The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-06

duced in recent years, and the newt
able inference drawn from his state
ments. would indicate that he was a
prime factor in that benefcent work.
tie stated that the average receipts per
ton per 100 miles of all the railroads
Of the country had been reduced from
$1.99 in 1870 to "a cents in 1908. One
would, of course, infer that the rates
on his road (the Great Northern) must
be as low as the average turnout the
country, but an examination of the rail
way commissioner report shows that
his rate for 1903 was not ID cents, but
$500 cents per ton per hundred miles,
l4-6-lO cents or 20 per cent in excess Of
the average thruout the country.
-. The Chicago Great Western is the
only railroad in Minnesota that has re-
| duced its rates to level that nearly
conforms to the average prevailing
thrqout :, the country as quoted by Mr..
HILL The rate per ton per 100 ,aniles
on that road in 1903 was ~ 76-1OO cents,
- 84.lO0 cents or Taper cent less than
the Great Northern rate.
'Jollyingn the Farmers.
| -. early inDthe. present crop year the
farmers along the lines Of th!e. Great
Northern ls railway were ''jollied ''by the
Hill had ordered a 20 per cent or more
reduction in grain rates, and that this
action would force the Canadian Pacific
and the 500 Line to reduce their rates
! also. Have the farmers in northwest
ern Minnesota realized any appreciable
advantage from this greatly advertised
act Of unsolicited grace upon the part Of
MI. Hill? So far as they are concerned
It is yet among the things hoped for.,'
The facts in this case are, that the 500
Pacific Line was the first to act. No
tice had beer given by this company
that reduced rate on grain from points
along its line would be put in effect on
| a given date. The Great Northern
must, Of course, meet this cut, and be-
fore it had time to issue new tariff
sheet, the corporation newspapers of the
twin cities heralded in exaggerated
| head lines this generous contribution to
| the prosperity of the farmers of Min
| nesota. Thanks td this action Of the
500 Line the farmers of North Dakota
have reaeped some advantage from this
! reduction of rates, but as the reduction
is rapidly lessened in it's application
eastward, it amounts to but a trife in
Minnesota = :"
Illegal Consolidation.
GIN utter defiance of the spirit of the
laws OF Minnesota that prohibits the
consolidation of parallel and competing
lines Of railroad, Mr.. Hill and his asso.
clates of the Great Northern railway
| nave acquired control of the Northern
Pacific railway-the pioneer in the de-
yelopment of the great northwest-an
nave thus eliminated that line of roac
! as competitor Of the Great Northern
On both these roads, therefore, except
where they come in competition with
the 500 Line, excessive rates are exact
ed: Sach is the case generally thruont
Minnesota. The competition Of the
Chicago Great Western and the Soc
Line have lessened rates in the territory
they traverse, but other lines of the
state exact such exorbitant tribute il
! the transportation Of the products O.
her farms, forests, mines and factories
that the net income from most of thu
activities Of life in our state are re
! dqced to the minimum, and "That !
what the matter" with Minnesota. -
George s. Lotus,
Chairman Transportation Committee.
St. Paul MINI