Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-25
REDUCED LIVESTOCK RATES.


Meat Producers association, has adj
dressed a letter to the press in ex-
PLANTATION of the results of a hearing
recently held before the interstate COM
merce commission in which he claims
that the question of reduced rates on
live stock to Chicago is not fully set
tied yet. He claims that while the COM
mission turned down the meat produc-
ers' demand for reduction it at the
same time ordered the railroads to
make reductions of their own or suf-
fer re-opening of the question.
MIR. Sykes says:
"As has frequently been stated, this
case was of vital Importance to the
farmers and feeders of Iowa, as it in
volved the feeding in transit privilege
on cattle and sheep from western
ranges and reduction on the live
stock rates to Chicago. The final ar
guments were made and the case closed
on June 5, and the commission has just
recently issued a. report of its findings.
In its report the commission orders the
railroads to put in effect by Sept.
the same feeding in transit privilege
from western ranges thru Iowa that is
now enjoyed west of the Missouri
river. While the commission does not
make general reduction in the Chi
cago rate, it does say that the rate
should be revised and directs the rail-
roads to proceed to do this, or the
commission will again open the case
at the instance OF the association and
upon their own volition adjust these
rates. II these rates are reduced as or
dered by the commission, the reduction
will effect territory perhaps $50 miles
wide east and west thru the center OF
the state, and running the entire length
north and south. The 231. cent rate
will not extend more than fifty to sew
enty-five miles east of the Missouri rlv-'
err, whereas it now extends almost half
way across the state, and from the
seventy-five mile line east for perhaps
$50 miles the rate will be reduced.
"Just what the association has gained
for the farmers in the saving of freight
rates in winning this case can no. re
correctly estimated at this time, put II
will mean a saving of ., quarter OF
million dollars annually. Taking the
feeding in transit privilege alone, 1t
will mean saving on all feeding
stock bought on the ranges from S2o
to $50 per car. besides the. cost OF Two
or three commissions and thousands Oh
hounds of Missouri river water that
must be paid for IL the stock is bought
at the river markets. We believe the
Iowa feeders can be educated to go d..
rect to the range to buy their feeding
stock and bill it to Chicago and fat
ten in transit, and thus secure to
themselves this great saving, just as
the feeders west Of the river have been
doing for years"
If the Iowa feeders would become
educated to buy cattle direct from the
ranges and if therailroads do not abol-
ish all feeding in transit rates the con-
cession obtained will prove very i'm.
portant one to the live stock interests
of Iowa At any rate the demand for
the same rates which other states en-
joyed was a just one and ought never
to have been made necessary
The trouble with the proposal to re-
duce rates on live stock to Chicago was
that it hit the Iowa packing houses
blow In effect 1t would have given the
Chicago packer a cut rate with which
to outbid the Iowa packers unless the
rate on meats came down along with
the reduced live stock rate. Neither the
farming nor any other interest wants
to see the Independent packing bust
ness Of Iowa ruined, hence the inter-
state commerce commission denied the
petition for reduction. 1t is barely pos
sible that the commission has in mind
a happy medium whereby both the live
stock and the meat rates can be re-
duced partially toward meeting the
farmers demands.