The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-25
INCREASE DENIED
j. c. c. Suspends Proposed Ad-
vance i'm Freight Rates.
On Butter and Eggs From
Topeka to Memphis.

Through the influence of the commits
gioner, H. D. Driscoll, of the Topeka
Traffic association, the interstate COM
merce commission has refused to al
low an increase in special commodity
rates on butter and eggs, carloads anu
less carloads, both fat and proportion
al. from Topeka to Memphis, Tenn,
and other points taking the same rates
The railroads proposed a material ad-
vance in the rates.
The decision means much to Topeka
as this city is one of the greatest but
ter and eggs distributing centers in the
country.
In commenting on the decision j. r.
Haskell, vice president of the Cont1-
mental Creamery company said today;
1t means q good deal to us and our
customers, who in many instances pay
the freight on shipments. In the course
of a year our firm ships between three
and four hundred cars of eggs and
between seven and eight l----lion POUNDS
of butter. The decision is not more
than we expected. The Topeka Traf-
tic association is doing good work.
1t was on January l that the rail-
roads attempted to cancel the special
commodity rates on butter and eggs
1t was proposed to substitute the reg
uIar class rates which would have the
effect of increasing the fiat carload rate
on butter and eggs from Topeka TO
Memphis from SO cents to "a cents
per hundred pounds, and on carload
shipments destined to points east OF
Memphis it was proposed to advance
the rate from 90 cents to GA cents per
hundred pounds.
On less carload shipments to Mem
phis the increase proposed was Is,
cents per one hundred pounds.
History of the Case.
Applica ton was made to the COM
mission by the Topeka Traffic asso-
citation for suspension of the opera
ton of the rates in question pending
an investigation by the commission
as to the reasonableness of the pro-
posed rates.
In compliance with this request the
commission suspended the rates until
May 1, 1913, and was later suspended
until August 29, OF this year. The
case was heard in Kansas City. Mo,
on March IT, before Examiner Harry
c. Eddy
Mr.. DriscoIl and Mr.. Haskell, vice
president of the Continental Creamery
company, attended the hearing, and in
sisted that the present rates from To-
peka not only We're high enough but
compare lively too high.
Testimony was introduced showing
that in the neighborhood of 200 cars
of butter and eggs are shipped from
Topeka annually to Memphis and
points east thereof, affected by the
rates in question and in addition to
this about three-quarters of a million
pounds of eggs are shipped through
the same territory for export.
Il was shown that the movement
from Topeka has grown gradually UNI
der the commodity rates and has as
sumed substantial proportions-that
when the Topeka dealers first started
in business down there they did not
have enough to make up the required
minimum of five thousand pounds in
order to get a through refrigerator
car. Usually they shipped two or
three thousand pounds. and it was on
the lower rates that the business had
been built up.
Rates Discriminatory.
Under the present adjustment of
rates Topeka pays more than other
towns north and northwest of here with
which Topeka comes in keen COMPETE
ton. The rates on butter from To-