Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-01-03
REPORT ON SALT RATE.
Decision Of the Railroad Commissioners on the
Kingman Contest

| As will be remembered the board of rail.
road commissioners some time ago passed
| through the city en- route to Kingman to
investigate charges preferred against the
| Wichita & Western and the Missouri Pa
cific on the salt rate. That the investiga-
tion was made and that no little interest
has been manifested in the result. which
has been watched for closely. Superin-
tendent Rhodes, of the Wichita & West
ern, yesterday received copy of the re-
port on the investigation as made by the
board, and complete is as follows:
Before the board of railroad commits
sioners of the state of Kansas.
Board of trade and business men of King
man, Kan,
Wichita & Western railroad.
This complaint is brought by the citi.
zens Of Kingman against the Missouri Pa
cific and Wichita & Western Railroad
comdanies for alleged discrimination in
rates on salt to the Missouri river and in
sufficient train service on their respective
lines of road operated through the city OF
Kingman.
The question of rates has been decided
by this board, as has also that of alleged
insufficient train service on the Denver,
Memphis & Atlantic division of the Mis-
surf Pacific railway. 1t only remains,
therefore, for US to consider the question
of alleged insufficient train service on the
Wichita q Western railroad.
The complaint sets forth that this COM
pany confines its service at the present
time to a tri-weekly freight and daily
mail, and that freight cars are attched to
the mail train to the inconvenience, delay
and peril of the travelling public.
Those allegations are admitted by the
respondent company in SO far as the num-
Der and character of the trains is con-
cerned, but are denied in regard to the de-
lay and peril involved.
The Wichita & Western railroad extends
from Wichita to Mullenville, distance of
100 $40 miles. For forty miles of this dis
lance it is paralleled by the main line of
the Rock Island railway. and at all impor-
can't towns is in competition with their or
other lines of railroad For much Of the
time since its construction the country 1t
was built to serve has yielded little or no
surplus, and the freight offerings have al
however, there is some improvement in
this regard.
In the determination of the question of
how best to maintain an economical opera
ton of the road, and at the same time full
fill their charter obligations, the company
decided to establish a freight train
on alternate days. one crew and
train making three round trips per week
and in addition to this carry such freight
as it was important to deliver without the
delay of day on its passenger train which
runs each way daily
We visited Kingman and took occasion
to investigate the practical workings of
this system of trains. While it must be
admitted that the plan is not free from OBJ
jections aud that distinct passenger and
freight trains each way daily would give
better satisfaction to the public. yet we do
not share the belief that the peril of travel
is enhanced to any Derceptible degree by
the present arrangement and we believe
that tedious delays are uncommon and al
most unknown.
The passenger train runs at good speed,
the track is in admirable condition and the
employees and operating force are careful
and competent.
In view of all the facts therefore, we are
of the opinion that the present train SER
vice on the respondents road is as good as
can reasonably be required and must de-
cline to lnterpose at the present time.
By THE BOARD.
Attest: CHAs. S. ELLIOTT, Secy.
Topeka, Dec. 81, 1890.
AS may be imagined the railroad is
pleased but those asking lower rates for
salt may be dispIeased. One of the rail-
road gentlemen yesterday said: 81 Ger
tainly think the decision is fair to all
The railroads in that country have not
been paying owing to failure of crops. This
year it is better for US as it is for the peo-
pie in the southwest. / am free to say
that when the railroads get up again that
the arrangements will most gladly give a
better rate on salt, enabling the business
to be extended as far as possible OF
course l don't mean TO say the railroads
will do this from any sympathy but it will
then be business purely"