Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-06
State Railway Commission
Gives a Hearing on Matter
of Change in Rates
HANDICAP ON THE INDUSTRY
Freight CIassifio alton Of Stone in Iowa
Such as to Prevent Iowa Quarries
Meeting Competition - J. w. Bur-
roughs, Of MarshaIItown, Makes a
Convincing Argument.
Special to Times-Kepuollcan.

| Special to Times-Kepublican
Des Mones, Sept. 6.--The state rail-
way commission had an all-day hear
| ing yesterday on the matter Of various
proposed changes in the Iowa CLASH
fcation as to freight products. The
most interesting matter taken up re-
Hated to the classification on rough
stone. This was brought up on the
petition of the LeGrand Quarry Com
paiiy- and others. j. w. Burroughs,
manager of the LeGrand company
presented the matter, and he was joined
by j. w. Cowley, president of the Lin
wood quarries at Davenport, and Hen
ry Abel, president of the LIE Claire Stone
Company. There were large number of
the freight men of the railroads pres-
ent, including number Of the assists
ant general freight agents of the lines
centering in Chicago.
| The showing made on behalf Of the
stone quarries for reduction Of rates
| by change of classification was regard
ed as very strong. The petition is that
all rough stone be given the same rate
as slack COAL which is the lowest rate
made. An illustration of what the
| present rate is was given by Mr.. Bur-
roughs. On a carload of rubble stone
| from, the LIE Grand quarry to Mar
shalltown, about six miles, the charge
would be about $24 But a carload Of
slack coal Of the same weight would be
hauled from Il distance of 500 miles for
$57, or little more than twice as
, much. Bubble takes the rate
of Glass ri which is very
much higher than coal AS
rates are made somewhat upon the
value Of the product carried Interest,"
| ing comparisons were made. The
highest price for crushed or rubble stone
is NJ a ton at the quarry; yet steam
coal is sold at $1.10 a ton at the mines,
and other coal up to $1.90 ton. When
crushed stone is used for public pur-
poses, such as road making, a special
rate is allowed which is as low as the
rate on steam coal, but as a matter of
fact there is very little stone being
shipped at this rate anywhere in Iowa.
The price of rip-rap stone is less
than the price of rubble stone, and yet
it must take the same rate. In fact
the entire schedule so far as 1t relates
to rough stone, needs reclassifying
1t was pointed out that the growth
Of the cement industry has reduced
the demand for rubble stone, and unless
something is done to help the indus
try it will be disastrous to the stone
industry In Iowa. The rubble and
crushed stone go into the foundations
Of hill in nd
ing material, but the rate on the same
is unreasonably high as compared
with other similar material of like low
value.
Mr.. Burroughs cited an illustration
Of the manner in which the rate ON
stone is regarded by those who have to
pay it. Mr.. E. P. Edwards had,l long been
roadmaster of the Northwestern, and
as the LeGrand people had been gem
erous in furnishing the Northwestern
railroad with screenings. Mr. Edwards
had asked for carload to be sent to
his home in Belle Plaine. He was as
sured it would be sent any time he
desired it. After he had severed his
connection with the Northwestern
company he asked If the offer was still
good to him personally and was as
sured that it was. The stone was
shipped him. For the first time in his
life he had to pay the freight. He
was amazed at the size of the bill, said
1t was an outrage, and finally got
mad and refused to pay the freight.
The stone had been given him free,
but rather than pay the freight he
made the railroad take the stone for the
freight charges. He is a brother
in-law Of Mr.. Ashton, the
general manager. When he was
at the other end Of the paying line
he saw what the freight rates meant.
The railroad representatives present
made very little resistance in the open
hearing and the commission took the
matter under advisement.
An interesting matter was brought
out In connection with an application
for reduction Of the rate on stone
ware from Fort Dodge. 1t was dis
closed that Just now there is rate war
on relating to this product and the
Illinois and Minnesota companies are
gamers. But it was also admitted that
the Fort Dodge concern is owned by
the same people as the potteries in IL
linois, go that in sense the compe-
tition is between different companies
owned by the same persons.
The fact was brought out in relation
to the crockery premiums in cereal
products that the railroads have set out
to help break up this practice by de-
creeing that where crockery is placed
in cereal packages the rate must be
the highest rate Of either product in
stead of as at present having it d.
vided. This change goes into effect
next January. An oatmeal mill in
Washington county asked that the
commission order that the present sys-
tenn be continued. The railroad COM
panies complain that the premium
package system is extending to so
many lines Of business that they must
shut 1t off. The hay rate was also
taken up and considered.
cUMMlNS WILL SPEAK.
oI... e.. u. rr;aon Haup4v Anrieuj{ur.