The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-08-31

policy that has heretofore heen followed
tinnaG an nai tps e9mpanies should be con:
be made in SUCH %a% IN - rates should
farmer to get his PREDICT to % te Sae
with the least expense VAC tA ''
How 1t Works Out. -
The Increased benefit to the producer
auctions in merchandise rates Is easily
computed. For instance: A farmer with
1so acres Of land: raising. say 20 bushels
different kinds 1 Of grain, 50 pounds p on
6psheiI would furnish 80 tons Of freight.
Should the farmer purchase of the store-
chandise Gan amount much u in excess 1c mee Of
that ordinarily consumed by a family
he would purchase 1920 pounds Of meN-
Genandtse during the year on which tho
per hundred weight. would amount to
go a: The reduction in merchandise
a ahtss IR%5o pos by the is
reduction Of a little over 81 in the freieht
charges on. the Merchandise a farmeHs
ff5b@ ian ryy wovd purchase during year II
their rates on grain ~ cents per hun
dred pounds, OF, Is cents per ton. it would
mean mean a REDUCTION to the farmer, or an
for his grain Of $50. or over twenty times
the the amount Of the reduction in the freight
cehharges on merchandise. provided that
reduction: But. as a matter Of fact.
none Of this dollar would find its way
INTO the pockets OF the farmer. as the
dollar 90 would d,l have to be distributed oyer
course Ct f., the year that it would Be inn
pIactlcaD!e Tor the storekeeper to make
hiy fbs IN the prices charged
New Schedule.
20. Fer the above reasons, and in pur-
ID Rso }hr SeG aa Way d aans
s th's satsmsnt fass
der discussion are continued in force, and
while so continued, they will reduce the
rates on wheat and coarse grains shipped
In excess of 100 miles from the terminals
OF their respective systems. 10 per cent
from me a,a9s a2% In force rates
terminals are now so low that es f E3 Inc
reduction Is impracticabie. The present
rates from such stations are now lower
state, as a comparison and the evidence
sH syn a' to the commission in this case
THE. aggregate reduction in the rev.
enue OF the railway companies from the
proposed Reduction in grain rates win be
companies cannot afford to make If their
disturbed. It Is only by reason of the
large interstate business over which the
commission has no control that the rail-
w0ya SoAP]A!CS DIV t1D10 70 OlIer any re-
panies parties to This PROPOSAL s we're were
soiely dependent upon state traffic, they
posed reduction nor provide one-halt Of
the service which they now give the
state.
Immediate Benefit.
~ Under conditions that have arisen
In the course Of this hearing it is appar-
emit that considerable time must elapse
before the matter can be finallv deter-
mined by the commission, leaving out Of
the question the possibility Of considera-
t1on OF the matter elsewhere The rail-
way companies making this proposal
have been holding back an intended re-
duction in grain rates awaiting the result
Of the present hearing. While a reduce
ton In grain rates has been contem-
plated, 1t was impossible to grant it, and
else aiso submit to reduction In merchan-
harvested. and It is important to the
what rates they will be compelled to nav:
and If the farmer is to receive the benefit
Of a reduction in the grain rates on his
crop this year it is time now tn act.
and an immediate decision of the mattel
Is necessary. If the proposed compro-
mise 1s promptly agreed to, the present
crop will get the benefit of the reduction.
The railway companies cannot afford
to reduce both the merchandise and Grain
rates. and one or the other must remain
where 1t now u.s. A reduction made now
IN grain rates and followed later on bv
a reduction In merchandise rates would
mean simply the restoration of the pres
ent grain rates.