Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-05-05
WANT FIGURES ON OIL.
r. r. Commissioners Decide that
T.. They Want Figures Placed Before

f., ihey want Figures Placeo 6etore
Them-Further Hearing Postponed
Minneapolis Tribune: The hearing
before the state railroad and ware
house commission III the complaint Of
the independent oil shippers will be
temporarily suspended and no further
testimony will be taken before the
commission until May 49,. The indie
pendent dealers concluded their testi
mony yesterday and the railroads will
have a chance to answer this testi
nnony at the next hearing. j..
At the conclusion Of the sitting yes.
terday afternoon, Judge IRA B. Mills
chairman Of the railroad and ware.
house commission, after Announcing
the date at which the hearing would
be continued, said: .~ =
I'VE desire that the railroads pro.
dues figures 10 show exactly nov
much oil was carried by them, in less
than car load lots, and the revenues
derived from such freight. We also
want each railroad to Introduce an
employee who is connected with the
actual work of loading the cars which
carry oil in barrels
The railroad attorneys present
agreed to meet such conditions.
Joseph Bartles, of the Bartles Oil
company, presented a statement yes
terday to show how much oil his com
pany has shipped during the past
year, over each road, and the other
independent companies will have SINH
lar statements ready to present in
evidence.
The commissioners are intent upon
determining exactly what hazard
there is in the shipment of oil, both
as to actual danger. and as to its
tainting other merchandise. Upon
their findings in this matter will de-
pend largely their decision as to
whether the present rate for carrying
Oil in less than car load lots is too
high.
Henry Teagle, manager of the
Climax Refining company of Mime
apolis, was on the stand during the
afternoon, and testified as to his com.
pany's business, and as to his ideas
OF the hazard of shipment in barrels.
John H. Hull, secretary of the Corn
planter company, was recalled, and
gave further testimony in regard to
the hazard of shipment. Attorney
Hadley asked for Mr.. HulPs recall, in
order to confront the witness with
the fact that his company had pre-
sented eight claims for damages to
barrel shipments Of oil on the North
ern Pacific since January 1st.
This was to belittle Mr.. Hulps state.
ments that tank shipments, were more
hazardous than barrel shipments. e.
]. Cannon, attorney for the independ-
ents, found an opening here and Sc
cured from Mr.. Hull the statement
that they had suffered a tank car
loss of $319.S9 In the same time, while
the total of the eight claims against
the Northern Pacific was but $s5. -
The morning session became a de-
bate as to the danger Of other freight
being tainted by the shipment Of oil
in barrels. .- #..s
w. H. Patten, secretary of the Min
nesota Shippers and Receivers asso-
citation Of the st. Paul Board Of Trade,
and Of the st. Paul Produce Exchange,
was on the stand during the morning
and testified that from 20 years of ex-
per1ence as a railroad man, he was
certain that other freight would not
be tainted any more from coming III
contact with oil in barrels than from
coming in contact with salt fish.
The railroad attorneys have been
spending much time in trying to slit
out the evidence given, but the mem
bers of the railroad and warehouse
commission believe that they are able
to do this themselves. ~
I'VE will sift out what is material
here" said Commissioner Staples
quicker than the oil gets out of those
barrels 5.s # 5
John H. Hull. of the Cornplanter Oil
company, gave figures as to what the
Independents make on their oil. He
said that oil which is sold in st. Paul
at 8 cents costs Z 2s-1O0 cents .1aid
down" in st. Paul. This leaves 72-1Oe
OF cent a gallon to make state In
spection fees and all other expenses
Geologic Survey This Summer.
DR.. a. G. Leonard, state geoIogist
will be in charge OF a United States