The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-18

Duluth roads, giving the same rates
through.
'Our line to Duluth from the cities is
long one, via Little Falls and Brainerd,
pa miles The other Duluth lines are
short and the competition is fierce. We
put in tariff L c. c. 1859 last May be-
cause we found that we were carrying
empty cars from Duluth to st. Paul and
Minneapolis in large numbers. We were
forced to do this because our freight bus
mess to Duluth accumulated cars there
which are constantly needed in the cities
We decided to get enough business to
make the transportation pay for itself If
we could without thought of entering
heavily into competition with the other
lines.
"Our Duluth business has been light.
Of 1928 cars of wheat taken oub of Min
neapOlis in July we took 73. Our ship
ments from the head of the lakes were
heavier, consisting mainly of coal. We
went into the Duluth business for the
reasons which I have stated, thinking
that we could fill these empty cars. We
adopted the rates of our competitors
and since the traiff went into effect we
have never hauled even per cent Of the
business. If we apply intermediate rates
it will set a precedent which we cannot
afford, as the rates between Duluth and
the Minneapolis and st. Paul terminals
are lower than those in effect in any
other part of the state. If the commits
sion forces us to apply them, we shall
simply go back to the tariff which was in
effect before the one under discussion
You will go out of business between
the cities and Duluth rather than apply
them from Attorney Lyons.
Il think so. At least 1 should make
that recommendation to our president
and executive officers. We could not make
it pay"
Attorney Stewart: You charge US a
higher rate because We are forced to pay
it, do your"
I'VE have made the St Cloud rates as
low as possible. We cannot reduce them,
as it would establish a precedent"
H. c. Erwin, secretary and general
manager of the Tileston Milling company,
took the stand. He testified that the mill
ran 1000 barrels a day. The effect of
the tariff 1859 gave Princeton, neighbour
ing milling town, an advantage and oper-
ated to the harm of his company Elk
River and Anoka had the benefit of lower
rates and could compete to better ad-
vantage. Chairman Knapp brought out
the fact that even if the concessions petit
toned were granted the Northern Pacific
would not receive the shipments
Would not the Great Northern at once
make a similar rate?"
Il think So responded Mr.. Erwin.
And would not your company ship by
that route and avoid switching charges?"
he asked.
I'm all probability we would, as their
tracks are more convenient, That is pro-
vided both roads made the same rate
The Great Northern" he continued
would have received our business if
rates had been lower If st. Cloud had
advantage of the same rate as Elk River.
made over the Northern Pacific, the road
would get all the business
c. l.. Atwood, president of the COM
mon council of st. Cloud, appeared be-
fore the commission and testified that
under the present tariff st. Cloud would
be damaged to the extent of $250,000
year, owing to the discrimination in
freight charges and the consequent hard
ship entailed upon her merchants. He
thought Elk River was gaining a large
share of trade which should go to st.
Cloud on account of the higher prices
of certain commodities, forced by high
freight charges.
1T will be the death of st. Cloud if
the Northern Pacific tariff remains as
it now is, he declared.
c. D. GrinOls, member of the council
and a dealer in farm implements, testified
| that rates to St Cloud from Duluth via
! the Northern Pacific were higher than
those granted points on the Great North
erns Duluth line. He was of the opip-
ion that the tariff diverted trade to other
points. c. F. Ladner, a hardware mer-
chant, testified that he felt the effect of
| the discrimination, especially on heavy
hardware and nails, the latter being Is
cents higher in price on account Of
freight charges than at Elk River and
Anoka, points on the Eastern Minnesota.
Robert Harrison, a dry goods merchant,
also testified along the same lines.