The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-19
nore equal basis with our eastern competi-


tors.
Minneapolis manufacturing establishments
have developed within the last few years
to such an extent as to enable them, with
an equal freight rate and proper home en-.
couragement, to supply the Pacific coast
trade very largely with such goods as they
, manufacture, as, for instance, furniture
bedding springs, mattresses, shade cloth,
window shades and other important lines. In
several of the lines named, our factories rank
we'll to the front and the principal handicap
in marketing the goods to coast points Is,
not that we are unable to meet the eastern
competitors in the manufacture of goods, or
that We are not able to buy our raw material
| to sufficient advantage but it is largely in
the fact that it costs much. and in
some instances more, to lay our goods down
| at Pacific coast terminal points than 1t does
| same goods from the east and more particu-
larry from New York. To illustrate: In our
own line of manufacture, shade CLOTH, it
costs $3.50 per cwt to deliver goods to Los
Angeles and San Francisco, slightly more to
Portland and Seattle, while the same goods
are shipped from New York city and laid
down at those towns at the same rate. This
| is manifestly discrimination.
AS manufacturers, we are all obliged to
pay freight from the east on more or less
of our raw material and because of this we
are handicapped by the discrimination. It
seems eminently unfair that Mnneapolis
| should pay the same rate on furniture and
other goods which she manufacturers to Pa
cifc coast terminals that New York city does
when the distance is 800 miles less. We are
obliged to pay railway companies from II
cents to $105 per cwt. to get our raw ma
terials to Minneapolis from eastern and other
points, which is equivalent, to- double
| freight charge the manufactured product.
That interior points, such as Salt Lake,
are obliged to pay almost double the freight
rate Los Angeles, for instance, has to pay,
when the goods to reach Los Angeles ordss
narily pass thru Salt Lake, is perhaps not
| our fight, but rather the interior cities fight;
but that we manufacturers have to pay the
same freight as eastern points is our con-
cern and there should be some way by which
/ this matter can be speedily corrected
| that the rate which they make from New
York to the Pacific coast is necessary, owing
to the competition by boat. 1t occurs to US
/ that this is reasonable excuse in only .
i limited number of instances In other words,
1 the great bulk of the manufactured commo-
dities which carry this competitive rate"
is Of character which; by force of con-
stantly. prevailing conditions cannot be
shipped by water. After careful analysis
Of the situation, we are inclined to think
that this so-called competitive rate" is al
manufacturers ard 1obbers as against manu-
| Minneapolis.
! Should statistics be desired covering large
range of articles where this discrimination -
manifest and working to the material detrt.
ment of Minneapolis manufacturers, we will
be pleased to supply them. We hope that you
will take this matter up at the earliest pos
sible time, and If you are successful In get
/ ting it before the public and the business men
lgenerally in the proper light, the railroad
I companies will soon set about to correct the
injustice. Without question, an adjustment
of the rates will do much toward building up
our factories in several important lines.
Minneapolis stands well in the west. She
1 Is looked upon as being a manufacturing
center and place capable of producing good
goods in quantities, and a city which con-
tains manufacturers worthy of the best trade
they have to give. This being the Cases 1t
4 seems unnecessary that our further de-
yelopment as manufacturing city should be
Handicapped by an unfair discriminating
3 freight rate. IS. NJ. Hauser.e
i Minneapolis, Aug IL