The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-08-24

The proposition OF the three northern
railroads. the Great Northern, Northern
Pacific and the 500. to make reduction
was rejected by the state railroad and
warehouse commission, because the reduc-
ton was opposed by the railroads ope-
rating in Southern Minnesota.
The reduction would have saved the
farmers of Minnesota alone $1,000, 900
year in, freight on grain. The 10 per
proposed by the commission, would have
meant saving of 100000 more to the
people o OF the state, making total of
put into the -Lockets of the people of
Minnesota had the new schedules gone
into effect The Minnesota reductions in
ed in reductions in neighboring states. and
Northwest would have been between ST.
100000 and 100000 year
The Better Plan.
The proposition was made by the three
northern roads as compromise IN the
iuon in merchandise rates The roads
could not afford to make both reductions.
The merchandise reductions would have
benefited no one but the merchants. while
the grain reductions, by cutting the cost
of getting grain to market, would have
19s tS reduce the
grain rates instead of the merchandise
rates.
warehouse commission seemed inclined to
accept the compromise, apparently be-
lieving that the reduction in grain rates
would be much greater benefit to the
people of the state. They asked, however,
that 10 per cent reduction be made also
in coal rates.
jected The proposed reduction in mer-
chandise rates would have affected them
only to trifling extent, while the pro-
meant a material benefit to the people
at the expense of the railroads. In the
face of the opposition of the southern
commission rejected the proposed grain
rate reduction.
roads, the Great Northern, the Northern
Pacific and the 500, and their position In
the matter is explained in their letter
says:
The Proposition.
a. The merchandise rates under dis
cussion so far as they relate to the
Of railway. shall be continued in force.
same shall be dismissed, This because,
the 'e eydence that has been 50 fam deVe
oped in the case proves conclusively that
merchandise traffic is being handled in
s6e and s rates @ aad
favorably with those in effect in other
states; that the present merchandise rates
90 not more tnan pay tne acCual cost OF
the transportation furnished, and that
reduction in said rates would be an in
justice to the railway companies and i'm
practicable for them to accept.
''2 1t is the opinion of the railway
companies that the prosperity Of the por-
tion of the state served by the said three
lines is dependent upon the well being of
the agricultural communities along those
lines A reduction in the rates on mer-
chandise would be Of no benefit to the
farmers and producers in Northern Min
nesota This has been clearly brought
out in the testimony taken, 1t having
been shown beyond question that the only
persons to be benefited by the proposed
reduction would be the merchants.
Direct Benefit.
"a reduction in the rates on grain Is
a direct benefit to every farmer raising
a bushel of grain for sale, as the price
paid the farmer for his grain in the coun-
try is fixed by the price at the terminal
markets less the cost Of transporting the
grain to those markets Farmers desiring
to do so may ship their grain and sell 1t
themselves at terminal markets without
the interposition of middlemen. II the
farmers are prosperous the communtt es
in which they live are prosperous. Ehe
country merchants sell more goods, con-
seuuently buy more, and the manufac-
turer and the jobber in the city enjoy an
enlarged trade. If, at any time. 1t il
possible for the railway companies to re-
duce their rates, the highest public policy
and the interests not only of the rail-
ways themselves but Of all classes of
citizens in this state demand that the