The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1900-10-17

in the proportion of 100 to 1. OF
course, the greatest shipping is that of
wheat. live stock, corn, and other
grains, lumber, flour and other articles
contained In the list first named. Had
the reduction originally ordered been
made, the direct benefit to the con-
sumner would have been very, very
slight; but the reduction was never
made, and was never even ordered.
The railroads, On receipt of the COM
missions notice, served reply that
they would not comply with the or
der; that the proposed rate was too
low and could not be compiled with
without an actual loss upon every ton
Of freight shipped, and that, therefore.
the proposed rate was burdensome and
confiscatory. Recognizing the force OF
the answer, and having known all
along that the roads would refuse to
comply with the order, the commission
notified the southwestern roads to
come into a conference. and agreed
that they would abandon every effort
in the direction of a reduction, and
make no attempt at changing the rates
or classification If the roads would
agree to put in force, out of New Ulm
and three or four other towns. which
the commission named, rate which
would be the same as that then in
force out of the distributing centers.
st. Paul, Minneapolis and the Mime
sofa Transfer. In order that a clear
understanding of the case may be had,
it should be stated that the roads ship
ping out of st. Paul last year handled
six billions pounds Of out-freight. That
which could be shipped out Of New
Ulm in any one year would not exceed
five hundred thousand pounds. What
the commission, therefore, asked, was
not that there should be any general
reduction in rates, but that the roads
should agree to specify as distributing
points certain number Of favored
towns, New Ulm always being the first
one named. and that those favored
towns should be given the same rate
on shipments out as that which was
then IN existence at the distributing
points where freight was handled by
the billion pounds.
The commission pleaded with these
roads to make this concession, submit
ting the names Of towns which they
desired to have added to the list OF
distributing points. These towns were:
Saltwater. Duluth West Duluth, Fer
gus Falls, Moorhead, Crookston, Red
Wing. Winona, Mankato, Albert Lea,
Rochester, Faribault, New Ulm. Litch-
field, Austin, Little Falls and Hast
ings. In the various discussions at the
conferences between the commission
and the representatives Of the roads,
the commission gradually withdrew
name after name Of the towns submit
ted, until It finally came down to the
point where the commission had
agreed to c0mpromme upon the basis
Of an amended list Of additions to the
distributing points, as follows: New
Ulm. Austin, Rochester, Red Wing,
Albert Lea, sMAnkato and Winona
This revised list was the one upon
which the commission made its final
stand. and which the roads had sub
stantially agreed to accept, with the
distinct understanding that no further
conditions be asked by the commission
during the present fiscal year.
Now let the Interested shipper set
himself to the task Of ascertaining Just
what benefit would accrue from the
adoption Of the exActions made By the
commission. Let Il be understood to
begin with. that there II not reduc-
tion Of one cent II million pounds Of
freight contemplated In the general
plan Of revision. All that u asked Il
that the roads add the seven towns Of
New Tim. Rochester, Austin, Red
Wing, MAnkato, WinonA and Albert
Lea to the list Of distributin9 points.