The Minneapolis journal., 1902-10-16
HOLDING THEM BACK
Shippers of West Coast Shingles
Want Better Rates From Min
neapolis to Chicago.
A Discrimination Of Three Cents a
:, Hundred Exists Under the
Present Rate. -

Trade in Pacific coast shingles east OF
Chicago has fallen off because the rail-
roads have not issued a manifesto that
the present freight rates would remain.
Retail buyers of shingles are holding of,
hoping against hope that the rate will be
put back where it was before Sept. ~.
The rate in effect since that date means
at least from $40 to $12 a car Increase, so
the attitude of consignees Is not purely
sentimental.
The railroads, it is understood, have
now given 1t out that the former rates
will not be replaced. Were it not for the
shortage of cars, manufacturers of Pa
cific coast shingles would probably be
heard from more strongly. =,
The present rate on the Pacific coast
shingles, of Washington manufacture,
from Seattle and points common there
with to Chicago is 63 cents per hundred
pounds. The present rate on Washington
fir lumber Is 80 cents The local. rate on
lumber from Minneapolis to Chicago is
10 cents. and on shingles is 13 cents,
thereby a discrimination of cents a
hundred weight is made against red cedar
shingles by the Minneapolis Chicago
roads. s..
The Minneapolis-Chica lines allege
that they really prefer to haul pine or fir
lumber at the rate Of 10 cents per hundred
weight rather than red cedar shingles at
1S cents, the lesser weight of kiln dried
red cedar shingles hardly insuring as
much earnings to their equipment, even
upon the excess rate Of 8 cents per hum
dred weight as made effective Sept. %.
Shippers are inclined to contest this
point on the ground that red cedar shing-
les should ejoy the same rate as other
items of lumber manufacture, no matter
from what section produced, and that
rates upon any other basis represent dis
elimination that cannot be maintained.
The roads have taken determined stand
that they will maintain the 63-cent rate
and their published tariffs to that effect
are now of necessity being used by all
shippers.
There has been some timidity on the
part of retail lumbermen east OF Chicago
in buying on the basis Of 63-cent rate to
Chicago in the hope that perhaps the old
rate of so cents would restored. While
the advance came in the tag end of the
buying season, the retail trade is now be-
coming accustomed to the rate and is
beginning to buy on that basis. No doubt
the demand would be heavier were it
thought certain that the tariff of 63 cents
were to remain.
The extreme car shortage with Pacific
coast mills has made it impossible for
shippers to maintain the usual transit
line, consequently the demand has been
ample to absorb the cars it has been posst-
bic to keep in transit.
Stations between Minneapolis and Chi
| cago that have until recently enjoyed
lower rates, have also been advanced to
the 63-cent basis rate as applied to ship
nent of red cedar shingles destined to
Chicago, or to points beyond, via that
gateway. Transcontinental lines are sup
plying equipment now, running largely
| SO feet in length. A minimum weight Of
| 10000 pounds a car, is applied upon all
red cedar stingle shipments, in cars longer
than 34 feet and to SO feet inclusive. It
will be seen, therefore, that upon 10000
pound minimum the Chicago-Minneapoli
lines are practically assured an average
! Of $39 car: for shingle shipments be-
| tween such terminals. Pine lumber OF
Minneapolis manufacture is hauled upon
a minimum Of 10000 pounds also, but
such cars loaded with lumber usually con-
tain sufficient lumber to insure a weight
of from $4,000 to 40, 900 pounds which, upon
the lumber rate Of 10 cents per hundred
weight would accrue freight charges OF
from $35 to $40 per car. Apparently, the
discrimination against red cedar shingles
is an effort on the part Of Minneapolis
Chicago lines to equalize the earnings
upon their pine lumber and red cedar
shingle' traffic, by chargingsa a higher rate
upon the latter commodity to overcome
it's lighter weight.