The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-08
RAILROADS.
old RAT AGAIN
Minneapolis and St. Louis Road Re.
stores Joint Rates on Coal
From Duluth.
The Railroad Commission Asks the
Attorney General to Take
Case Into Court.

The Minneapolis & st. Louis railroad has
notified the railroad commission that it
mas restored the old joint rates on hard
| coal from Duluth to points on its line and
has Cancelled the tariffs ordered by the
| commission under the New Ulm rate case
The commission has requested Attorney
General Douglas to bring action to COM
pei the road to abide by the action Of the
commission.
The original order fixing a maximum
joint rate for the Northern Pacific and
Minneapolis & ST. Louis was filed three
years ago. 1t was contested on the ground
that the reduced rates were unreasonable
and that the state had no authority to
regulate joint rates. The case was car
RED to the supreme court of the United
States. and at every stage it was won
by the state. The final decision was hand
ed down last June. and the rates ordered
We're then put in by the railroad compa-
MES They We're in force until last Fri
day, when the Minneapolis & ST. Louis
served notice that it would return to the
old rates. The railroad officials declared
that the new rates were unreasonable and
that coal could not be carried at a profit
under the new rates.
What the Rates Are.
The hard coal rate from Duluth to Min
neapolis is $1.25.' The Northern Pacific
receives only 81 for the haul on the joint
rate, however. Under the old rate the
charge to Hopkins was $1.75. of which the
Minneapolis & ST. Louis received rs cents.
The rates to Norwood, forty miles out,
was $3.50, Of which the Minneapolis & ST.
Louis got $3.50, and the same rate held
good clear out to Boyd. 157 miles from
Minneapolis, near the Dakota line.
The rate fixed by the commission was
! $1.32 to Hopkins. $1.57 to Norwood. and
graded rate running UP to $2.4s at Boyd.
Mn NI.rl<a .7Ieoueeoo Gaze
General Attorney A. E. Clarke of the
ST. Louis read said to-day:
1T Is true that the Minneapolis G. st.
Louis Railroad company and the Northern
Pacific Railroad company have Cancelled
the joint tariff on hard coal from Duluth
to New Ulm and other local points on
the Minneapol1 &, ST. Louis road west of
Minneapolis. This tariff was put in under
an order of the commission made in the
New Ulm rate case When put into effect
1T proved to be on-compensatory; the
revenue earned being less than the cost
Of transportation. Since the order of the
| commission was made, the cost of rail-
F. road operation and maintenance has
greatly increased, and rate which would
have been reasonable three years ago,
would not pay expenses at this time.
This company recently made applica ton
to the commission to modify the tariff,
which request was refused. Under the
law, d tfate Wnfcn is continued in effect
for. certain period, fixed by law. cannot
be changed except by consent of the COM
mission. AS such consent was refused.
the company was obliged either to con-
tinue. indefinitely to. carry. coal at less
than the actual cost of transportation,
and at a considerable loss. or. cancel the
tariff within the time limited; and it.
| therefore, from necessity, Cancelled the
tariff. Whether the new tariff is a restor-
alton of the one in force before the order
Of the commission was made do not
know. 1t was made, or will be made, by
the traffic department. The company
would willingly accept and continue a
tariff which would afford a reasonable
compensation for the service rendered.
but does not feel justified in accepting one
which does not pay the actual cost of
operation"