The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-08-31
BOARD OF TRADE.
The Transportation Committee Au-
thOrized to Proceed Against The
Railroads -MankatO Markets,

man of the committee on tranSpOrta-
tion, stated that he had been notified
that the ST. Paul & Duluth and Min
neapolis & ST. Louis roads had APP
pealed from the order of the railroad
commissioners in establishing the
hard coal rate from Duluth to this
city. He said that the committee held
a meeting Saturday and unanimously
decided on line of action, but that it
was desired first to submit it to the
Board of Trade. He then explained
the complaints which it is proposed to
bring, as published Saturday. He
said that while the ST. Paul g. Duluth
charges $3.50 on hard coal
to Minneapolis on other commodities
the rate is 81. 1t is pro-
posed to test the validity of the law
relating to long and short haul tariffs
in the case of soft coal and salt, in the
case of the joint tariff of these two
roads. He thought that these cases
should be brought at once, and that
they would require little time or eX-
pense. The decision would probably
be appealed and the railroad commits
sion would then pay the expense OF
defending its action in the courts. In
the case of the charges against the
Omaha road, prominent business men
of WorthingtOn, Heron Lake, Win
dom, WinnebagO City and Blue Earth
City had written expressing a desire
to assist in the prosecution OF the
complaints. Gen. Becker, OF the rail
road commission, had expressed the
opinion that the case against the
Omaha road is very clear, and he and
the attorney general would assist if
Gen. Pope would prepare the COM
plants and do all the preliminary
work. The hearing might be had in
Mankato. The cases are important to
Duluth, and that city ought to be
with us, as all rates now are based on
the sum of the two local tariffs. Ii
the board would approve of the action,
it would be well to bring the COM
plants in the name of the
Board of Trade. For his own SER
vices, Gen. Pope stated that he owed
that much to the people in getting to
Lake Superior, which God had extend
ed out toward us.
M. G.. Willard stated that the Board
of Trade ought to push the cases. 1t
had been said that the city was in
jured by fighting thee railroads, but as
a matter of fact the city cannot get
anything any other way, and it has
accomplished much since the railroad
commissions were established.
Gen. Pope showed what had been
accomplished in the past by fighting
the railroads, saying that Mankato
now has a special tariff such as no
other town outside of the river towns
has. We have tariff on wheat of ten
per cent over the Twin City rates,
which is lower than any station west
of us. The wheat price in Mankato is
based on the Minneapolis market, with
the freight rate and storage added.
The railroads are now in such condi-
tion through competition that the
general managers instruct their
freight agents to get what they can
and concede nothing. There is not
much given now days for favoritism,
and all reductions must be contested
for.
j. A. Willard stated that the city
would get nothing from the railroads
unless it compelled them to give it.
The roads don't make any secret of
that, and they want to get all they
can. 1t is indisputable that Mankato
has derived benefits in the past by
fighting the roads. The proposed con-
test ought to be made, and the only
question is whether the board has
enough money, but it does not cost
much.
M. G. Willard moved that the board
authorize the committee to prosecute
the cases, and this was carried with
out opposition.
j. A. Willard stated that money
cannot be expended in any better way.
1t helps a community to assert it's
rights. Duluth does not do it enough,
which is probably due to the fact that
it has not walked up to the fact that
it's jobbers can reach out to Southern
Minnesota.
M. q. Willard moved that Gen.
Pope be requested to correspond with
the Duluth Chamber of Commerce
about assisting in prosecuting the
complaints against the roads, and this
was carried.
j. A. Willard stated that he would
be present at the Chamber of Com
merce meeting and urge the matter
upon it. He then brought up the mat
ter of Mankato markets, and spoke of
the better wheat prices in this CITY.
On the same day he had marketed
wheat in this city and at Mapleton.
getting 81 cents here and only 4S at
Mapleton. He had had a similar ex-