The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-17
HEARING UNDER WAY.
Kansas Grain and Flour Rates the
First Subject.
DltFERENTlAL DEEMED ESSENTIAL
Texans Willing Tor Lower Rates If
1t Is Preserved.
COMPLAfNANTS ON THE STAND
represent Tint the Present Rates
HIVE Aided In Running Nnux
Farmers in Their state.
,OMPLAINANTS on THE STAND,

Austin, Texas, April 10. - The in
terstate commerce commission convened
In tho Federal district court room a,
III O'Clock this morning and toxic up the
complaint of the Kansas railway commits.
sion that less is charged for the same SER
vice In hauling grain by railroad east than
Is charged for shorter distances In the di.
rection of the Gulf ports.
Judge Martin Of Kansas appeared as the
representative for the Kansas commission,
and Nj. Christie for st, Louis and Kansas
City. Attorney General Crane announced
that the Texas commission had not Joined
issue with the compliments in this mat
ter but desired to resist the application of
Intervening Kansas millers for the same
| freight rate on flour as on wheat TO Texas
common points.
j. h. Denison, commissioner of the Gal
weston freight bureau, was sworn and tos-
titled that the average rate on corn from
| Central Kansas to Galveston is 1852 cents
per 100 pounds; to st. Louis 1856 cents !,
| to Chicago 23S7 cents and to Chicago for
| export 21.15 cents. He had prepared an
| exhibit showing grain rates from a number
OF Central Kansas points to the points
named, which was submitted in evidence
Thought that for distances of coo miles a
rate of mills per ton per mile on export
corn would be fair rate This would
make rate OF "a cents per 100 pounds from
| Central Kansas to Galveston; Il cents to
| Chicago; 10 cents TO st. Louis and 80 cents
| to New Orleans. No breaks in the haul to
Galveston and no extra terminal expenses.
| The haul east is broken at Kansas City,
and the Kansas line originating shipment
earns but its proportion, based on the local
rate 10 Kansas City. where 1t Is put In ele-
yator and pays arbitrary switching
| charges. and if hauled east of Kansas City
! by originating line is only done so at ad-
| ditional expense of soliciting. etc Condi
| lions have changed at Galveston, inasmuch
as it is now practical export point
| The Kansas producer of grain is entitled
to an advantage by virtue of his nearness
to Galveston. Kansas occupies about the
same relative position to the Gulf as In
diana does to the Atlantic seaboard The
average rate on food products from In
diana to the seaboard is about 1872 cents.
| The rate from Kansas to Baltimore on
corn Is BIZ cents; to Galveston 26 cents,
The distance to Baltimore is about twice
that to Galveston. The Kansas man is on
To dalvestcn fhgg rbIGfssss eap bis anent
rate from Kansas Is 3S cents; to Chicago
| 2s, and to st. Louis 20. The average rate
to Baltimore on corn is only small per
cent higher than TO Galveston, although me
distance is nearly twice as great. lie SUD
mltted comparative statements of rates
| from different tariffs to Galveston from
1891 to thu present time. Tho pres. Mt
| rates are some higher. comparatively
speaking, than they were when no special
| effort was being made to export gram
through Galveston from Kansas. since
1 =
OF corn and 100000 bushels of wheat have
been exported through Galveston. Tho
| cost of fuel Is greater to railroads in Texas
| than over the Northern lines to tho sea
board, but climatic conditions are favora-
BILE TO the Texas lines.
Figures given were based entirely on tht
movement of export grain Rates on do
nestle grain are higher, hence the earn
ings of the railroads show UP better THAI
his figures would indicate. The export busl
ness does not require new equipment,
is entirely new business, hence 'pick up
TO tho Texas roads. The rate from the In
dian Territory to Galveston on grain i
about the same per ton per mile as IN
rate from Kansas point about twice tn
distance. So far as Texas roads are con
cerned, they can afford to haul grain prett.
cheap and tho trouble evidently lies viii
their Northern connections.
Referring to the Illinois Central grail
tariff from Illinois to New Orleans n
showed maximum rate OF 10 cents reache
at 500 miles
Mr. Christie, representing St Louis an
Kansas City. asked leave to postpone cross
examination of the witness until he conl
examine the data submitted by him
Granted,
Cross-examned by Paul Morton. thir
vice presidents of the Santa Fe, Mr.. Deniso
thought the proportion of empties hauie
met hal
compared with Chicago and ST. Louis
Knew of empties having been hauled froI
Chicago to Kansas City during the graz
season, however. Western people raise NOR
grain than they consume merchandise IN
soiar as bulk is concerned. Since tn
grain movement toward Galveston ha
been inauguTated, the hauling OF emptie
either way had appreciably decreased.
good part of tho corn hauled EAST
stopned at the Missouri river. Did NJ
know of his own knowledge of any grail
: from west of the Missouri river exporte
: via the Atlantic seaboard since the presei
adjustment of rates. but dld not pell''
: that all grain from the section named ma
: gerr out through Galveston. Under u
Y PRESENT adjustment 1t could go out VI
Newport News and Baltimore. The RAJ
Y via Galveston includes elevator ana sto'
Z age charges. Did not know that rates v
n St Louis and Chicago lhclnueu su,
charges. The present rates woul" no'
satisfactory to Galveston even II u
charges referred to were absorbed az Ch
s. cago and st. Louis.
l. on redirect eyamination-The l-ceh'
bushel charge at Galveston includes trac'
age. elevation and storage for hiteeh uas
Going East, grain pays bridge chers
o. borne by Western lines At Chicago mos,
the roads have elevators on the track,
n much grain is transferred over belt ms
y. The average amount OF transfer a.
switching charges at Chicago Is ABOUT
1 per ear Generally speaking. chicago =
port grain business is larger IMAM
local. Except in one instance the nat ia
] to Chicago applies to both local ana
:, port business. - ;,
y The difference between st. LOUIS q
n Chicago EXPORT rate. $40 cents. -,.,
is In answer to Chairman Morrisoh-sn'
J.. ping facilities are ample at Galveston.
d In answer to Mr. Hagerman, a''prn
4 for the Missouri Kansas and TeHas-Mo
;" grain was brought to Galveston last Sc
son than could be taken care or ~. ~
elevator facilities are being proviaea \, a
track and wharf facilities EXTENDED. y
r