The morning call., 1891-03-17
ALONG THE RAIL.
Complaints Received by the Com.
missiOners.
Annual Report of the North Pacific Coast
Congressman off on Jaunt-East-
Bound Freight.

The weekly meeting OF the State Board Of
Railroad Commissioners was held yesterday,
Rea presiding.
The Secretary read complaint from 5.
| A. Widney of Los Angeles, charging that an
excessive rate on package of wheat SEED
| shipped from Mechanicstown, Pa, to Los
| Angeles had been made. The complaint
will be referred TO the Interstate Commerce
| Commission.
Joshua Chadbourne of the Chadbourne
Warehouse Company at Plehsanton also had
a communication for the board. He wrote
that lie had been in the business of shipping
hay from Pleasanton to San Francisco for
more than fifteen years and that the rate
has been S13 90 per carload OF ten tons,
there being 2S-foot car. He could not load
into the cars at all times the maximum
amount. so that the rate per ton amounted
to 81 30, and whenever the weight was
more than ten tons the company paid at the
| rate OF ST 81 per ton.
A SCRAMBLE COMMENCED.
This state of affairs continued up to about
one year ago. when the 34-foot cars became
quite numerous on the road. A scramble
commenced between shippers to secure the
34-foot cars, many tricks were resorted to
for them aud the consequence was that the
railroad company raised the rate 20 per cent
on 34-fOot cars TO compel shippers TO use the
2S-fOot cars, so the rate on either was about
the same, or 81 So per ton ON ten tons or a
carload.
But to cause the advance it dscriminateS
against the hay in large cars by iucre asiug
the minimum to $4,000 pounds, which gives
the 20 per cent raise on 3i-f0ot cars used.
Mr.. Chadbourne further explained that two
styles of bales are used, the compressed and
the large rope-b bound bale. The rope-bound
bale permits only about 1900 to $4,000
pounds 10 be packed in q 2S-foOt car and no t
TO exceed 10000 pounds in a 34-foot car, and
the complainant says that he has to pay on
$4,000 pounds, or an increase Of 81 Y per
car.
The business continued in this matter mp
to about three months ago, when the rate
the Board of Railroad Commissioners the
rate has been restored, with the exception
OF the 20 per cent raise. Mr.. Chadbcurne
set up also that while the board ordered the
restoration Of rates the company was not
ordered to refund the charges collected from
shippers during the term of arbitrary
charges. He also expressed fear that the
company would not refund unless so re-
| Quested by the Commissioners. lie hoped
| that the Commissioners will succeed in
cars. Discrimination on grain freights be
| tween Pleasanton and Livermore is also al
| legged.
THE AGENTS ANSWER.
General Freight Agent 0murr of the
| Southern Pacific replied that lately cars
| have been built OF 81 feet internal measure
| ment to give shippers better facilities. Be
| fore the 4-foot cars were built Il car owned
| by some foreign road would occasionally
fall into the hands OF hay-shipper. These
| were isolated cases, and the road did not
| enforce the higher charge for 3i-foot car,
| net having such cars in regular equipment.
| When S4-fuot cars were supplied rates were
| published, with the view of placing ship
| pers of hay in 34-foot cars on au equal foot
| ing with those shipping in 2S-foot cars. 1t
| was provided that hay and straw, baled car
| load lots, Will take 20 per cent less than
| fifth-class rate per ton OF 1000 on actual rate
the car contains, minimum weight 10000
pounds for car not exceeding % feet in
! length, inside measurement. For cars ex-
| ceeding IS feet in length, the minimum
| weight will be increased SO per cent for
| each additional foot or fraction thereof. For
| example, for 2S-IoOt car the minimum
| weight will be 0,000 pounds; for a 30-ioOt
car, 2l,350 pounds; for a 34-foot Car, $4,000
| pounds.
April Goth was set as date for hearing
the complaint of the GenwoOd Lumber
| Com pany against the Southern Pacific.
THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.
The first report OF the year was filed with
the Commissioners yesterday. 1t was that
of the North Pacific Coast road, which was
incorporated MAY 90, 1861, and organized
December 10, 1871, There are ten stock
holders and the officers OF the company are
| John w. Coleman, President; W. Steele, Sec
| rotary; f. g. Latham, Treasurer, aud W. 4.
Russell rattle manager. The road Is ninety
four miles in length, and has been con-
structed and equipped at total cost of
= 4fr,rr1 fAr
were S393, 822 and the operating expenses
S3l6, IA. showing deficit for the year Of
S755,06 according to the report; SlS3, III
was paid to employees, which number $50.
Only eight persons have been injured on the
| road during the year.
OFF SEEING SIGHTS.
The Congressional Committee which ac-
companied the remains of the late Senator
Hearst across the continent will leave here
to-day in n special train for AlenlO Park.
After visiting Monterey, Santa Cruz, San
jose, Bakersfield, Santa Monica, and max
ing stop-Over of twenty-four hours in Los
Angeles, the party will leave on Saturday
tor Washington, via Yuma, FL Pa5o and
New Orleans.
o. f. Wood, CommisSary OF the Burling-
ton route, is here, accompanied by George
Alexander, Division Superintendent Of the
road at Aurora Ill.
w. d. Hitchcock assumed charge of the
Union Pacific Office in this city yesterday
No changes will be made in the office force
at present.
George Abbott. Exeursio Agent of the
Texas Pacific, arrived here yesterday with
a large party of tourists.
EAsT-BOUND THROUGH FREIGHT.
East-boun through freight forwarded by
the Southern Pacific Company during the
month of February was as follows San
Francisco 28,6l2, $50, Oakland CAT $40. Sacra-
mento 1,42S,5 500. San Jose 490,63O Stockton
1,122,6l0. MarySville 1880 Los Angeles
1891, 100, Cotton 7S5, no. Portland 170,500;
total, 81. 426, 800 pounds.
G. f. Crocker will arrive here from New
York in his new private car about April 1st.
lie will be accompanied by c. p. Hunting
ton and D. o. Mills.
Superintendent j. A. Fillmore of the
Southern Pacific returned last evening after
one weeks absence in Ogden and Sacra-
mento.
A Raymond & Whitcomb excursion of ten
cars left for the East Yesterday.