Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-06
Shippers Begin Campaign tt
Secure Lower Rates From
the Railroads
LATTER MAKE OBJECTIONS
winchelI of tho Rock Island Says
Lowering of tho Rate Would Prevent
Roads from Making improvements
Better Service More Important Than
Lower Rates.

Chicago, Sept 6-The first gun in
freight rates was fired yesterday when
Circulars were sent out to members OF
the Illinois Manufacturers Association
and the American Shippers Associa-
ton, asking for an expression of opin-
ion as to whether the best means to
secure the desired end was by agita-
ton for a system of universal classifi-
cation.
This was the method favored by
those who attended the shippers con-
ference held in washington the day
before the new rate law went into eff
feet.
Railroad interests also entered the
skirmish, which promises to be- fol-
lowed by great battle. President b.
L. Wnchell, of the Rock Island lines.
inc "a statement, said the agitation OF
the shippers organizations for lower
rates is calculated to harm the ship
pers and the country generally as well
as the railroads.
The chief need Of the country, so
far as the railroads are concerned"
said Mr.. Winchell. lis not lower rates,
passenger or freight, but better rail-
roads and better and more adequate
service. Rates are lower in the United
States than in any other country in the
world. and they could not be reduced
materially without so impairing rail-
way revenues as to arrest the exten-
sion and improvement Of railways and
their service, which must continue to
be pushed rapidly forward II the in
dustrial development Of the United
States is not to be hampered by inef-
flcieht transportation facilities.
The Interstate commerce commits
sion. being composed Of intelligent and
able men, hardly can fail to see that
this is true, and therefore 1t appears
improbable that it will take any action
looking toward general reductions.
MANY Of the railroads of the Unit
ed States" Mr. Winchell continued
eventually. There is public demand
that travel be made safer and faster
This cannot be done without continued
large expenditures for heavier rails.
more ballast, double tracks, and com
plete signal system.
Revision of existing lines and re-
duction of grades, to enable econom-
ical operation, will call for hundreds
of millions of dollars. Every year at
certain seasons there is a congestion
Of traffic which causes great annoy
ance and heavy losses to the railroads
shippers and the entire public. The In
definite recurrence of these conditions
can be prevented only by the enlarge
ment of terminals, the construction
of many thousands OF miles Of addi-
tional main and passing tracks, and the
purchase OF vast amount Of new and
improved equipment.
Demands are coming In from towns
and cities for new passenger stations
and freight houses, and many must be
built if shippers and travellers are to
be afforded satisfactory treatment.
1.-THE making of these and many
other needed improvements will be fal
better for everybody than reduction
of rates They cannot be made with
out the expenditure Of many millions
of dollars The necessary money car
he had in only one of two ways--by
earning 1t or by borrowing it. 1t can
not be earned If rates are general,
lowered, and such action would i'm.
pair seriously the carriers borrowing
| powers"