The chronicle=news., 1915-01-12
RAILROAD RATES
IN COLORADO To
Be PRObEO
Freight Rates and Passenger
Fares to be Inquired Into

Denver, Colo, Jan. l2.-Inree
complaints against Colorado rail
roads have been initiated by the pub
lie utilities commission. In all thir-
teen railroads are involved. The
first complaint calls for explanations
by coal-hauling railroads on their
rates between the Kansas Nc cbraska
line and line drawn north and
south thru Denver and Pueblo. The
second complaint calls for an inves-
tigation of the passenger rates be-
tween Pueblo and Trinidad. The
third complaint calls for an investi-
cation of passenger rates between
Cripple Creek and the Divide. One
third of Colorado is embraced in the
territory in which Investigations
have thus been initiated
This is but the beginning of
general investigation into the reas-
onablcncss of railroad rates in Colo
RADIO" said Public Utility Commits
sioner George r. Bradley.
"The railroad commission was tied
up SO that it could not operate prop
erly We have been working since
last August in drawing up these COM
plants. but this is only the begin
ming.
I'VE will investigate all rates in
the state before we, are thru. The
commission does not pretend to say
that the rates cited in the complaints
are unreasonable. We will not
prejudse the case which we mus.
try. But the railroads must explain
the rates they have in effect. II
they cannot Justify them the rates
will be lowered
The investigation of passenger
rates will be Feb. s, the date set for
the appearance of the Midland Term
inal, Colorado 4 Southern. Santa Fe
and Rio Grande.
The passen ger rate between Pueb-
10 and Canon City and intermediate
points is five cents Il mile; between
Trinidad and Pubic, four cents a
mile: and over the Terminal from
Trinidad, and Pueblo four cents a
mile. These rates, on their face,
appear high. and their variance from
the usual Scent rate must also be
explained
The big question TO come before
the commission is the coal-ratc ques-
ton. Railroads cited to appear in
this complaint must enter their ap-
ocarauce on February 1G. The FOL
lowing roads are named: Santa Fo.
Burlington. Rock Island. Colorado &
Southern, Missouri Pacific, Colorado
Midland. Denver & Salt lake, Den
yer & lntcrmountain. Denver X Rio
Grande. Union Pacific and Colorado
4 Wyoming.
The order says that the commits
sion will investigate the reasonable
ness Of the local. joint, or proportion
al rates on coal. all classes. between
northern Colorado points. I.eyden,
Walsenburg points. Trinidad, Oak
Hills. Canon City. South Canon, Bow
io. Baldwin. Pikeview, Starkville and
Boswell. and the Coiorado-Kansas
and Colorado state lines, and all in
termcdiatc points.
Most of the rates to be nvest stigat-
ed are n trifle less than l cent per
ton per mile, but some are as high as
I cents per ton per mile.
For instance. coal shipped from
the northern fields to Bennett. 80
miles. IS 81 ton. while the rate
rrcm the northern fields to Denver is
90 cents a ton
The distance from Bennett to Den
Ncr is 80 mile and the coal rat,
would he 30 Il ton. The rate from
Trinidad to Las Animas. 10l miles
hv the Santa Fe. is sos. while
from Pikcvicw to Las Animas. 3
MILES farther. the rate is the same.
From the northern coal fields TO
Sterling over the i'nion Pacific and
Burlington. the rate is $l.II ton
for the l2O miles. while from Trini-
dad to Denver, 2l0 miles. the rate is
only S1.SJ ton.