State in the Courts. This
is caused by firm determination on the
part OF the Commissioners to give the
people of the STATE Joint rates, and the
equally finn determination ON the part
of number of the leading railroads not
to submit to the Commission. In re-
Spouse to public demand the last Legis.
lature passed law establishing Joint
rates. The railroads resisted enforce
ment OF the law on the ground of UNI
Consttutlonalty aud Judge Fairall, of
Iowa City, issued a permanent miunc
ton restraining the Commissioners from
attempting to enforce it pending an an
peal to the Supreme Court. The Com
mlsoloners determined to attain the de-
sired end by another means, relying
upon the original railroad law of Iowa,
which gives the Commissioners the
power to make rates. They issued an
order August /, establishing rates for a
continuous haul over two or more roads,
This order was to 20 into effect August
10. Only about half of the Iowa roads
nave signitied their intention of comply-
ing with the Commissioners request,
ana Attorney General Stone has been
Instructed to commence mandamus pro-
cecdlngs to compel the adoption of the
JOINT rate rule against the following
roads: The Iowa Central Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific, Chicago and North
western, Chicago, Milwaukee and st.
Paul and the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy. The suits will be vigorously
pressed.
Vice President FELTON,, of the Erie,
says: The railroad business of the coun-
try, Judging from Erie business, is
beyond all previous proportion. The
demand for cars las not been so great
for long time. We haven't a place on
our line where we can fill the orders
My hope is that this large business will
soon bring about an advance in rates"
The land sales of the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company during August wero
the largest of any month during the
past two years. Over 1900 acres were
sold for $500 nearly double the aver.
age sold in August of last year. and
three times the valuation of the lands
sold that month. The sales were mainly
in Fresno County, Cal.
Vice President Reinhardt, of the At
Gibson, Topeka and Santa Fe Co., says:
1.-The business of the system is now
limited only by the rolling stock avail
able. Many new cars and engines have
been purchased and put into service,
and yet the supply is inadequate. The |
Companys coal traffic from its own
mines is immense, and promises this fall
and winter to be counted with the |
heaviest ever moved. One year ago the
Company had surplus Of 5000 coal cars
lying on sidings, for which there was no
use. Six hundred Of these cars were
converted into fruit cars and |
have helped to swell the through Cali
fornia fruit traffic, which is very heavy.
The other 2,400 coal cars are now not
nearly sufficient toprovide for the heavy
demands for coal carriage. The cotton
traffic is very heavy. 1t is the best
traffic to carry and returns the largest
profits because it gives the largest haul
Our many consultations, through which
this big system of railroads is now
worked as one property, have produced
the most satisfactory rtsuts.