The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-08-06
SWITCHING CHARGES.
A Variety of Them Were Found BY
the Commissioners.
The Matter Adjourned to Be Argued
in September.

The testimony before the state rail-
road commission Thursday afternoon
brought out the fast that all sorts Of
rates have been and are being charg-
ed for transferring cars in this city,
ranging from SOC per car to S.. While
a SO rate seems to have been made for
the general work it would seem that
it has been varied from at different
times, and other rates made.
After J. G. Moore left the witness
stand Thursday, G. M. Bradley, city
freight agent for the Omaha, was
called and testified as to the rates
charged for switching by the Omaha.
He was followed by Geo. Pass, who
was of the opinion that the rate was
too,high and inuerfered seriously with
some industries in this city Compel
ing with outside firms. Thought also
there was rank discrimination against
same roads and as between certain
persons. One matter that was worse
than the rates was the delay in trans
ferring. The matter was not always
promptly attended to and was often
great annoyance and especially so in
the shipment of lime, which should
be handled quickly.
G. E. Johnson, of the G. & N, w.
road was next called and said the
charges for transferring from
his road ranged from So to S..
Said he could not make rates on any
car. That was done by the officials of
the road.
VIM. M. Barr, of the M. & ST. L.
road was called and said his road had
charged from SOC to SO per car for
transferring. The charge of SOC per
car was made for the purpose Of in
ducing the opening of stone quarry
on their line of road.
g. E. Johnson was recalled and
asked the charges of his road for
transferring from the malt house to
the Omaha road, and said it was 81,
and S. to the Milwaukee road. Ask
ed if they had not made rate of 81
to the Omaha from the malt house
and from HuEbard's mill, said they
had, and in reply to question from
one of the commissioners, said that
rate had been in force since Jan. 1st,
last.
Mr.. F. B. Clark, general traffic
manager for the Omaha road, was
next called. He said the uniform
rate for switching charged by their
road was SO per car. Did not think
it too high. On the other hand be-
lieved it was unreasonably low. In
comparison with the rates charged at
other points, it should be 81. Said
the fixing of these charges came un-
der his observation. The rate was
less than they received for like dis
lance in transit on much of the
freight. His personal opinion was
that there was no profit to road in
switching.
Mr.. Garvin, the general traffic
manager for the Q. & N. w. Road for
Minnesota and Dakota, followed and
gave testimony much of the same ma
ture as Mr.. Clark's. He was of the
opinion that So per Car for the case in
point was unreasonablY low. Said
their rates were uniform with all
other roads.
Mr.. Cosgrave, of the C.&,N.W. road
was called to testify as to the switch
ing limits in Mankato, which he said
were the yard limits.
This closed the testimony taken.
Attorney Edgerton wished to take
some testimony as to the feasibility
of putting in switch from the @. &
N. w. to the M. & st. L. road, up
near Jordan & Hayes quarry. Judge
Wilson opposed this, as he said the
matter had once been before the COM
mission, and it had decided it had no
Jurisdiction over the case. The COM
mission decided however, that if Mr..
Edgerton wished to do so the testi-
mony might be introduced. 1t was
agreed that that matter be settled
after Mr.. Edgerton consulted with
the attorney general this morning
The arguments by the attorneys be-
fore the commission will be made
some time in September, as Judge
Wilson leaves the first of the week
for his summer vacation and will be
absent several weeks. The date will
be set on his return.
Supt. Scott, Of the Omaha, was
present, but was not called to the
stand. The commission and attor-
neys returned to ST. Paul last eve
ming, with the exception of Mr..
Kingsley, who went to his home at
Austin.