The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-07-17
SIC
r.. -au in this
DEDUCTION all along


10 the board of trade last night Presi-
dent Andrews stated that while in st.
Paul last week he called at the office of
the state railroad and warehouse COM
mission to consult with the members re-
garding the report that Mankato was not
to be benefited by the order reducing the
rate on coal and lumber. The commits
sion was out of the city, but Mr.. An
drews discussed the matter with the
statistician, and after the latter had
done some figuring he reached the con-
clusion that Mankato would receive the
benefit of the reduction on lumber, max
ing the rate nine cents per hundred in
stead of ten. Probably the rate on coal
to Mankato will not be reduced. The rea-
son why Mankato would not come in on
this rate was to the effect that if Man
kato's rate were to be cut all towns in
southwestern Minnesota must be given
like reduction Were the rate to be re-
duced Mankato would come in under the
$2.lO class whereas it pays 1925 per ton
on hard coal from Duluth to Mankato.
The order for the reduction made by
the commission was at the request of
the league.
President Andrews said that 450 towns
in Minnesota are paying tribute to st.
Paul and Minneapolis, simply because
this matter of rates has not been agi-
tated The individual does not consider
the question one of sufficient Importance
to make fuss about, but in the aggre
gate the citizens pay a goodly sum of
money to the railroads that really should
remain in the pockets of the people. A
reduction of rates would no doubt give
Mankato an opportunity to work for
business the territory now covered ex-
clusively by the twin city wholesalers.
The league has proposed complaint
before the state commission, and it will
be prosecuted before the interstate COM
merce commission. 1t involves the rate
on barley from Cannon Falls to Chicago.
At present the barley must be shipped
to Minneapolis and then back through
Cannon Falls thence to Chicago in order
to secure an equitable rate. The rate
from Cannon Falls to Chicago is l5
cents. By making the double shuttle re-
ferred to the shipper secures IA cent
rate. Rather a queer state of things,
but said to be true, nevertheless. The
commission has expressed willingness
to prosecute this complaint and Attor-
ney General Douglass has exhibited an
activity in the matter 1t is held that
law in Minnesota is being violated and
that this practice should cease.
The railroad commission has no au-
thority to make local distance tariff
sheet This can be done only through an
.c1o
Mr.. Willard was of the opinion that
the people of Mankato were too easy.
They must demand lower rates. He
thought the rate on hard coal should be
about Sl.75; ON soft coal Sl.4O and the
rate on lumber seven or eight cents. He
felt that everybody should take an in
terest in this matter of railroad rates, as
it was one of vital Importance to the
community. He called attention to the
fact that the bulk of the people in the
twin cities are getting a dollar rate on
coal because they have wheat to ship to
Duluth and the returning cars haul coal.
DIR. Andrews made the emphatic de-
caration to the board, and one which can
not be disputed, that the board talked too
much and did not act enough. The doc
tor then inquired as to what had become
of the proposed mile of improvement of
the Eagle Lake road.
On Dr. Andrews motion George NJ.
Palmer was requested to take up this
matter with the county commissioners
and citizens with view to having some
thing DONE
President Andrews thought that should
a mile of the road be improved this
would stimulate the farmers en- route
to make further improvements.
The subscription plan submitted by the
committee, of which Dr. j. w. Andrews
is chairman, was read and discussed. 1t
was the general opinion that the plan
needed revision, and on motion it was
referred to the committee, which is
composed of DR.. j. w. Andrews, T. w
Hart, John Klein, F. NJ Currier and Carl
Dice.
DR.. Andrews explained the proposition
and stated that the subscription could
The addition of many families to Man
kaIO would necessarily mean more Urdue
for every business man.
proposition came from DR.. Follman that
$50 be paid by all subscribers before the
first of the year and that the fund col
lected be used to induce factories to To-
cate here. 'Money talks" remarked
DR.. Follman.
Mr.. Stewart stated that past expert
ence has demonstrated that the money
thus collected would most likely be di-
verified to other channels.
Thomas Hughes suggested that the
board should decide on the number of
men that must be employed in a factory
in order that such institution shall re-
ceire the benefit of the fund.-
w. A. Funk said the board should have
the right to decide what concerns shalt
receive the money.
Other POINTS were brought out, all
Of them to be considered by the COM
mittee.
y \ \
The meeting of the board last night.
was well attended by directors and mem
oers.