The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-04
FIGHT GOES ON.
Over Who VIM Pay for Stock
yards improvements.
The Railroads or the Stock
yards Company Of X. C.

yards Company Of X. C.
Kansas stock shippers have for
years been paying for better facilities
N the Kansas City stock yards than
der OF the utilities commission which
will mean extra expense to them. said
w. J. Todd OF Maple Hill. president
OF the state Live Stock association. in
his testimony before the commission.
His testimony was the official state
ment Of the stockmen's association
regarding their stand in the demand
Oy the stock yards company for an
absorption Of terminal and yardage
charges by some one.
| A number Of state live stock ship
pers were called before the commis-s
sion today to testify regarding the
proposed plans for added stock yards
facilities. Two sets OF plans, one Of
fered by the railroads and another
offered by the stock yards company,
were submitted. The stock yards
plans afforded more central unloading
chutes and the stockmen were strong
~ in favor OF these plans. The pres
ent unloading chutes of the Missouri
Tactic "a and Union Pacific necessitate
| the driving OF stock q long distance
! and stockmen believed that chutes
| should be provided nearer the center
| of the yards.
Want Central Distributing Point.
Deliveries At the north end of the
yards by the Missouri Pacific often
! occasion a delay Of several hours in
unloading and reaching the selling
pens," said o. G. Gregg Of Eureka.
| For that reason we would favor the
more central plans
President Todd declared that the
central distributing point plan was
more satisfactory to the shippers
1
ments." said the head OF the stock
mems association, I'VE feel that the
stock shippers have already paid
enough money to the stock yards
company to entitle them to this i'm
! proved service. AS for an absorption
charge, we have already been absorb
ing enough charges in our fees. We
are not kicking on what we are pay
| ing now, but we would kick II we
were asked to pay more"
Tamm Would Compromise.
George Tamm, an extensive Central
Branch shipper, was in favor Of a
compromise in order to secure better
stock yards service.
| ''The drive from the Missouri Pa
cific's unloading chutes has cost me
little fortune" Tamm told the utili-
ties commission, land have suffered
heavily through the crippling and
death of hogs handled through the
chutes on the long drive to the sales
/ pens.''
| Tamm testified at a former hearing
! Of the case before the commission and
came to Topeka today representing
the Downs shippers. He favored the
nate the long drives Of hogs and cat
. tie to the sales pens.
"Our shippers would rather pay a
reasonable terminal charge than not
have the improvements in the yards,
although we feel that we are paying
enOAgh n0VUx1 said .Tamu in reaponSo
to a question.
Fred Bealer, Jewell City: D. c.
Roby, Eureka; M. L. Mcclure, presi-
dent of the Kansas City Live Stock
wood Falls. secretary Of the stock
mems association, all favored the
plans of the stock yards company in
preference to those offered by railroad
engineers.
Troubles for Agnew.
]. H. Agnew, engineer for the stock
yards company, was the last witness
on the stand during the morning hear
occupy the greater portion of the
afternoon session. Agnew drafted the
stock yards plans for improvements
and a dozen railroad lawyers listened
to his discussion of the plans, while
they laid their plots for a grilling
cross examination at the afternoon
nearing.
From his notes Agnew testified that
the proposed stock yards extension
would cost $565, ,966.73. of which amount
$449, ,9S1 would be required for improve
ments in the south yards and $115, ,985.73
for betterments in the north yards. The
witness went into details about the pro-
posed new trackage. chutes, pens, tun-
nels, sheds and yards. Many of his
answers to questions by Judge Helm,
| commerce attorney for the utilities
commission, were lengthy and required
technical replies. Several times Agnew
said that he could not testify regarding
railroad plans because Of his lack of
knowledge as to their operations be-
yond the boundaries of the stock yards.
! Questions of jurisdiction were again
! brought out in the examination of Ag-
new, who said that the Missouri Pacific
/ both Kansas and Missouri in making
stock deliveries. while the Santa Fe,
| Frisco and Burlington could handle
! their stock without leaving the Kansas
state line, thus leaving positive juris-
| dictfOn in the Kansas commission. The
Rock Island, Agnew testified, would
find it necessary to handle some of their
stock switching beyond the Kansas
, line. except where short trains were
hauled.
Experts for stock yards company will
| he placed on the stand this afternoon
to testify regarding the needed i'm
prOvements in the Kansas City yards
and the manner in which these i'm
| provements will affect the several rail-
roads handling live stock to Kansas
City.
Means More Business.
M. L. Mcclure, president of the Kan
sas City Live Stock Exchange, admit
| ted on cross-examination by Robert
u t. ~ n