The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-08
new GRAIN RATE.
Railroad Board Says 1t Wasn't In
tention to Reduce Old One.

In answer to the story recently print
ed in the papers about the state railroad
board being fooled by the rai l.t;l, ea X
perts in the matter of the reduction OF
grain rates the board has made the
following reply in a letter written 10
Secretary E. J. Smiley of the Kansas
Grain Dealers association ne letter
is as follows:
answering yours of 18th inst. in re.
effect of the legislative grain rate
schedule on the rates from jamestown,
Kan. TO Kansas City, beg 70 ad1 1liss
Won that this rate is not changed Inc
Central Branch now enjoys an unusual
" low rate, account OF the IacI tIlat
the railroad companies MAINTAIN Atch-
isou and Kansas City on freight rate
nsritv and at jamestown, While I'D
miles from Kansas City. is but 166 miles
to Atchison: the short line rate TO Atch-
fson thereby becoming the rate to Kan
sas City whereas the former rate 10
Kansas City from a station OF similar
distance on the main line OF the A L
& S. F. R-'y would be the rate pre-
scribed for 213 miles instead OF tor 100
Under the legislative rates, however.
there are some slight reductions on the
| Central Branch, one instance that
/ happen to note being at GIele-ues
| where the terminal rate Will oe
1T has been fntimated in certain OF
/ the Kansas press that the Ieslsldt lL e &
might possibly have been oamboozlea
I nv the rate experts u AAAC HOeA- "a -
/ the matter of the enactment OF the
( grain rates Knowing that you are IN
constant touch with the Shippers VI
grain I am very declslous tAac 80
Should thoroughly understand this ad-
1T was not the intention of either
the board or the Legislature TO ma
terially reduce the rates on 4l sla IIiet ~
! reduction of these rates was proughl
m by certain members OF the leglSIa.-
| tire on the floor of the mouse anu Il
| vas explained to them by the draIteF
IF the schedule that Kansas, at pres
eut has a materially lower scheuule
If grain rates than has eltner MIS-
souri, or Nebraska; that the board re-
Gently prosecuted an acton De1ore tLLs
Interstate commerce cornrnlsSloil
| whereby il secured rate on gram ~
the Gulf of Mexico from interior raj dI-
sas points materially less than the rae
for the shipment of the same gran! ld
through Kansas City. This lesser rate
for the direct haul sets the price VI
grain TO the farmer ana any re- ! =
firr in the Kansas City rate which dlo
not make the animation OF the rate
through Kansas City to the Gun rs
than the through rate from lnteI .g l
Kansas points direct to the Gun WOu- t
-,ot benefit the farmer in the least'
While on the other hand it would. %
| inst that extent Of the reduction
: made. transfer the mlliing. eleailiAA n
| blending Smelling and storage ~
transit of this grain from lnteIlo I
kansas. commercial centers to Kansas
; | civ where this vast volume or ousl-
, ness was almost entirely transacted
nrfor to the securing OF. the reduced
: direct haul BY the railroad commits
sion The reducing of the present rate
ia Kansas City to such an extent as
: 10 make the through rate via kansas
CITY less than the present direct raIs
from, Kansas interior points TO tne
| GuIf would make rate that would De
ABSOLUTELY conhscatory of the raliroac
companies property and would nave
! in all probability. invalidated the en-
tire schedule. $500.
s'There was a slight spread betweeI
the distance tariff rates and the rai'
| TO Kansas City, this spread was ehnl
mated by the legislative enactment ane
there we're some slight reduction
= made in the terminal rate NJ
I | eIirnination of the spread between tn
; distance tariff and the terminal tarlrI
: was sufficient to warrant the enactnen
. Of the legislative rates as very sign
! decrease in the rates on tonnag
: / moving in such volume a 5 this gram
: affords material relief to the state.
: ssThe board will highly appreciat
! your action if you will continue tn
former amicable relations betweel
vour department and the board b
. giving to all inquiring parties tn
: | fufOrmation.'