The morning call., 1892-02-16
RATES On ICE.
II. G. Sheath Protests Against
LitchfleId's New Schedule.
He Demonstrates COnclusively That the Re-
vised Tariff Is a Substantial Increase
on the Former Rate List.

The Railroad Commissioners are still
talking about ice rates, and Litchfield's late
schedule seems toSbe the subject of consid-
cradle contention.
At the meeting of the board yesterday r.
G. Sheath, President of the Consumers Ice
Company, entered a strong protest against
the new rate sheet, which. as already
shown. is not a reduction at all
Commissioner Litchfield tried to adjourn
the board before this protest was read, but
Sheath opposed that course and devoted
some time to a careful analyst Of the new
schedule.
His communication shows that the re-
Gently adopted tariff makes the cost of ship
ments from San Francisco to various points
as high as Ia cents per ton per mile; San
Francisco to Avon is g. 80 cents per mile; to
Alameda. 1875 cents per mile; to San Jose,
d cents per mile; to Sacramento, cents;
to Oroyille, $50 cents; to Fruto, 3N cents;
to Santa Margarlta, 3.15 cents. The average
rate to thirty or more points, according to
the new schedule, is Az cents per ton per
mile. an apparent gain Of Il of cent per
ton per mile over the average rate cited in
the original complaint. The protest contin-
ues as follows:
MR.. sNEATH's PROTEST.
The average rate OF all the above places Is
cents per Ton per mile. but as there are nine of
these points where either no Ice can be shipped
or there IS cOmprtitlOu-saY To Santa Rosa. where
lie DOnahue line causes he rate TO be ]. S6-they
should be eliminated, which Will leave the aver
age rate from San Francisco, up 10 distance OF
236 miles, just 434 cents per ton per mile. In
our complaint we nave stated the average rate
TO be cents per ton per mile, so that we have
gained il OF cent per ton per nile. The rate
from Ttuckee River points. 10 this city Is SO for
22O miles, which is 1876 cents per ton per mile,
aud The method OF quoting the rate (ROseviIle
Junction san Francisco and points between) is
SO Indefinite that IL may mean and take III most
OF the STATE.
The rates from this city being 4s4 cents aud
those from Iruckee 1856 Is such an unfair dis
elimination against this city that you Will hardly
care 10 maintain 1t. To make II palmer, this
city is charged three and a hall times as much
per mile 10 ship ice 10 the country as II costs 10
ship u from Truckee TO this city. YOn have
made no provision in your schedule for qpanu-
ties less than carloads, nor for shrinkdge. or
where the cargo shall be weighed, which lmpOr-
taut matters are provided for In shipments from
TrucEee. Now # you will simply adopt
a resolution that the railroad rates on ice, car
load lots. shall not exceed Il cents per ton per
mile. or less than 20 cents per ION for short dis
tauces you VIII settle the whole queS Ion for The
whole Statr. iu every direction, from every
place The present method Is blind, unmethodt-
cal arbitrary, discriminating and Obstructive
10 a great degree. The time OF business men
employed tn trying 10 find the rates on mer-
chaudise transported from place to place In ms
State is frequently OF more value than any profits
Oh lie transaction, and even The railroad does
not pTOht by it,
We believe that with rea sonable freight rates
on ice The consumption OF IL would be largely
Increased, and that all that could be saved on
the Iluckee River would mud ready sale without
coming 10 this market whatever and that sew
eral factories Ike ours of seventy tons daily
would be required 10 supply the vicinity OF this
city. The frutt interests Of The STATE
are suffering largely oy the high cost Of Ice for
retrig ration. and the high rates You have es-
labiShed VIII prevent TINS city from competing
foT The trace, and therefore throws the business
into tie hands OF a monopoly, ana thus tO5S an
industry That sadly needs protection. We there
fore hope That you VIII reconsider your late
schedule aud simply say that the rate OF ice shall
be ll2 cents per ton per mile and not less than
30 cents per ton 10 any place from any and every
place
TIE oLD.TIME BLUFF.
On motion Of Commissioner Beckman the
communication was laid on the table.
Another protest was read against the new
ice tariff. 1t came from j. &. Stubs. OF
course it IS the usual bluff on the part of
the Southern Pacific which made up the
schedule for Litcbteld. Now it pretends
to be innocent of any completely in the mat
ter by saying that the commission has no
right to Tx rates. Mr., Stubs letter is as
follows:
TO the Board Of RojiWay Commissioners.
ceipt Of your communication of February u.
1892, covering a schedule Of rates on ice, In ear
loads. 7 ON san Francisco TO various points in
the state OF California, adopted by The Board OF
Railroad Commissioners at iIs meeting held IN
this ely on the Sih day Of February, 1892. and
ordering that said tarIH shall be put IN effect
March 10, 1892. The Southern Pacific Company
IS advised by counsel and believes that your
board cannot legally fix the rates to be charged
for transportation over any OF the lines OF rail-
way operated by the company, and there fore
respectfully protests against your action IN that
respect. Very respectfully j. c. STUBBs,
Southern Pacific Company, Office OF the Third
Vice President, san Francisco, Feb. ID, 1892.