The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-28

pOgtOMS DE cars Oh gram, nlIlng Days
and carrying them of. We followed
Guilty in getting any convictions. There
was a regular syndicate which reached
clear up to the Justice before whom the
trials took place. =
In response to queries on the making
OF rates, he suggested increasing the
number of classes from six to ten, and
dong away as much as possible with
commodity rates. Commodity rates, to
a considerable extent, have been made
up from consultation with special ship
pers, and are not based on the same
principles as class rates. Commodity
rates open the door to discrimination
said Mr.. Tittimore. #.ns5@5
Fool Things in Law.
"There are so many fool things in
the new law said Mr. Tittimore, in
speaking Of the new federal railroad
law. "a man going from Ohio, where
2-cent rate holds, into Indiana, where
a Scent rate exists, under the law,
to buy a new ticket. -
In regard to grading of freight he
said: "I believe the heavier traffic
should take the low rate. Personally
l am not a believer in the rate per ton
per mile,'' and continuing the explana-
ton of freight classification, in re-
Spouse to further questions, he said:
r., On our road I should expect lum-
Der to- pay the average or more. I
think hard coal can stand more than
soft coal. So far as grain is concerned,
the volume of the grain and its rela..
ton to the whole traffic must be con-
sidered. l should place grain close to
the average rate Of the road s freight.
A heavy volume Of grain, theoretically,
would call for lower rate.''
% Is it not fact that companies are
put to little expense in loading and un-
loading commodities !" r..
'tThere is, Of course, more expense
IN less than carload lots. The shipper
generally pays for the loading and the
cons1gnee the unloading.'
Rules Are Violated. ...
eve don't live up to any reason
able, sensible rule in the relations be-
tween roads, said Mr.. Tittimore. in
explaining that one road pays only 20
cents day for the use of another
lines cars. 'sThe charge should be
high enough so that it would act the
same as demurrage charge does to
the shipper. 1 remember we had a
number OF new cars built and billed
to us. The bills were 'dished' and
we never got those cars until some of
them came back in a condition for
a road to use the cars of another line
as long as it has any use for them.
Where a new line is being built, all
the fatcars to be had belonging to
other companies are kept in use until
the work is completed.'
Omaha Man Speaks.
H. M. Pearce, traffic manager of the
Omaha road, was the next witness
called.
Mr.: Pearce said that live stock bears
the highest rate per hundredweight, but
tnat the revenue per car is less than
other, commodities. Grain rates are
largely based on rates to markets out
side this state. 49,
Is not the revenue derived from
equipment used in handling a. COM
modify a fair basis for a rate9'
1.-The less tonnage you are able to
load in. car, Of course, the higher
should be the rate. The element of
risk, damage, delay, and the character
of service required, also enter into the.
rate.' ,.I.''' -;
On the subject of coal shipments Mr..
Pearce said that shippers, especially
IN the country, demand that coal be
placed in closed boxcars.
Ism It it true, Mr.. Pearce, that
freight cars going west loaded with
with gfain?" ."..s =:
"Yes, sir, twas the reply. He stated
that the coal movement starts in, heavy
about Oct. Is. Mr.. Pearce thought, 65
to 20 per cent Of the grain crop moves
each year before Jan. /. ,.,
Hauls Empties West. :. .
1For thirty days past, however,"
said Mr.. Pearce, ."we have hauled
empty cars on our line from Nebraska
and the Dakotas, because of the ex-
treme wetness, preventing farmers from
hauling their grain. p -, '-.
Mr.. Pearce also gave testimony on
the subject OF business he considered
Improbable. He said: :.
I'm order to give merchants and
manufacturers a satisfactory service
you have to handle great deal of mis-
ccellaneous merchandise. We handle
from the twin cities about forty such
cars a day. We endeavor to deliver
this freight within twenty-four hours.
In order to give this quick service it is
necessary to give light loading to the
cars and use them on expensive way
freights. It is the experience Of rail-
roads that there is no profit in this less
than car oad-lot freight, Mr. Pearce
also testlhed that there was no profit
in handling logs. He said there was
profit in grain, coal and lumber traffic.
Make Up Losses.
Mr.. Stone, after considerable oues-
tioning, secured an admission ttthat it
is perhaps true,' that the lack of profit
on less-t han-car-load freights which
goes, to the town merchants, as a
whole, is made up for in rates charged
on the farmers grain and other com
modities. -.
Mr.. Pearce then gave further evi.
dence on the subject of car. rentals. He
said that between roads, it used to be
20 cents, but is now 25 cents a day,
with charge of 81 a day after thirty
days. He thought the 81 charge exces-
slve and that it would be reduced to
so cents before long.
Commissioner Stables in a. question
called attention to the deplorable con
dition of the grain business resulting
from car shortage; that grain com
panles are losing thousands of dollars
by not being able to take advantage
OF this month 8 market. Could not tie
grain interests be afforded better treat
ment, he asked. -~.sc -
"The best way to treat them would
be to get their stuff into the MARKET
said Mr.. Pearce. ./"
All Ready at Once.
IThe railway companies should or.
ganize to do this. It is an unfortunate
condition in this northwest country that
SO much Of our business piles up all