Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-03-07
Grundy Center Firm Makes
Serious Complaint Against
Rock Island System
DISCRIMINATION IN FREIGHT
Competitors Alleged to be Given Plenty
Of Coal and Prompt Shipments,
Wherea. Complainant Has Been IN
able to Get Moro Than Ono Car
Since February 20.

| Des Moines. March Very serious
charges Of discrimination have been fill
ed against the Rock Island Railroad
Company, in the office of the state rail-
road commission.
A coal firm at Grundy Center has
asked the commission to make an in
vestigation of the reasons that 1t cam
not get coal over the Rock Island, while
It's two competitors In Grundy Center
are able to get consignments at will,
according to the charges filed by the
firm.
Souers & Langdon are the complain
ants. They complain that their COM
petitors have received eleven cars Of
coal since February II, while they have
received but one car since February 90.
The railroad commission has set in
motion the wheels of inquiry and the
Grundy Center case will be given the
consideration due its Importance. The
complaint was filed March A. The rail-
roads reply has not yet been filed.
The case is regarded as one of the
most important in the history of the
railroad commission. 1t is the sort Of
charge which has been the basis Of
most OF the agitation with respect to
railroad regulation by congress. The
complaint of shippers of shortage Of
cars Is not unusual: but the COM
plant of some shippers that they cam
not get cars, while competitors get
them, is extraordinary.
The letter OF Souers & Langdon to
the railroad commission containing
the allegations they made along this
line. follows
"Grundy Center, March 4.-To the
Honorable Board of Railroad Commits
sioners, Des Moines Iowa. Dear Sirs:
1--WE think there is a discrimination
on the part of the c., r. /. & p. Rail-
road Company In delivering coal here
at Grundy Center. We have our opin-
ion from the following facts as shown
by the records here:
There are two other dealers in coal
besides us in Grundy Center.
These two dealers have received
eleven cars Of coal since February II,
1905, whereas, we have received only
one car, since said date, and have had
no coal on hand since February 20,
1905.
"The other two dealers in coal here
are also grain dealers and have eleva-
tors here in Grundy Center. We han
die coal and wood only.
ever since we received the first car
OF coal one year ago. said dealers have
tried to run us out Of business by cut
ting prices Of coal and by other means.
I'VE have written twice to the par
ties we bought coal of and they have
done what they could to get us the
coal The local agent here told us this
morning he had done all he could to-
ward locating and having cars for
warded and has received no informa-
ton whatever concerning them.
"If this state of affairs continues to
exist without getting any relief, it
would indicate that affairs are getting
In such shape that it is not safe for
anyone to go into business, his free
rights and privileges are cut out.
"The name of parties Of whom coal
has been bought, and number Of car
and kind Of coal are as follows:
wv. M. Lynch, Peoria, 1ll.-One car
Canton coal, No 1868; shipped January
81, 1905.
collins Coal Company Chicago, Ill.
One car Collins Chunks No. 6941, B.
C. r. & NJ; shipped February 2.
1906.
consolidated Coal Company, st.
Louis, Mo.-One car Trenton Scottles
coal; shipped February 16, 1905. No.
641O
owe have other orders out, will not
mention them as we do not think 1t
necessary at present.
"SOUERS & LANGDON"
Many Complaints Filed.
Many complaints against the Rock Is
land-Burlington Cedar Rapids and
Northern branch-have been reaching
the office of the state railroad COM
missioner with respect to the inability
of the shippers to SECURE cars for out
shipment The one from Thompson
was mentioned at length, recently. The
same sort of objections have reached
the office from Ocheyedan and Crystal
Lake. The Clinton Grain Company of
Crystal Lake complained that it had
not been able to get cars for long
+;x,o ond oelod the u1eSfiOn If there