St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-24

From the Report of the Great |
Northern to the Railway and |
Warehouse Commission.
A hearing in the application for a re-
ductiOn Of grain rates from Polk county
was held by the railroad and warehouse
commission at ? o'clock yesterday after
noon. There are great many people
in the city who are interested in the
case, principally farmers. and great
deal of attention is given the case by
the railroads. The Omaha, Milwaukee,
Northern Pacific, as we'll as the Great
Northern, are all represented by their
counsel, and they want TO enter into
the case as intervenorS, and help TO
fight it. 1t looks as though this would
be made test case, and that the differ
ent companies would do everything to
defeat the reduction asked, with view
to knocking out the many other petit
lions of a similar character that are
awaiting hearing.
On the other side are the two oppos-
sing factions, the farmers and the ship
pers. Elias STEVENSON. the complain
ant, at the head Of one. and advising
his followers to be moderate in their
demands; but they require of the COM
mission, and at once, reduction in
rates of 80 per cent. Halvor Stevenson
appeared for the petitioners, and attOr-
ney Grover for the Great Northern.
Judge Wilson represented the Omaha.
Hugh Thompson, of Crookston. who
was called as the first witness, gave the
n
other data TO show that the price of
grain had steadily declined. while rates
of transportation remained the same.
The second witness called was Elias
STEVENSON, who said that, while land
values, labor and commodities had de-
creased in value, rates had remained tie
same, and, in fact, that they had al
ways been too high. He referred to the
report of the Great Northern Railway
company to the commission. which
shows that the cost or carrying freight
per ton per mile is estimated at .005l4,
or five and fCurteen-One hundredth
mills. There are twenty cars i'll a
freight trair, the lowest capacity per
car is 500 bushels. and the highest 1000,
average therefore is 900 bushels per
car. For carrying a train load of
freight a distance of 800 miles, there
fore. the cost is 500.
Against this cost the charges made by
railway companies seem rather eXorbi-
tant, The rate per 100 pounds is II
cents, or S6l.2O per car. and per 20 cars,
S1,224, the profit being 1868. If the
charges were reduced one-third,
leaving total charges at SS16,
the profit would still be S36l
He concluded by stating that the cost of
conducting transportation in 1892 was
81, les, $3.50, and in 1898 wages were
reduced from 10 to 20 per cent, or an
average OF - per cent, making a total
reduction of S2,712.50. He further
stated that the maintenance of construc-
ton and equipment is S1,667, 231. of
which great part IS in common labor,
which has been reduced 20 per cent;
the balance in material, which has also
been reduced to safely allow reduc-
ton OF 10 per cent. or a total of S166. 1913,
total saving to the company of 1857,
973 in 1888.
The total freight earnings for Mime
sofa for last year were s., 942, $50, and
grain traffic on entire line is 52.S5 pei
cent.
Assuming that the ratios are the same
i'll Minneapolis on other lines, and eSti-
mating 80 per cent as the wheat traffic
total receipts for wheat viii lbe 81, $40
922. If this amount be reduced one
third, the total will be reduced 20 1892,
476, only $254. 503 more than the whole
company saves by recent cut in salaries
and wages.
Senator Probstfeld next stated his
view Of the case, his ideas being sub.
stantially those contained in the COM
plant. He also spoke OF the cost Of
operating the road being much less thar
formerly, men who used to receive Sit;
and g per day now only getting $1.5(
and 81 %.
Mr.. Steenerson urged that the hearing
be closed today, as it would be neces-
Sary for him 70 return home.
The hearing adjourned until O'CLOCK
this morning, when the remainder O.
the testimony of the complainant will
be taken.