The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-30
CUT SALT RATES.
Railroads Offer Voluntary Con-
cessiOn to Salt Shippers.
Case Set for November / WILDE
Postponed.
AFFECTS IA ROADS.
Western Traffic Association
Effects "A ROADS.
Western Traffic Association
Would Come to Terms.
Conference at Kansas City Is
Asked For.

Fourteen railroads doing business in
the state have asked the board Of rail-
road commissioners for an opportunity
to file with them new freight rate
schedule for the hauling of salt from
the Kansas producing towns to Missouri
river points, and incidentally a post
ponement of the hearing of the case
which Carr Taylor, attorney for the
board. brought against them, and which
was to have come up at Hutchinson on
November /.
This evidently means something for
the salt companies. They have made a
steady and hard fight against the rates
which they are now obliged to pay, and
from present indications win probably
gain marked reduction.
The commissioners viii meet in To-
peka tomorrow and grant the postpone
ment. The railroads state that the
Western Traffic association meets in
Kansas City next week, the exact date
yet undecided. At that time they ask
the board to meet with them to receive
the proposed schedule.
J. r. Koontz. general freight agent of
the Santa Fe. has the matter in charge
for the railroads He spent the past few
days in Chicago looking Into the matter.
He win leave this evening for Kansas
City where he viii meet tomorrow the
freight OFFICIALS Of the roads interested
In the case and at this meeting an effort
viii be made to fix M a schedule of
rates eor salt that will be satisfactory
to those who filed complaints with the
commission.
ut is the desire Of the Atohison, To-
peka & Santa Fe.7 said Mr. Koontz to-
l.~He- 11ea mi n
the other roads I am sure, to make eV-
cry conscientious effort to establish salt
rates. and other rates as well, that viii
be consistent with the interests of all
concerned"
The application for the pOstpOnement
was fled today with the commissioners.
Its preamble reads: Continuance is
asked for the reason that the A. T. and
S. +. Railroad company and other de-
PENDANTS desire to submit for the con-
siderati0n of the board a proposed re-
adjustment of salt rates within the state
of Kansas" The continuance will be
granted tomorrow and the railroads
given an opportunity to make good
Fourteen railroads are interested.
They are: The Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific, the AtchisOn, Topeka & Santa
Fe. the Missouri Pacific; the Union
Pacific; the St. Louis & San Francisco;
the Missouri, Kansas < Texas; the
LeavenwOrth & Western; the st. JO-
seph & Grand Island; the Kansas City,
Mexico & Orient railway; the Kansas
Southwestern railway the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy; the Kansas
Southern railway; the Leavenworth &
Topeka railway; the Burlington & Mis-
souri, railway.
Suit was instituted against these on
August IS, 1905, by Carr Taylor, at
torney for the board of railroad COM
snissiOners. charging their rates on salt
from the producing towns to Missouri
river points to be unjust and exOrbi-
tant.' The matter was set for hearing
on November I at Hutchinson.
Only recently in some coal cases
which Mr.. Taylor instituted, the rail-
roads asked for a continuance with
leave to file readjusted schedule. The
result was some marked reduction on
coal rates, although not as large as
GIr- Taylor thinks should have been
made.
Anthony, Kingman Hutchinson,
Nickerson, Sterling, Lyons, Hoisington,
Ellsworth and Kingman are the salt
towns of Kansas. Their annual pro-
ductiOn amounts to an average of p
OOO.OOO barrels of salt every year.
which means an immense amount of
hauling for the railroads.
Prior to August 8. when the suit
was commenced, a number of roads,
among them the Rock Island ca rried
salt to Fort Scott, Argentine. Leaven-
worth. AtchisOn and other Missouri
river points in barrels and packages
and i'm bulk at six and two-thirds
cents per 100 pounds. Upon the or
ganization of the Hutchinson Salt
company, the six and two-third cents
rate was cancelled and a new rate put
into effect from the salt producing
points to Missouri river points at
twelve cents per hundred pounds in
barrels and packages. and ten cents
per hundred pounds in bulk. Before
this big increase the profits to the
salt companies were very good, it is
claimed.
Then the Santa Fe. Rock Island and
Missouri Pacific roads made a volun-
tafy rate OF seven and One-half cents
upon bulk to the Hutchinson Salt
company by granting a rebate of Is
per cent of the ten cent rate on all
shipments Of bulk salt
In the case which Mr.. Taylor filed
with the commissioners he cites a
number of comparative instances with
-four, two of which are herewith
given:
Atehison, Topeka & Santa Fe rail-
way from Hutchinson to Coolidge
Kan. distance PSI miles: Rate on
salt in barrels per cwt. 241h: rate on
flour per cwt. 1873; minimum car
salt, 10000; freight charged per car
salt, $9I.32. freight charged on flour
per car. S63. rate ON salt mills Der ton
per mile 1880
Chicago Rock Island & Pacific rail-
way from Hutchinson to Liberal
Kan, distance 1S9 miles: Rate on
salt In barrels per cwt, Ply: rate on
flour per cwt, ~ minimum car salt
10000; freight charged per car salt
$50 Irelgnt charged on flour per car.
SCI: rate on salt mills per ton per
mile 1882.
COURSE BEGINS NEXT FRIDAY.
pipe Organ Series TO Re O,,enaf7 4,-