The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-11-27
City News
PRESIDENT Hill
EXPLAINS RATES
COMMISSION LEARNS
ABOUT TRANSPORTATION. s
Round Trip Business Of Oar Must Be
: Counted in Figuring Out What
Should Be Charged for Carrying
j Freight Out or In-Why Empties Do
Not Move Faster. ~, .. -.@

Testlfying before the state railroad
and warehouse commission late yester-
day, James = J.. Hill, president of the
Great Northern railway, in his exam
lnation by Royal A. Stone, assistant at
torney general, was shown tables which
caused roundabout admission on his
part that commodity rates are practi-
to the road is concerned, than merchan-
said: - - - '->'>1
The cases stated only cover part
Of the transaction and two extremes,
losing sight Of the other conditions.
For instance, where carload Of mer-
chandise is loaded, nails perhaps, the
weight would be much in excess Of the
average figured on, and perhaps would
even be, largely in excess Of coal
weight per car" Mr.. Hill also made
the point that car loaded with west
fifty OF. one hundred miles, out Of the
twin cities, and the car have to go
empty the rest Of it's western trip to
some Dakota point, perhaps, where
grain is received in the car for a trip
back east fully loaded to the eastern
terminal. 49, '':""'-
Figures on Round Trip.
l. '.The round trip of car is the only
Mr.. Hill. "Suppose you rented team
for a day to make a forty drive.
and agreed to pay SIS for it. If the
man who rented you the team knew of
a party desiring to make the return
trip at even half price, $3.50, it would
mean $3.50 instead of SIS income for
the round trip. If he knew positively
OF the return trip passenger, he could
aford, to let you have the ride one
way for less than SIS. It is lust the
same thing in the railroad situation.''
Mr. Hill was queried as to the loads
his cars carry.
'Our average load on the Great
Northern,'' he said, els twenty tons
to a car. The Northwestern is about
thirteen. We have to consider every
class of freight, to make rates fair to
az and to build up the local resources
which we find. If we do this. we do
the best thing both to help ourselves
and all the people along our line. This
IS what we have ever tried to do, and
think L can show any fair:minded
man that no territory in this country
mas seen the tremendous development
snat mas been made in that stretch of
country thru which our line passes.'
. Tunnels Block Traffic. :"
Mr.. Hill spoke of the tremendous bust
ness accumulated along the northwest
roads and their inability to handle it.
HOn the Northern Pacific. one of The
officials tells ME that they can hauI,
with good luck, 400 cars each wav a
daX thru L, the Cascade tunnel,'' he
SAID SAID 'They are. offered 700 cars a
gay each way. And the authorities
are Jumping on them right and left
ho
possibility: It is equal to insisting that
a man with a sawmill of 100000 feet
a day capacity cut 250,OO0.''
MI: Hill made an interesting, and
plausible explanation of why e. more
'empties' are not hauled west. - -
Empties Depend on Loads ais.; III: 5s!s
"Locomotives9;dos not haul their, ca:
pacity of emptiesswest, y he. said. sebes
cause we must figure on our ability; to
haul back loaded cars within The CO..
Racity Of theh oloeomotiiv ives y to- move.
What would be the good Of. hauling a iot
OF emptles west which we, could NOT
mo o, east aagin when. they are
Mr.. Hill stated that livestock cars
60 empty one way. Much more Cattle,
and hogs is hauled from this side Side
OF Mlnot than from all the ranges, an
excess of domestic cattle ,shipments
compared to movement of range CATTLE;
lie thought 80 per cent a fair estimate
on the empty car movement thruout tie
country. ..ss,> ~ '-'o
lis any part of the business of your
main line done at a loss9' = 49,;
On the main line we furnish mail
service, our postoffce cars, at q loss. y
was the answer. ~ =,
In explaining what he be1ieved
If iii ut; rates should be based upon: Mr..
Cost Of Service.
"The public must pay on the cost
Of the service and fair return nn
the value of the property. This is
what the country must ultimately come
to.' He explained that railroad in.
come Is based on ton miles,, expense
g Of n, operation, is based on train miles.
Therefore, ~ said Mr.. Hill, Wthe Eob.
ject is to- get the. highest, rate on tho
ton. mile and the smallest rate, on the
train mile.'' ,..~. s..G - y
Mr.. Hill asserted that in reduction
OF grain, lumber and coal rates. The
Great Northern has led. He explained
how he had made consistent efforts to
reduce cost Of operation = to- permit Of
reduction in rates; had bought steam
ers and terminal elevators to- aid prain
shippers. GIVE have sold our steamers Err,
and elevators, he said,' Hand, if we
buy any more, just phone me. - So, :