The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-31
RAILROAD NEWS.
Santa Fe Springs Another Sem
satiOn in Grain Circles.
After September l VIII Make a
Switching Charge of 50.
GRAIN MEN AROUSED.
Say Move Is to Force Grain
Through Kansas City.
Santa Fe at Present Time Is
Short 1 900 Cars For Grain.

Kansas City, Aug. 31.-The Santa Fe
yesterday took a radical action, which,
if not rescinded, viii have detrimental
effect on the Kansas City grain market
and will establish a precedent not here
tofore known in Kansas City shipping
matters. Effective on and after Septem-
Der /, according to a notice posted by the
Santa Fe on the board of trade yester-
day, that road will make a switching
charge of 81 per car on all grain order
ed to connecting lines for delivery to in
dustries located thereon or for shipment
There is no disposition on the part of
the board of trade or of the tranSporta
ton bureau to allow this ruling of the
Santa Fe to stand without contesttng It.
There is already a differential of 1 cent
per 100 pounds against Kansas City on
grain shipments the rate, when shipped
through, being 1 cent lower than when
the grain is stopped here. Adding the 81
switching charge to the discrimination
under which this market is already
working, would tend to force grain
through, rather than to Kansas City.
The grain shippers had already enter
ed vigorous protests against the recent
action sOf the Santa he IN refusing TO de-
liver grain for shipment to it's connec-
lions except at its own discretion. This
ruling has had a tendency to narrow the
market, and the new ruling making 81
switching charge has added to the SER
iouSneSS Of the matter. The ruling might,
in time, have the effect of forcing an ad-
vance in grain rates, which is one hope
of the Santa FAe.
From the viewpoint OF its own inter
est the Santa Fe is, of course, pursuing
the proper policy, and there seem few
reasons why it shouldn't do it, except
that it is doubtful If it could afford to
go too far counter to public sentiment in
the matter. The Santa F'e, according to
@. w. KounS, superintendent of the car
service of the road, Topeka, who was
here yesterday, is short 1000 grain cars
for which shippers are clanoring. 1t has
over 500 cars of grain in its Kansas City
yards, and few of its connections are
able to move these cars promptly; it has
also been made a victim of car stealing
by several of the other lines, one road
alone having about $50 Santa F'e cars
that 1t has failed to return. This road
has probably hauled more grain origi-
mated by the Santa Fe out of Kansas
hauled large quantity of Santa Fe
cars, which it fails to return. Thus the
Santa Fee has lost the revenue on the
haul east of here on the grain it Original
ted, and has lost the use of its cars,
which it needs badly in its grain terri
tory.
While the interests of Kansas City
and the Santa F'e seem to be almost
Numerically opposed in this matter, they
have so many interests in common that
both sides are anxious to secure an
amicable settlement of their differences.
Many commission firms yesterday wrote,
telegraphed or telephoned to their cor
respondents in the country, advising
them of the Santa Fe switching charge
and asking that grain from all COMPETE
tive points on the Santa Fe be routed
over other lines. This is a protective
measure which must, necessarily. be fol-
lowed by all, in order to save to the
shippers the 81 charge.