The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-19
Form Basis of Contention Be-
fore Railroad Board.
Express Companies Want the
Charge Increased.
CREAMERIES FIGHTING
Object to the Proposed Increase
in Rates.
Great Deal of Interest Reing
Taken in Contest.

In the cream rate case now in
course of hearing before the state
board of railroad commissioners it
is expected that the conclusion will
not be reached before tomorrow even
ing. In this case the creameries are
opposing the application of the ex-
press companies for the increase in
rates on cream within the state Of
Kansas, and aIlege that Kansas cream
will be shipped by interstate rates to
points outside the state if this in
crease is made applicable. A great
legal battle is being waged before the
board. The creameries are repre-
sented by eminent counsel as well as
the express companies and the rail-
way board.
Among the creameries interested in
the case are the Continental of To-
peka, one of the largest creameries in
the world. and the Concordia, Belle
Springs, Kininmonth, Ottawa, Coun-
ell Grove. Burlington and Junction
City creameries.
The creameries allege that the rates
under which the great bulk of cream
now moves in the state of Kansas, as
ten to twenty years; that said rates
were voluntarily established, and
have been voluntarily maintained
during all of said time by said ex-
press companies and other common
carriers within the state of Kansas;
that the lowest of said rates, towit:
those in force by the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific Railway company
since January End, 1898, and by the
United States Express company since
December 10, 1908 are adequate, and
compensatory for the service render
ed, and are reasonable and just, and
should be established by this commits
sion for all express companies and
other common carriers transporting
cream between points wholly within
the state of Kansas; and your cross
petitioners further al1ege that no
changed conditions have occurred to
warrant any increase of rates for the
transportation of cream within this
state; that on the contrary changes in
the conditions of such transportation
have occurred which warrant and de-
mand a reduction of cream rates rath-
er than an increase thereof.
They allege further that the added
cost of transportation caused by the
proposed rates will in the end have to
be paid by the producers, or cream
upon them will tend to discourage the
production and shipment of cream
and will result in great detriment not
only to the producers and shippers of
cream but to the carriers as well.
The outcome of this case is of tre-
mendous Importance to the dairy in
terests of Kansas and Topeka also is
interested from the fact that one of
the largest creameries in the world is
located here-the Continental. This
creamery pays toll to the express
companies amounting to about $780,
600 per year for cream shipped in and
it's patrons pay 100000 per year for
butter shipped out of here. These tolls
all go to the express companies. The
proposed rates will add thousands OF
dollars to the receipts of the express
companies, and the farmer and con-
sumner. as usual will have to pay the
freight.
Kansas creameries manufacture
about 25 million pounds of butter per
year and this proposed increase in
rates on cream will add about one
cent per pound to the cost of this
butter.
There are $4,000 farmers in the
state who ship cream to creameries
and there are 1000 creamery stations
| in the state.
The big creamery men declare that
there is no point of difference in this
suit between the big and little fell
lows engaged in this business. The
proposed increase in rates, they say
will add a greater hardship on the
little than it will the big fellows. The
following selections from the tables
of the present and proposed rates will
give an idea of the increase of the new
rates if they are allowed to be put In