The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-16
Injustice and Determinations
Are Reviewed by Shippers.
DEMAND FORMULATED
Importance of Reduction in
Slack Coal Rates.
JObbers and Lumber
men Explain.
Committee Will Appear Before
Mr.. Morton.

The Commercial club is now ready
for the fray to get better freight rates
for Topeka. After a prolonged in
vestigation last night into the needs
of the city along that line, the trans
portation committee determined to
have its b-committee of five, lay
before Vice President Paul Morton of
the Santa Fe railroad the following
findings, with a formal request that
they be adopted and carried into ef-
feet at once:
A reduction on fifth class freight
from Kansas City to Topeka, from the
old schedule of u cents against the
Omaha to Lincoln rate of 3 cents.
A reduction from southeastern Kan
!. sas to 90 cents per ton for slack coal
and a corresponding reduction on all
other grades, instead of the present
rate of $40 for lump and S1.25 for
slack coal.
A restoration of the old differential
for the milling concerns, which brings
VIII eat into Topeka at a smaller rate
than it can be shipped into Kansas
City from the Kansas wheat belt
An equalization of the inconsistent
discrepancy now existing against the
city for the hauling of lumber from
Texas
rate for hauling paper to the publish
ers in Kansas City and Lincoln, as
against Topeka.
win Meet MFR. Morton.
With the above as armament the
committee viii meet Mr.. Paul Morton
in TOINeka or Chicago, which ever
place he may designate. He win be
given facts and reasons, showing the
harmful discrepancy that exists
against Topeka in the way Of rates,
and viii be asked why it is so. Other
neighboring cities viii be cited, what
advantages they enjoy over this city,
and why they exist. Figures will be-
ready for him indicating that a reduc-
ton OF Topeka rates would be a bene-
fit to the railroads as we'll as to lhe
city. The matter will be gone at in a
businesslike way. The procedure viii
be made up of a carefully thought out
plan, the cue for whose architecture
was found in last nights meeting. w.
B. Jensen, who furnished much Zrl'u-
able Information, struck the keynote
of the modus operandi when he de-
clared: There are but two ways
that we can get anything-frst, TO
show the railroad a benefit which they
will receive from our rateS-Or, sec
ond, to show them that they have to
do it because of the interstate COM
nlerce law.
And that Is what the requests
are, reasonable, fair and consistent in
every particular. Pains We're taken
at every step to not make the de-
mands exorbitant, to not ask too
much, to treat the railroads as busi-
ness people such as they are. and to
handle the entire matter on a business
basis. Due recognition was given 10
the value of the roads operating
through the city, and whatever is now
asked, will be simply that Topeka be
not kept under the yoke of what has
a." the ear-marks of a discrepancy in
favor of its competing cities. to nut
rTr-a
and on the same footing witE2 the Mis-
, solTt river, if they cannot wipe out
that dead line altogether. tt would
have been well for railroad repre-
0antatives to have been at the meet
ing They would have been inl ressed
with the spirit of mutual benefit
which the Topeka shippers displayed
every time they indicated desire for
reduced rates. The words: I'VE want
to be fair" were written in large let
ters, each with its own little halo.
VIII Appeal to All.
Not only viii the Santa F'e railroad
alone be accosted with these requests,
but the other companies, the Rock Is
land, the Missouri Pacific and Union
Pacific will be acquainted with what
Topeka wants. Mr.. Morton opened the
subject recently by announcing his de-
sire to meet the Topeka shippers. He
promised to appear here yesterday AMI
II was planned to have a special COM
Idttee confer with him. For an IN
known reason Mr.. Morton returned to
Chicago from his California trip by the
way OF Kansas City and did not come
TO Topeka at all. He indicated his ir-
tention to come here, however ani
VIII do so probably at an early date.
Should he not, the committee of fi1a
Will go to Chicago to take up the mat
Ter there. reduction is necessary.
The cry is going up all over the state
IN unison on that score. 1t is vital "a
the business and commercial growt h
OF Kansas, and the railroad officials in
high places are talking about the dis
satisfaction all over the Sunhower
country over the present inconsistent
ana irregular schedule of freight ra tas,
Topeka has tried for some wears to
get the attention of the railroads to
the matter, and it appears as if the
city now has the floor. If the tenor of
the meeting last night is a criterion
nobody will sit down until hir,,y
IS done one way or the other and if
1.-The other" comes, another effort will
follow on the footsteps of the present
one.
Chairman William Green of tbe
transportation committee called for III
formation and statements from tbe
manufacturers in this city who use
coal
Thomas Page, of the Mid-Contfnent
mills of North Topeka said that a re-
duotion of 25 cents from the present
rate of S1.25 per ton on slack coal from
southeastern Kansas to Topeka was in
his opinion the minimum cut to ask
s'Elack coal" he said. t'is hauled from
the southeastern part of the state into
Kansas City for 80 cents, to Bonner
Springs for 80 cents, to Atchison fol
90 cents. and into Topeka for S125