Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-05

These rates are on ten gallon cans
for the distance named. ten gallon
can weighs about 100 pounds. The
new rates are to go into effect Sept
1. Both the Burlington and Great
Western have notified the railroad
commission Of the new rates and it is
expected that the other railroads will
send in the notification soon.
There is some question whether the
railroad commission of Iowa can do
anything to prevent the increase. The
big centralized creamerles that ship a
ness pays the railroads better than
its passenger trains already under
the old rates. 1t is carried on pass
enger trains and always has been. and
it is for that reason that there is
question as to what the commission
may or will do in the matter. The
rates prescribed by the Iowa railroad
commission apply to the shipment of
milk and cream on freight trains. The
question is sure to be put up to the
railroad commission.
In the meantime the suits before the
interstate commerce commission
started by some OF the big creameries
have not been settled yet and it is
conceded that the state rates and the
interstate rates bear a relation to each
other. 1t was this thing that caused
an increase in the rate to Chicago
some months ago. 1t was discovered
that the rate from Fort Dodge to
Chicago was 40 cents and the rate
from Fort Dodge to Dubuque was 49
cents. State Dairy Commissioner
Wright protested against the discrim-
ination and the rate to Chicago was
raised, The creameries have now
started proceedings before the inter-
state commerce commission to get the
interstate rates lowered and 1T may
be that the railroads are raising their
state rates in order to have an argu-
ment and lever before the Interstate
commerce commission.
When the Beatrice Creamery Com
pany carried its case before the state
railroad commission for a lowering OF
the state rate on cream, State Food ana
Dairy Commissioner H. r. Wright op-
posed 1t on the ground that the mat
ters were properly adjusted on the
rates then in force and that lower
rate inside the state for the greater
distances would give the centralized
plant an advantage over the little
plant. The big plants number nine
teen and they make total OF l8,0OO.Oo0
pounds of butter year, while the lit
tie plants number 577, and make
total of 74,000,O0O pounds year The
decided not to lower the
freight rates and this was done largely
on the substantial arguments made by
Mr.. Wright for the benefit Of the little
creameries of the state, his arguments
backing up the arguments of the rail-
road representatives.
Now the railroads have given noti-
fcation of an increase in the rates
which will be decided advantage to
the little creameries. The little cream
cries do not snip in cream. 1t Is
hauled to them in wagons, and the
freight rate matter is one of compar-
ative insignificance. Where they ship
in any cream at all it is but small
per cent of the total that they use In
a year, and hence the freight rates are
light with them. The big centralized
plants ship in practically all the cream
they use and an increase of 20 to 80
per cent in the freight rate is an enor-
nous item to them
1t is understood that Mr.. Wright will
be as much opposed to this increase
as he was to the lowering of the rates.
The creamery business has become ad-
justed to the present rates and is ac-
working quite satisfactory.
The railroad commission has never
fixed q maximum rate for the shipment
of cream on passenger trains. the way
in which practically all of it is shipped.
but with this announced increase in
rates the matter viii certainly come
before them for some action.
The Nebraska railroad commission,
which has but recently been created by
law. is wrestling with the question OF
cream rates at this time and its action
may have some bearing on the action
of the commission in Iowa.