Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-07-19
CITY OF DULUTH
WINS LONG FIGHT
WITH TWIN
CITIES
Minnesota Port Beats Mime.
apolis and St. Paul in Rate
Case Before Interstate Com
merce Commission.
PRESENT RATES HELD
TO BE DISCRIMINATORY
[Bg I.easea VIC b .renlnE ucraId.I

Washington. july Ia.--Dulth won
substantial portion of its freight
rate fight before the Interstate COM
merce commission today when a re-
duction Of class rnics 10 that eity
from eastern points WAS ordered ana
the present rates we're hcid 90 be-
discriminatory DalutNs contention
that rates on lake and rail trnfiic
from the east ought 90 break at ~
whnrves however. was not sustained.
The so-calied Duluth ease" grew
out of the commercial unrest between
Duluth and other cities similarly sit
unted az the hend 0f Great Lake nuN-
igation on the one hand and Mime
apOliq aud ~. Paul and other inter-
Tor cities In the northwest. on the
other The Twin tlties have grown
Apnce IN population and volume 81
trade in recent years. while Duluth
and superior although commanding
~ located. have NOT Increased so rap
idly Nn Investigation convinced the
resident manufacturers and business
men OF Duluth that the reason WAS
To BE- found ia th,. existing lake-and =
ran freight rates ifum eastern points
of origin through Duluth 90 Minne-
apolis and Sd. PAUL.
The Commercial club of Duluth
thereupnn instituted a complaint be-
fore the Interstate commerce COM
mission attacking the present rate
structure. The petition was directed
against a large number OF roilroads
operating In Trunk Line Central
Freight association and western terri
taries. and also against boat lines OPP
Grating on the Great Lakes. The
complaint attacked al class and COM
modify rates. alleging that they sub
jccted Duluth 90 unreasonable dis
advantage. that they we're unjust In.
herently, and that they afforded
such unjust preference To Minneap-
oils and 81. Paul NJ amounted 90 u
physical removal Of the head of nuyi-
CATION from Duiutt % the Twin CITE
ies. II Was alicged that bniuth Z
| natural advantages practically we're
| destroyed not only by preferential
rates. but. contributing 10 that end,
Twin City iObbers were accorded free
storage OF goods In Duluth ware
houses. privilege not enjoyed
| by commercial houses in Duluth.
| Through the exercise OF this privilege
4 ID was asserted, Twin CITY i0bbers
were given the advantage of trans
| shipment on the through lake-and-
rail rates. II was contcnded that the
divisions % these rates receive hy
/ the roads operating weatwardy and
J southwardly from Duluth were Toe
low, as compared with the rates
/ which Duluth enterprises were com
PEELED TO pay 20 the same points 81
destination.
nuluth's principal contention wns
1 that the only way Ina which the ni.
| legged injustice could be- cured WHi
By having the rail-and- lake rates
break at the lake ports. This. n was
urged in hearing and la argument
! would have the effect OF destroying
| the discrimination OF the railroads In
! favor nf Minneapolis and 81. Pau
and would accord tO Duluth the nat
urai advantages of its location.
In final analysis. the ease resolved
| Itself into commercial conflict be-
tween Duluth and the Twin Citien, tn,
rail carriers taking substantially only
a secondary part IN IL. Their rates
II WAS urged by Duluth. had beer
constructed "for the purpose af de
prlvlng and la fact dc deprive Du
luth and other localities. Of the nat
urai advantages OF location, ane
transfer a large rrrt of the henefitl
thereof arbitrarily 90 Minneapolis ant
81 Paul. and other places taking IN,
same rates"
II further was maintained by thl
Duluth Interests that " the rail-and
lake rates were made 10 break "a
lake ports ali interior points woul'
secure the benefits OF water compe
tion Justly due them by reason of io
cation, the benefits vnrying in ac
cordance with the distance from luk'
ports.
The Minneapolis Traffic association
and the 81. Paul Association of com
merce assumed a great burden 81 tn
defense of the eXiatlng rate structure
They maintained that every rens0l
for the maintenance Of the prosen
rates was hacked lbs sound CONNER
ciaL transportation and legal prlnci
pies"