Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-29
DECIDE TO ADVANCE RATES
Many Commodity Rates Abolished and 0lass
Rates Substituted.
BEER ONE OF THE ARTICLES AFFECTED
Shipments of This beverage VIII Cost
Two Cents Per 100 Pounds More
Than mt Present After Mo-
vembcr 15.

As an important factor in the advance OF
freight rates on all classes of products comes
the announcement of the withdrawal OF n
number Of commodity rates heretofore ex-
istent and the substitution therefor of class
rates. Authority to this end has been issued
by the western trunk line committee and the
new order of rates becomes effective Novem-
Der Is. Numerous articles that are now be-
ing transported at commodity rates will after
that date bring the railroads decided in
crease of revenue when the class rates are
applied. All the railroads operating between
Chicago, st. Paul, st. Louis, Mississ pp river
points and Omaha and Missouri river points
will abide by the authority of the western
trunk line committee. Commodity rates, as
H. generally understood by all railroad men
and shippers are lower than class rates, and
the elimination Of the former in so far as
they affect large number of commercial
and manufactured articles is going to result
most benefcially to the railroads.
As an instance OF the advance shipments
OF apples may be cited The commodity rate
upon apples is II cents per 100 pounds. I'm
der the new agreement they will be shipped
as fifth class, with rate OF % cents per 100
pounds. One of the most important advances
is on beer, which has commodity rate be-
tween Chicago and Omaha and between the
Mississippi river and Omaha OF 20 cents and
20 cents respectively. Under the new class
rates 1t will cost just cents per 100 pounds
more than at present to ship beer. The rates
effective November Is will apply on ship
ments both east and westbound in the ter
rtory covered by the western trunk line COM
mttee.
Among other articles which will be elm
mated from the commodity rate and receive
aHu In p1 1DGE rot Drn "a M
sulphuric acids, barrel stock, earthenware,
earth paint, galvanized iron, limestone, malt,
shot, tar, paving and roofing articles, tin
plate and white lead. The advance on all
shipments which will be changed from COM
modify to class rates varies from to 6
cents per 100 pounds.
Commodity rates will not be abolished en-
tirely, but all articles which will continue
to be shipped at commodity rates will bring
more revenue to the railroads than at pres
ent, for these rates will be raised in about
the same proportiOn-from to cents per
100 pounds. Between Chicago and Omaha
the rate on pig iron will be raised from $685.
to $4.12 per ton and between Mississippi
river points and Omaha from $3.50 to $500
per ton. The rate on pipe couplings and con-
nections will have an advance of two and
onehalf cents per 100 pounds.
Discussing this matter, an Omaha
freight official stated: This advantage in
rates is something which all railroad freight
men hail with Joy. The advances will be
sufficient so that it will mean decided in
crease in freight earning; and the articles
affected in the main amount to a consider
able percentage of the shipments handled
by tho various roads. There seems to be nc
disposition among shippers who have been
informed of this change to rebel against It,
They are all making money and seem per-
fectly satisfied to see the railroads get their
lust share"