The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-07-09

SSAANs eAO oASnSA AOSAoAVS lAOAS oAC uO
owners or shippers of ore on or along the
lines who are shipping or who desire to
ship ore to points within the state.
Another point made is that the at
tempt to exercise control of interstate
! rates Of iron ore is contrary to article
1, section 6. of the constitution of the
United States.
The comnanies assert that in so far as
they have been advised all of the owners
and shippers are satisfied with the prs
no complaint has been filed with the COM
mission. In conclusion, the three COM
panies asked that the order to show cause
be vacated and that the proceedings in
stituted Nov. 3, 1900, be dismissed
Eastern Minnesota Intervenes.
Mr.. Grover for the Eastern railway of
Minnesota asked permission to intervene
as his road was interested. He made the
same points the other roads had urged.
Docks a Mere Incident
Joseph B. Cotton of the Missabe road,
went exhaustively into the method of min
ing the ore, tellin every step from the
moment the ore Was dropped into the car
by steamshovels, until it had been loaded
into steamships. Frequently ships were
waiting for the trains.
Copies of the car labels, bills of lading
and other blank forms were filed.
Mr.. Cotton testified that all the present
year, every pound of ore would go to
irAxrr ln1r l.. ~ -
burg Steamship company, for use by the
Carnegies and other consumers.
One Of the most important bits of evi-
dence nj support of the claims made was
contained in copies of joint traffic agree
ments made between the Missabe road
and the Bessemer Steamship Company
the Pittsburg Steamship company and 9TH
er concerns for the shipment of the ore
from the docks. These contracts were
introduced for the purpose Of proving
that the ore was exclusively interstate
commerce and freight.
Little Ore smelted in Minnesota.
Mr.. Murray asked Mr.. Cotton what per-
centage of all the ore mined on the iron
ranges was consumed by Minnesota furn-
aces. Mr.. Cotton's answer was surprising.
He said it was les than one-twelfth of one
per cent. The total shipments of iron ore
over all the roads up to this year was 3D.
600, 900 tons and it all went down the lakes
excepting 25, 900 tons. In 1892 about 1000
tons of sample ore was delivered to con-
srmers in this state
The only ore which has not been shipped
out of the state since then was 4SS tons
shipped to the old stone furnace in Du-
luth in 1898 and $4,000 tons to the same
institution since then. The furnace is not
now running, and not a pound of ore is
smelted in Minnesota. There is no local
market whatever, there is no local traffic
in this commodity.
This afternoon Mr.. Cotton continued
his testimony. He said that the railroad
companies share Of the carriage of ore
included unloading the cars into the dock
pockets, and loading of the ore into YES
sells. Ore which does not go outside the
state does not go to the docks It was
transferred to the st. Paul & Duluth for
delivery to the Duluth blast furnace, and
the railroad paid the switching charges.
When the docks are full, the traffic
of the railroad is blocked When the
company has 100000 tons in the three
docks hauling ceases. AS high as 600, 900
tons per month go through the docks and
up to 10000 tons per day.
Cotton CrOss-examined.
Senator Clapp took Mr. Cotton for cross
examination. Attorney General Douglas
sat at his elbow. He established the fact
that the docks are in the state. Mr.. Cot
ton said the railroads proportion of the
carrying charges had always been the
same, though lake rates fuctuated during
the wild season." near the end of navi-
cation.
You don't claim the right to ship all
ore delivered from your road over the line
of the Pittsburg Steamship company, re-
gardless Of the wishes of the owner of the
ore?"
mo. All shipped this season goes by
mat route, however. 1t is designated by
the owners of the ere."