Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-19
HOLCOMB ASSERTS
OMAHA is FAVORED
General Freight Agent Of the Bur
lington Says He Prefers to
Haul Here.
CITES NUMEROUS
POINTS

Railroad officials, especially those
representing roads that operate in
southern Nebraska. take exceptions
20 the statement OF Ed p. Smith,
who asserts that these lines discrim-
mate against Omaha and in favor OF
Kansas City in the matter OF rates
on grain hauled to this and the
Kansas City market.
Burlington and Rock Island railroad
freight officials assert that not only does
Omaha have an advantage over Kansas
CITY in the matter OF grain rates from
most OF the south Nebraska stations, but
that It has a decided advantage in the
matter Of rates on merchandise. In sup
port OF this contention they assert that
while the distance from st. Louis to
Omaha is 4l5 miles by the short line and
the distance from St. Louis 20 Kansas
City n miles. the rates are the same. On
cents per 100 pounds on first class; 45
cents on second. IS on third and q cents
On fourth class freight. Thus. they as
sert, Omaha enjoys distinct advantage
IN merchandise freight.
HolcOmb Cites Cases.
General Freight Agent Holcomb OF the
Burlington asserts that in n great num-
Dor OF instances from stations along the
Burlington in southern Nebraska and
where the distance II much less. the rate
On grain is much greater to Kansas city
than 10 Omaha. David City IL cited as
one OF the instances.
The rate between Kansas City and St
louis and between Omaha and St Louis
Is the same. s cents per bushel on wheat
This IL on account Of an arrangement
made several years ago. Prior to that
the differential was in favor Of Kansas
City.
Into Omaha the David City rate is sol
Gents and into Kansas City 1919 cents. The
3 cents added 20 its rate from either
Omaha or Kansas city into st. Louis
brings the total charge up TO 1907 cents
per bushel on grain going to 81. Louis
Through the Omaha market and 800 cents
n shipped by way Of Kansas City. The
distance, II is asserted. from David city
by way OF Kansas City to st. Louis IL
sss miles, whereas by way OF Omaha It
j 5S1
Cheaper from Dorchester.
Dorchester IL In the southern part OF
Nebraska. Mr. Holcomb contends that
ahe rate from there into ST. Louis by way
~ Omaha Is 1885 cents per bushel. a
siistsnce OF 542 miles. where the rate by
sway OF Kansas City. a distance Of SIS
aniles. is 1856 cents per mile.
: Curtis is another example that the
Burlington officials cite as an illustration
1o show that the road they represent Il
aIot discriminating in favor OF Kansas
l'ity and against the Omaha grain mar.
fet. From Curtis, In the western part
of the state, the rate on wheat TO Omaha
Is ii9 cents per bushel and into Kansas
City 1872. making the total rate into St
Louis by way OF Omaha 1919 and tn,
srate by way OF Kansas CITY 2I.9 TIL,
distance by way OF. Omaha Is 729 and b!
way OF Kansas City 6s miles. Said Mr.
JIolcomb:
Most Favor Omaha.
''Theae. are Iustoa few OF the instances
.As rule, from all Nebraska points OF
sthe Burlington lines the rates are les
sthan into Kansas City. There are a few
points In the extreme southern portion o
the state. whore the distance to Kansa
City is much less. the rates are slight!
higher than into Omaha.
lnt Burlington ~ WORKING Tor IN
Omaha grain market, as n naturaIl
should, for II II gets car OF wheat iron
any station on its Nebraska lines an
brings II into Omaha, the chances ar
decidedly favorable for getting II when
moves out OF the Omaha elevators an
goes on to ST. Louis or Chicago wherea,
II the car Is hauled to Kansas City, "
are not so certain OF getting the hat
beyond. IL being more likely 20 so oye
some other road than II brought {
Omaha
Rates by Zones.
SIR. Holcomb points to the fact that
freight rate making the country
thrown into zones. In handling shipment
out OF these zones. there might be som
point In a certain zone where a rate
a certain point would be much highe
than TO some other market than the on
to- which the majority Of the points 1
the zone would ship This might loo
like discrimination. but on the who'll
he asserts that the rates would fun
equalize themselves.
According TO the present plan OF NAL
ms rates. Mr. IIolcomb asserts that tho:
on grain into Omaha are fully In lr
and n anything. little 20 the advantal
Of tho Omaha market, as Agaisst thu
At Kansas City.