St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-09
General Freight Agent Clark.
Of the Omaha, Goes Deeply
Into the Case.
He Gives Statistics of Ship =
ments and Explains thu
Five-Cent Rate.
President Clough Speaks for
Hills Road--Kick Of the
Millers.

Iile NOrtnWeSC was continued Oy the III
terstate commerce commissioner today.
James G. Clark, the general freight
agent of the Chicago. st. Paul. Mime
apolis d Omaha road, was the first wit
ness called. He said that during the
year lSSS his company transported from
Minneapolis to Washburn 1902 bar
rels of flour, and to Duluth 1908 bar
rels. In 1880 there were shipped to
Washburn 1877 barrels and to Duluth
1889 barrels. In 1899 the shipments to-,
Duluth and Washburn aggregated
$1,000 barrels. During the year 1891 the
shipments to Washburn were 2l7,1
barrels aud to Duluth 20. 239 barrels.
In his opinion reduction of the flour
rate between Minneapolis from *
cents to 5 cents would have the
effect of reducing the rate to Chicago,
and that rate could not stand any
reduction. At one time the Chicago
rate was ~ cents. and his company
had declined to meet it for consid-
cradle period because it was not renu-
lucrative.
That Five-Cent Rate.
In answer to questions Mr.. Clark said
that the five cent rate between Mime
apOlis and Duluth was made for the
purpose of removing the surplus stock
from Minneapolis, and the benefit of
this rate Injured to the mill and elevator
men at Minneapolis. He did not see
how the Minneapolis millers could be
injured by the five-centrate.
b. G. Church. general manager of the
Duluth Imperial Mill company, testified
that he manufactured about nine-tenths
of all flour made at the head of Lake
Superior. 1t paid usually about one
cent per bushel more than is paid at
Minneapolis, and it is frequently under
Sold by the Minneapolis millers. The
wheat shipped from that point to Du-
luth was never ground there, as it was
an inferior grade. 1t was doctored up
SO that it. could barely pass grade, but
it was all inferior quality of No. l
northern, and is what is called skin
grade Wheat.
l.. A. Robinson, auditor of the rail-
road, corrObOrated other witnesses that
Minneapolis flour was transported by
regular lines, while wheat was trans
ported OH tramp steamers.
Wanted the Earth.
A. E. Freeman, of West Superior,
Wis, although not witness iii the case,
said that Minneapolis had an output Of
$4,000 barrels of flour per day. He had
nothing to complain of in regard to
freight rates. He thought that if any
community needed a remedy it was Du-
luth and other cities. He said that out
side of Duluth and Minneapolis an
hours rice on Western roads would
show wrecked mills in abundance, the
,oi,, I,,,
about through the exceptional facilities
enjoyed by Minneapolis, which he
thought not only wanted the earth, but
the fullness thereof.
Great Northern Side.
William P. Clough. vice president of
the Great Northern Railway company,
testified that the Great Northern sys-
tenn had been influenced, generally
speaking. in making the same rate to
Minneapolis as to Duluth by desire to
give the wheat producers the benefit of
two competing markets. He thought
the Minneapolis millerS had been able
to take care of themselves. inasmuch as
even under present conditions they had
within the last two years very mate
rally Increased their capacity and out
put. In fairly good crop year he
thought the Minneapolis millers would
w uOiO ~ OOtdiu VI tuCII SuDDlX
from that section of the wheat country
from which they have an advantage in
freight rates. In poor years they might
be compelled to buy several million
bushels from points outside Of the diff
ferential territory.
Mr.. Clough stated further that the
Great Northern in making IT'S rates had
undertaken to give Minneapolis lust as
many miles of haul for the same money
as was given Duluth. This was the
case except in the territory governed by
the Northern Pacific influences. He
did not think that either city had any
material advantage over the other in
the matter of freight rates OH his lines.
The Millers, Kick.
The Interior Wisconsin Miilers' asso-
citation was represented ana maintained
that if a 81 or 5 per cent rate on flour
is made from Minneapolis to Duluth
and Lake Superior ports and no reduc-
ton is made on the present rates on
wheat from Minneapolis to Milwaukee,
Chicago and points in Eastern Mime
sofa, the result would wipe out the mill
ing interests at those points so far as
the Eastern and foreign business is con-
cerned.
The Eastern Minnesota Millers' asso-
citation. as intervenors, opposed any
reduction in rates on flour from Mime
apOlis to Duluth unless an equivalent
rate is given to mills in the Eastern
Minnesota district.
A. A. Magdeburg, Milwaukee mill
err, was called, and said that the millerS
of that city were compelled to pay from
to cents per 100 pounds more for
wheat than the ruling price in Mime
apoiis. 1t was his opinion that the
Milwaukee and Minneapolis millers are
on parity as to freight rates, and if
reduction is made Oh flour, as prayed
for in this petition, it would be dis
elimination against the Milwaukee
millers. Adjourned.