The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-05-18

The answers Of the Duluth, Missabe
l. Northern and the Duluth & Iron
Range Railroad companies in the
matter Of the petition OF John u.
Brown, w. J. Conan, aud Eliza Co.
nan for reduction on rates on iron
ere, before the state railroad and
warehouse commission, were filed in
ST. Paul Monday says the News.T ri
bune.
The date for the trial will be fixed
by the commission, it is supposed,
J when the absent members OF the
commission who are at Washington
return. 1t is expected that the trial
will bring all the disputes between
the independent miners and the rail
roads tn Il point where the entire sub
iect will be laid bare and the fullest
information had. 1t ia evident that
the railroads feel confident that thew
/. have strong arguments TO combat the
demands of the independent miners.
It is understood thu the answers of
} the railroad companies are net very
lengthy considering the Importance
Of the matters at stake.
1t will be remembered that the pet
ition Of the independent miners was
for a uniform rate OF 10 cents for
transporting ore from ali points on
the Iron Range and the Missabe
roads. 1t was alleged that owing to
the present excessive rates that In
dependent miners were unable to sell
'Ore at profit. The rates at present
for transporting ore on the Iron
Range road range from 80 cents to 81.
The Missabe road makes a uniform
-f-xfe OF 80 cents. The petitioners de-
mand uniform rate of 40 cents from
all points on both fOads.
It is definitely known that the rail
roads believe that the Carnegic-Oliver
people and other heavy consumers OF
ore are the real power behind the pet
ition for reducing rates. 1t is argued
that the independent operators would
never have asked for such heavy re-
duction if they had moved in this
matter entirely in their own accord
j. and entirely in their own interest. 1t
has leaked out how the recent reduct-
ion on 3he Northwestern road from
As to 40 cents was affected. At least
there is a very plausible report as to
how it happened to be made. 1t is
said that the reduction was procured
through the assurance by Mr.. Oliver
to Marvin Hughitt that the west
bound business Of the Carnegie works
would be thrown as largely as possible
to the Northwestern system. AS this
is a growing business and one of con-
siderable proportions already it is
supposed to have been very attrac-
tive arrangement for all concerned.
The News Tribune is in position
to give reliable forecast OF the
answers of the MiSsabe & Iron Range
roads to petition before the railroad
and warehouse commission. 1t will
be denied that 40 cents ton would
be just and reasonable cOmpensat-
ion for transporting ore from any
point on either road to Duluth or
Two HarborS: that any reduction
from the present tariffs would not
afford compensation chat was just
to the roads apparently look on the
proposed 40 cent rates as another
name for confiscating property. 1t
will be alleged, it is said, that there
are only three state properties on
which desirab bic ore is mined and that
these are under lease. Only one OF
these is operating because the ore or
the other two is not marketable at
the present time.
Ii will be denied that the present
rates Of transporting interferes with
the operation of the two idle state
properties 1t will be admitted that
the iron ores Of Minnesota come in
competition with the ores of other
sections of the country and it is alleg-
ed that reduction Of the rates as
proposed for transporting ore would
!. bring about corresponding reductio
in the prices of ore on the Vermilion
and Mesaba ranges. 1t will be denied
that the reduction Of rates asked for
would, benefit any shipper or owner
or lessee of mines or mineral land on