The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-24
DID NOT RAISE THE RATE.
Railroad Commissioners Deny
a Southern Pacific
Petition.
MERCHANTS ON PETROLEUM.
How Rates on Grain and Flour
Over the Central Pacific
Were Rectified.

The Board of Railway Commissioners
met yesterday to hear testimony on the
petition of the railway company to
raise rates on petroleum and its products
when shipped in less than carload lots.
There was large delegation from the
Paint, Oil and Varnish Club and also a
few railway men in attendance, and they
discussed the question pro and con before
the commission.
The dealers had the best of the argu-
ment, as the commission decided in their
favor by denying the petition to raise rates
on petroleum.
Before the discussion began the follow
ing letter protesting against raise of
rates and arguing vigorously on behalf of
the people as well as of the merchants
was read:
SAN FRANCISCO, May %, 1895
To the Honorable Board Of Railroad Commits
s5oners, State Of California, CHy-GENTLEMEN:
Ihe railroad company, through its general
freight agent G; F. sm9rr, gives as a reason Why
first in place of third class, the following:
Ihat, In order TO produce ample revenue,
commodity best able to bear it (that is, where
the consumer or producer will feel it least),
ana nghter charge upon the articles OF greater
| importance to the producer and consumer,
carrier, Then petroleum and its products
should be rated first class, for the reason that
the consumer or producer VIII feel 1t the least
We feel certain that your honorable body will
readily perceive that the consumer will GER
tainly feel the effects of the contemplated raise
in local freights very materially, and it will
now be made more apparent on account of the
fact that the main producer has already raised
his prices on all petroleum products, or on the
major part: that is, coal oil, from 40 to SO per
cent, the prices of crude, which they control,
perhaps justifying it to certain extent.
The railroad company does not think the
main producer objects to this raise in rates,
and no doubt they will inform you that the
company referred to has offered no objection,
| for as they state in their communication later
on, giving as one of his reasons why the West
ern classification was made to read third class
in less than carload lots, for the fact that one
or more powerful corporations controlling the
industries of petroleum and it's products could
by using one Eastern competing line against
the other force it to its terms and did force the
railroad company. namely, the Q. c., C. & n.
w. and the c. b. & O. and in a like manner
compelling the Western lines to adopt it's ar
bitratrarily enforced classification third class
in less than carload lots
If this producer had sufficient power to force
all the Eastern roads to its own terms, is it at
all likely that it opposes the railroad company
in this issue. We venture to say that If this
charge was diStateful to them the railroad
company would not even attempt to have the
classification changed.
The railroad admits the fact that coal oil is
an article of general consumption, but it errS
when it states that it forms very small share
OF the living expenses of a family and that
even though the additional burden was i'm
posed 1t would not then be felt by the lndi-
vidual Or family in years expense account.
Perhaps not to the representatives of the road
In question. We do not suppose that they use
one gallon of coal oil in year living in the
City where gas and electricity are usually fur
nished to all frst-class well-equipped home
steads. But such is not the case with the
cannot obtain these city luxuries ON account
of there being no gas and electric light plants
in his immediate vicinity. Coal oil is one of
does he use it for light, but as fuel for cooking
purposes and for heating his family sitting
room on cold, rainy days in the winter months.
This extra charge will not fall upon those who
are able to bear it, but upon the middle and
poorer classes who already have all the bur-
dens they can carry.
Coal oil may not be as pleasant to carry as
heavy dry goods, groceries, etc., but it is far
preferable to many other products carried by
the railroad, and but few have any idea of the
extent of the traffic in petroleum and its prod
ucts. There are some few articles we all admit
| that could not safely be carried in car loaded
with coal oil or any of the volatile products of
| petroleum, such absorbents as sugar or crack
ers in the grocery line; but then again it would
| hardly damage hardware to any extent. Agri-
| cultural implements and hundreds of other
| things could be loaded in the same car without
| mourning any risk whatever. They only send
| out the more volatile products once or twice a
week on what they term ''coal oil days." and
| they generally have many cars well loaded for
| all the various towns en- route, the traffic be-
| ing very extensive, indeed, all of which they
admit in their communication of May Is.
| We hope that the figures we have heretofore
| given you showing to what extent this adj
vance in local freights would tend to increase
already overburdened in these exceedingly
| dull times, on commodity that only pays
| third class in less than carload lots on any OF
| the representative roads using the Western
classification. We know and trust that your
| honorable body understands the fact that it is
| the sentiment OF this entire community that
| local rates in the State of California, and in
fact all over the Pacific Coast, are not only too
| high, but far in excess of the rates charged on
any other OF the great railroads in the United
| States. OF this fact you have been made aware
| time and again, as the records of our daily
| press will prove. If you have the interests of
| the major part of the community at heart you
and by so doing confer favor not only upon
| the undersigned, but upon the great masses of
the people of the State of California Very
truly yours, The San Francisco Paint, Oil and
Varnish Club. BY COMMITTEE.
Commissioner La Rue brought ND the
question of wheat and flour rates in the in
terror of California. He took up the tariff
on each, showing that from Port Costa to
| Renols So 25 on wheat; from San Fran
cisco or Sacramento to Reno $14 40 on -four.
81 brought this to the attention of Mr..
! Stubbs and he said it would be corrected, u
said he. HE did correct it by raising the
rate on wheat to So 70. called his atten-
ton to the high price of -four, and he told
| me he would correct it, but instead of -four
having been reduced the rate on wheat
was raised. can't understand why the
people ever submit to such tariff on
| wheat"
| 1--WE had better ask the railroad people
to come before us tomorrow" said Com
missioner Stanton.
The tariff on wheat for December 90.
1894, and the amendments dated Nav Is.
1895, which latter figures represent the
corrections" promised by the Southern
Pacific, We're found to be as follows, from
| San Francisco:
! Dec, '94. May '95.
| Dutch Flat 40 on
| aoWtco. w 70