Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-17
GRAIN RATES TO
AND FROM OMAHA
MUCH TOO HIGH
Exchange is Preparing Brief, Show.
ing Determinations to Take
to Interstate Commerce
Commission.
KANSAS CITY GETS THE FAvoRs
Existing Rates Show Railroads Di-
verting Business from 0maha's
Natural Territory.
FIGURES THAT PROVE CHARGES


Better grain rates from Omaha
between Oklahoma. Arkansas and
Texas points is one of the things the
Omaha Grain Exchange is now work
ing upon.
For over four months the Grain
Exchange officials and their traffic
manager. ed p. Smith, have worked
on an elaborate table of facts and
figures which they intend TO file
with the Interstate Commerce com
mission in \ brief attacking the
rates the roads are charging on
grain from Omaha into this great ter
rltory.
Kansas City still has vast advantage
over Omaha in the freight rates leading
into this field OF consumption.
DISCRIMINATION. IL GlarInE.
That there is vast discrimination against
Omaha and In favor OF Kansas City in
the matter OF these rates. will be charged
In the brief. IL will be shown that Omaha
is handicapped in Its effort to reach
this southern territory, while Kansas
city is favored in its effort to reach
the Minneapolis mills through Omaha.
Here are the facts: Omaha pays
cents more to reach Oklahoma, Arkansas
and Texas than Kansas City does; while
Kansas City pays only 1 cent more to
reach Minneapolis mills than Omaha
does.
This condition, the grain men here con-
tend is an untustlfiable case OF discrim-
ination, and they want Il rectified.
There Is a vast demand in Oklahoma,
Arkansas and Texas for Omaha and
Kansas City grain. especially what is
known as the rough grain, or corn and
oats for feeding purposes.
Naturally the grain men in both these
primary grain markets seek the business.
In 1872 1si3 and 1915 45 per cent OF the
corn and oats that reached Omaha was
shipped to these three southern states,
according to. Traffic Manager Smith of
the Grain Exchange. The next year a
better crop was raised in the south and
less vas needed from this section, but
these figures are given merely to show
the demand Tor our Krsin I'M that sec.
tlon,
49,, where Omaha sufFers.
While this grain rate TO the south Is
one OF the big discrimination, the Ex-
change viii seek TO have adjusted before
the Interstate Commerce commission Il is
py no means the only discrepancy that
needs attention. Rates in favor OF Kansas
City and against Omaha are so gross and
SO extensive that the whole trouble can
py no means be ironed out in a single
case.
III we could ever be given the same
! rate per ton mile as Kansas CITY
| enjoys says Mr. Smith, Ninety per
cent OF our rates would be reduced. We
have been fighting and fighting TO get
some or these points adjusted, but the
whole rate schedule OF the southern part
Of our state is still a constant source
Of irritation"
Some Nebraska Cases.
Some conspicuous cases may be cited
In the rate over the Burlington from
towns In the southern part OF the state.
From Wymore to Omaha, for example.
Is distance OF 1is miles. From wymore
to Kansas City the distance is 1s4 miles.
Yet the rate is the same. From Fair
bury to Omaha, the distance is ll5 miles:
TO Kansas City, 2i7 miles. yet the rate
is the same. From Hebron 20 Omaha.
{ ",
yet the rate is the same From shick-
ley TO Omaha the distance is 1872 miles
TO Kansas City. 80 miles. with the
! same rate. From Red Cloud TO Omaha
is 1872 miles; TO Kansas City, 2s2 miles,
with the rate the same From Alma TO
Omaha Is 222 miles; 20 Kansas City ssT
miles. with the rate the same.
Prior to the fight before the Inter-
I faf
suited in a little readjustment in De-
/ cember. 1918. some still more glaring dis
! crepencies were in effect.
: Rates that Look Funny.
Grain rates from Auburn 20 Omaha.
a distance of ninety-six miles, were
ss.35, while the rate TO Kansas City, the
greater distance of las miles was only
Ss.S5. Thus while the distance was
almost one-half greater TO Kansas City,
the rate 70 that place was a cent
hundred pounds less. All the commits
sion did in the readjustment at that
time was 20 raise the Kansas City rate
TO sa.S. the equal OF the Omaha rate.
without taking into consideration the
greater distance to Kansas city.
Practically the same thing was done
| with the rates from Crab Orchard, Te-
cumseh and several other points where
the situation was much similar. This
was some relief. but not satisfactory.
A mortifying situation still standing.
for example. Is the rate from Braeken
and Armour. These two towns are taken
ss an illustration for the simple reason
that 1t chances that Bracken Is ls2 miles
from Kansas City. while Armour Is
exactly 1872 miles from Omaha. Brack-
ems grain rate to Kansas City is 1915.
Continued on Page Two, Column one.5