The herald., 1895-04-26
THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION
,Jobbers in Denver Will Have a Fighting
Chance
Complaints of Various Railroads Listened to
but No Action Taken-Rate
Proposition

DENVER, April 25. : The evidence
given before the interstate commerce
commission in this city has been so con-
vincing that railroad attorneys and Off
cials have conceded the justice of the de-
mand of Denver jobbers and manufactur
ers for reduction of rates. But they
contend that if lower through rates be
granted the rates to intermediate points
shall not be lowered resrondingly.
Colorado complainants do not object to
this exception, since all they demand is
to be put on an equal footing with Chi
eago and othor eastern points in reaching
markets west, north and south.
The commission began hearing evidence
today on the complaint of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company. The chief point
made by this concern is that the steel and
iron plants of Birmingham Ala. can
ship their products to the Pacific Coast
more cheaply than the same class OF
freight can be shipped from Pueblo, Colo.
Judge d. G. Beaman, in opening the
case for the iron company. said that
really the only point at issue was whether
the Almighty had not made mistake in
putting large deposits of iron and coal in
Colorado instead OF along the line OF the
Southern Pacific railroad. He read the
complaint setting forth in detail that the
publishes rates on steel rails and other
articles of iron and steel of $1.60 per 100
pounds from Pueblo to San Francisco,
while at the same time they publish
tariff on these same articles from Chicago,
Mississippi river and Missouri river
points OF respectively 60 SO and "a cents
Der 100 pounds, also that the rate from
certain Atlantic seaboard points and New
Orleans is as low, and sometimes lower,
than from Chicago. 1t is asserted, there
fore, that the rates published from Pueblo
to San Francisco are unreasonable and
absolutely prohibit any iron or steel bus
mess in that market. English steel rails
Francisco, the price of the rails, freight.
insurance and duty all included, less
than $l.6D per 100 pounds, which is the
published rate for transportation only
from Pueblo. This is claimed to be an
unjust discrimination against Pueblo,
and undue preference and advantage to
localities farther east, and therefore in
violation OF the third section OF the inter-
state commerce law.
1t is further alleged that in charging
higher rates from Pueblo than are
charged from seaboard points, Chicago,
Mississippi and Missouri river points, to
San Francisco. the fourth section of the
interstate commerce law is completely lg-
nored and thereby violated
The company further says that the gen.
eral business Of the company in supply
ing fuel to Colorado industries is to q
large extent affected by wholesale dis
elimination whereby such industries are
deprived OF chance to sell their goods
in the San Francisco market, and that
the rates and charges made by the rail-
way companies on all other goods and
wares than those above specified, carried
from Pueblo, Denver and common points
in Colorado to Sacramento, San Fran
cisco and common points in California,
are unreasonable and unjust.
Paul Nor on. second vice president of
tailed account of the manner in which its
products are kept out of the California
market.