Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-12-06
EXPRESS COMPANY
GRANTS REDUCTION
IN SOUTH DAKOTA
State Commission Engages Em
pert to Secure Data; Kick
From Canton People.

Sioux Falls, S. D., Nov. 3O.-Several
matters OF more or less Importance
were disposed Of during the regular
monthly meeting of the state board of
raliroad commissioners, which has lust
'Deen held at the headquarters Of the
commission in this city.
: Recently a Mitchell produce house
made complaint to the board in refer
ence TO the alleged exorbitant rates
charged by the American Express COM
pany on goods shipped from Mitchell
TO Rapid City, in the Black Hills. Dur
ing the meeting a letter was read from
the express company, stating that the
company had recently put into effect
a new schedule of rates from eastern
south k to points in the west
ern part OF the state, and that the new
rate made a reduction in the rate OH
merchandise from SO to 50 per 100
pounds The old rate on butter. eggs,
dressed poultry and such articles of
produce was 81. Is per 100 pounds, while
the new rate is 81 so per 100 pounds.
This rate is the result of the compile
tlon of the railroads across the state
TO the Black Hills. goods now being
shipped direct instead of by way of
Sioux City.
Employ an Expert.
One of the matters disposed of by
the board was the appointment of Carl
u. Witt, an expert engineer, to pro-
cure such data as will enable the rail-
road commissioners to make a VaIua-
ton of all the railroad property in
South Dakota, In accordance with the
requirements of an act Of the legis-
lature which was In session last win
ter.
The new aBpointee was first assistant
engineer in charge of the construction
of the great bridge of the Chicago and
Northwestern railroad company across
the Missouri river at Pierre. He will
make his headquarters in Sioux Falls
n will assume the duties Of his new
position about December 10.
Representatives of the people OF
Shindler appeared before the board to
protest against the proposed closing by
the Rock Island Railroad OF
its depot at Shindler. The railroad
company wishes to take this action be-
Caus c: the recent heavy falling off
OF business at that station. The rail-
road commissioners will make an effort
TO adjust the matter to the satisfaction
of all concerned.
Canton People Protest.
Mayor Gimmel, of Canton, was pres
ent and addressed the commissioners
in regard to the failure of the Chicago.
Milwaukee and st. Paul Railroad COM
pany to complete the construction of a
new depot building at Canton to re.
place an old frame structure, which
was partially destroyed by fire last
September. 1t appears that after COM
pleting a part o. the foundation for
the new depot building the work of
construction was stopped and has not
since been resumed.
The board decided that as the com.
pany had commence the work Of con-
structing the new depot building, which
everything Indicated a badly need
ed for the accommodation of the heavy
passenger traffic from and through
Canton, the railroad should
resume and push the work of construc-
ton as speedily as possible. The board,
after concluding It's work, took an ad-
jOurnment until December II, and ii
was the opinion Of the commissioners
that if the railroad had not
shown its good faith In pushing the
work of construction by that time, It
would be necessary for the board to
take some action in the matter.
Will Decide Elevator Case.
meeting to be held on December II the
railroad commissioners will be ready
to render n decision in the matter of
the application of Steele Bros. fer an
elevator site on the right-of-way OF
the Great Northern Railroad company
at Sheffield, near Huron, in Beadle
county. The board recently held a
hearing at Sheffield. and at the con-
clusion OF the hearing took the case
under advisement.