The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-17
NEWSOF The RAILWAYS
MISSABE ROADS ANSWER
IT INSISTS THAT ITS RATES
ARE REASONABLE
That Mines Located on State
School Sections Are Discriminate
ed Against, and Insists That the
Peculiar circumstances Control
Rates Charged by 1t on Iron Ore.

The Duluth, Missabe & Northern
Railway company and the Duluth &
Iron Range Railroad company, have
hled with the state railroad and ware
mouse commission their responses In
the matter of the petition of John G..
Brown, William J. Conan and Eliza
Conan, for reduction Of rates on iron
ore.
The papers are almost worded the
same. Portions of one of them follows:
It admits that as common carrier by
rail 1t Is and for several years has been
engaged IN the transportation of iron ores
from points its respective lines to
Lake Superior. in the state of Minnesota,
and hauls the larger part to, and delivers
It at Two Harbors, and hauls some to
nesota into and through other states and
from points In other states into Mime
sofa. 1t admits that the lines of railroad
ana branches owned by this respondent are
situated wholly within the state Of Mime
sofa.
Respondent denies 1t has any knowledge
sumclent TO form belief whether iron ore
carried to Duluth by the Duluth. Missabe
4 Northern railway is carried locally to
Duluth or to other states.
IT admits 1t has published tariffs for the
transportation OF passengers and property
OF al KINDS and classes upon its road, and
denies that determinations have been made
IN favor OF particular shippers or shipments,
and alleges that rates or charges are and
nave been open and equal to all shippers.
respondent admits that the distances over
Wnicn SAID ores are hauled, under the 30
at TWO Harbors, varies from not less than
seventy miles to not more than eighty
miles. and that the distance over which
said ores are hauled from the Vermfiion
iron range under the said 90-cent and 81
rates. when delivered at Two Harbors, va
RES from not less than sixty-eight miles to
not more than eighty-nne miles, and that
when ores are delivered at Duluth or points
beyond, there is am additional haul to each
OF SAID distances of at least twenty-sx
m mn But respondent alleges that. in or
DER 10 perform the said services, it has been
Competed to construct, equip and maintain
ana operate 265 miles of railroad, of which
about 175 miles is main track, together with
large and expensive terminals, DOCKS yards
and other facilities and has to maintain a
very large and responsive special equip
It denies that the rates are unjust snd
aen1es that the SUM OF 40 cents per gross
Ton would be reasonable rate of carriage
alleges that the rates now in existence
are reasonable. and any reduction would
not admit of thecrespondent earning such
compensation as Is just to it.
II admits that . large part OF its capital
company, which Gowns and operates iron
mines at Tower, Mimi, on the Vermi. lien
iron range. 1t denies that the rates es-
tabllshed for the transportation Of ores to
TWO Harbors and Duluth yield profit SO
unreasonably great that the persons or cor
porat'pns substantially combining in one
ownership the railroad and mines tributary
thereto, cannot afford to operate their
mines without profit, or even at a loss, the
profits derived by them from the Transport
tation service being ample for both opera
lions.
Respondent denies that among the yalua-
Bile iron mines on the Mesaba range, the
several that are situated on school lands,
leased or sub-leased by persons OF corpora
lions, are subject to unreasonable and OPP
pressive rates. ~ sr..5s4rll r
i It admits that the ores of the vermiHion
and Mesaba ranges seome into competition
with the ores produced in other portions
Of the country and alleges that a reduc-
ton in it's charges would reduce the mar
ket price Of the ore from these ranges to
tie extent of such reduction hut denies
that any such reduction would inure to
the benefit of any shipper of iron ores or
owner of mineral lands on either of said
ranges. 7sgftsg
The. petition for dismissal Is signed by
j. Il. Gfeatsinger, Draper, Davis & Hill
lister. attorneys for respondent. M