Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-10-19
MILLIONS FOR SAFETY
Railroads to Spend $4,000, 900
on Safety Appliances.
IOWA INSURANCE COMPANIES
Des MOines Correspondent Writes of
Several Items of General In
terest to IOwans.

Des Moines, Ia, Oct. 19.-Word
has just been received in railway
circles here that definite standards
of safety appliances to be attached
to railway cars and locomotives
have been agreed upon and that
much of the work Of installing such
on the Rock Island equipment may
be done in the Valley Junction
shops. 1t is estimated that the pro-
posed changes in equipment will
cost the railroads about $50,000,-
coo. The agreement was reached
by a committee appointed last week
by the interstate commerce COM
mission after two days hearing.
The committee consisted of fifteen
men, equally divided between re-
presentatives of the operating de-
partments of railroads, safety ap-
pliance inspectors of the commission
and railroad operatives.
Radical differences of opinion and
judgment were met by concessions
by all interested parties and the
agreement reached is unanimous as
to all equipment to be constructed
in the future.
The interstate commerce commits
sion was given six months in which
to frame and make effective suit
able standards of safety appliances
That there are two sides to the
argument for reduced freight rates
on live stock is evidenced by an in
terview with John Morrell of the
Morrell Packing company in OF
tumya in which he says, "Any
change in freight rates that makes
it easier for packers east of the
lows state line to handle Iowa
Agsbsust initiate against Iowa
lracking Institutions. Our position
now is very difficult one and any
reduction in freight on hogs and
cattle from Iowa to slaughtering
points east of Iowa, will add to our
troubles in holding our own against
the houses that are nearer to the
consuming points than we are
There has been much discussion
about reduced freight rates on live
stock in Iowa during the past few
months. One candidate for office
has attempted to heroize himself as
a friend of Iowa farmers by keeping
up continued agitation for reduc-
ed freight rates on live stock from
Iowa points to Chicago. According
to Mr.. Morrell such a scheme if car
ried out would strike a body blow
at the packing industries in Iowa,
wrecking fortunes, throw thousands
OF men out of work, destroy all
market at home and put the Iowa
farmer at the mercy of the eastern
packers. 1t is the competition of
Iowa packers against Chicago pack
ers that has in way kept up prices
for the Iowa hogs and cattle. The
lower rates are lowered on live
stock between Chicago and Iowa
the more closely is competition said
to be against the Iowa industries.
Other packers in Iowa have ex-
pressed sentiments similar to those
of the Morrell company and it is
quite generally becoming disclosed
that Iowa must demand more of
one seeking public Office than mere
ly fight to reduce freight rates
for the purpose of furthering one
special interest to the detriment of
all others in the state.
According to the monthly state
ment for September just made by
the Iowa Board OF Railroad Com
missioners, % cases were filed be-
fore the Board during the month;
40 cases were closed by the Board
during the month. OF this number
81 cases were settled satisfactorily
to the complainants, sir were
dropped by the complainants and
six were dismissed by the Board.
OF the cases settled the following
subjects were covered: Train SER
vice s, station service 3. telephone
service 8, loss and damage 5, over
charge 8, crossings 2, one each in
regard to drainage, refusal to ac-
cept shipments, interchange switch,
sleeping car service, track scales,
elevator site. obstruction of high
way, site for unloading. freight
service weighing cars, failure to
stop train, speed of stock trains,
track connection. condition of side
walk, switching charge, claim for
car repairs.
During September the Iowa Board
was represented at the conference
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