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About The Norfolk weekly news. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1888-1900 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1900)
1 m r r iIV i ISHUGHMTIS Inter Stato Commerce Com missions Hearing MANY GRIEVANCES RECITED Business Men and Railroads Well Represented COMMISSIONER PROUTY IS PRESENT Mini WltneMCH nro Ililug Sworn Hiul Im portant Testimony In Ileitis Taken Sc ulnn May Contliiuo During Toniurinw hitting Is lu vhu City llnll Fium Mouilnyfl Dntly Tho heuriug of tlio complaint filed by Olias II Johnsou boforo tho interstto commerce commission last July in which it is nllejrpel that Norfolk is dis criminated against in tho matter of freight rates was commenced at tho city hall this morning beforo Commis sioner Prouty of Vermont who is tho only one of tho commission present In opening the case tho commissioner an nounced that it was not a hearing but simply n sitting to tako testimony A quorum of tho commission is required to give a hearing While it had been expected that n quorum would bo pres ent when tho dato was announced since then the plan of tho commission to go to tho Pacillc coast had been changed and only a sitting could be given at this time He had expected to meet ono more of the commission here but he had not arrived Aftor tho testimouy is taken the case will be submitted on briefs to the commission The case is being conducted on tho part of the complainant by Spencer Smith of Council Bluffs nu attorney of wide reputation in railroad matters and who was chairman of tho Iowa commis sion that formed the freight law of that state He is being assisted by Fred H Free of this city The railroads are represented by G F Bid well general manager of the Elk born system B T White general so licitor A H Merchant assistant gen eral freight agent W H Jones of the freight department of the same road H M Pearso of St Paul general freight agent of the M O Lyman Sholes of Omaha division freight agent of the M O O J Lane assistant general freight agent of the Union Pacific Jas Orr attorney for the Missouri Pacific In opening the case the commissioner stated that tori lis are usually considered on file which does away with the neces sity of presenting testimony as to what they are Attorney Smith asked if financial re ports of earnings of railroads on file with the commission could be offered aa evidence There being no objection tbey were offered The commissioner stated that he had read the complaint and answer on file with the commission while enroute to this place and that it would not be nec essary to read them again Mr Smith stated that the complaint was prepared some time ago by an attorney not now connected with the case and he outlined what it is proposed to prove That Norfolk is a town of considerable importance 75 miles from the Missouri river and 129 miles from Omaha that it is composed largely of retail business houses which sell to territory round about from 50 to 100 miles distant many of the institutions aro somewhat of the character of de partment stores T1m3 contention is that the rate in and out is in excess of the rate from Chicago and Duluth to other towns of equal distance which takes up so much of the profits that it lias been impossible to establish jobbing trade here many industries here are discrim inated against Mr Smith recited tho fact that tho car load rate to the Missouri river on first class freights is 5G000 which means either to Sioux City or Omaha the rate from Chicago to Lincoln is 0800 a car Chicago to Fremont 0800 a car Chicago to Yank ton 7200 while the rate from Chicago to Norfolk only SO miles farther than Fremont is 1 2200 this is discrimina tion against Norfolk The discrimina tion applies to all classes of freight Attorney White stated that it is tho manifest desire of Norfolk to bo put up on the same basis as Fremont and other towns of like character If this desire wero granted and Kearney and other towns which are contending for the same issue should bo placed upon the same standing it could not bring any advan tage to Norfolk There are no towns of great importance on the Elkhorn line uono west of Norfolk Beyond this place the road passes through a sparsely settled country which does not bring a revenue to the road as compared with the through lines which pass Lincoln and other points so located Those towns should not be considered a criteriou bo cause of the difference in the situation and the roads should be justly entitled to charge a higher rate to Norfolk than to Lincoln Liuolu had a ditterenjial of 10 cents when tho Miseouri Pacific built into that town and reduced the rate to o cents more than the Missouri river rato Now Fremont and fill towns between Lincoln and tho river have practically tho samo rato Tho commissioner stated thnt he camo through several towns botween Blair and here and asked as to the rates in those towns Tho reply was that thoy aro all bnsed on the rates to Blair Tho commissioner stated that there nro two kinds of discrimination ono an unreasonable rate and the other that sonio town In competition has n better rato Mr White stated that Norfolk stands on a parity with other towns around for a distance of 75 mile9 and that tho rate into this city is mado tho samo as into other towns similarly located Ho claimed that it is not discriminated against in any sense Tho ruihoud companies do not wish to tear down I Norfolk nor to build up other towns at tho exponso of Norfolk All rates to tho Missouri river between Sioux City and Kntisas City aro the same and west of tho river tho territory spreads out and is reaohod by many roadB Fair treatmont to all U tho aim of tho companies Mr Smith admitted that tho competi tion of the roads at Fremont and Lin coln probably justified tho rates there but tho road was built into Lincoln from Fremont after the lino had boon ex tended to Norfolk nnd in building to Lincoln tho Elkhorn must have been looking for trouble along that lino I u reply to tho commissioner it was stated that tho short lino haul from Sioux City to Norfolk was 75 miles and from tho Missouri river to Fremont it was 27 milf s Tho first witness sworn wns Mayor Simpson who wos asked to give a sum mary of the industries nnd advantages of Norfolk Ho gave tho population at about 52G0 Ilavo three railroads elec tric light station beet sugar factory which is tho leading industry stato in sane asylum sheep feeding business creamery cold storago plant foundry which makes a specialty of warm air furnaces steam laundry high school four ward schools and cereal mills that manufacture a special brand of break fast food On being crossexauiiued by Mr White he said he had lived here 1 years nnd that tho railroads are tho Union Pacific F E M V tho O St P M O and a branch running toVerdigre Tho sugar factory only manufactures sugar about three mouths in tho year Mr White asked if tho F E ic M V com pany was not instrumental in getting the factory here Thought it was prob able they had aided Had heard of no complaint from the sheep feeders Asked if he knew there had been an ad justment of rates in regard to the cream ery Said ho didnt Said ho consid ered the territory of Norfolk extended south as far as Humphrey north to Oreighton and west to ONeill Depend mostly on the west Mr White by questions sought to show that this was an agricultural country and that it ceased to be of agricultural importance west of Norfolk and depended on stock grazing and feeding He also desired to show that there was a large influx of people west in the hope of building up agricultural interests but that they had been compelled to leave the country Mr Simpson admitted that there were no packing houses here and that tho market for live stock was in Sioux City and Omaha Commissioner Pronty also interrogated the witness in regard to a number of points on which he wiBhed more information Col S S Cotton was the next witness on the stand Said he had lived here 18 years and was first interests in the milling business but was now in no par ticular business other than that of look ing after his property interests It was desired that he givo his best information as to what benefit a lower rato would be to Norfolk Mr White objected to the question and asked the commissioner it it was customury for objections to bo made Tho commissioner said it was but that it was also customary to over rule them and this objection was there fore overruled Witness thought au ewer could propably best be made by citing an instance Two years after he came here Poxtou Gallagher started a wholesale house oud did a good busi ness but a few years lacr tho honso was discontinued because of a change in freight rates he understanding that tho railroads didnt desiro to make Norfolk a distributing point At that time Nor folk had tho Union Pacific Elkhorn and Omaha lines Dont know what changes were made at that time A lowor rata would be a benefit On being cross-examined by Mr White witness thought the rato to Paxton Gallagher was be foro tho interstate commerce law had ueen passea saia JxorioiK naa uu or 700 inhabitants when ho came in 1681 aud had enjoyed a steady growth since with the exception of the last two or three years Tho growth of Norfolk compared favorably with the growth of neighboring towns during hard times Snid his property consists largely of real estate including farm lands Farm lands near Norfolk worth 50 or G0 to 100 an acre N A Bainbolt Cuine to Norfolk in 1882 occupation a banker aDd was familiar with different industries was not posted in regard to rates One of the leading industries was the sugar THE NORFOLK NEW THURSDAY MARCH 1 1000 fnctovy which was conducive to tho prosperity of tho people It cost origin ally botween 500000 and 000000 About f2M000 has bcon placed on im provomeuts sinco outsido of land pur chases Cost now appioxlmntoB 700 000 or fSOOOOO During campaign employs botween 225 to 5100 men Farmers in hatidllug tho crop employ an equal uuinbor and possibly more They havo a working forco employed the year around of perhaps 25 tot0 men Tho city paid ubonusofl50 000 in cash Ho told of tho Paxton Gallagher en terprise Had a conversation with their representative who said they quit be cause of discrinitnutloii in out and in shipping rates Mr White wanted to know if the railroads had contributed toward securing tho sugar factory Witness said thoy contributed 5000 but wero solicited for 10000 Privatu citizens had contributed 5000 Was not interested in tho sugar factory oth erwise than as a oitien Asked if ho didnt know that beets were limited for practically tho switching charges ho said ho didnt Know W 11 Dexter came hero in 1SS I was now in acetylene gas business formerly with Paxton is Gallagher llouso was established heroin lbSl Ho came Jan 1 lSbl to take charge and business was discontinued about October 1 1S85 The rates wero tho losult of an agree ment between tho Union Pacific and Elkhorn lines Was able to nieot fair competition west to tho end of tho line east to West Pont south to Humphiey nnd north to reighlon Tho last year their business amounted to nunut 155000 Goods were shipped and billed from here A not tier man beside himself with a family wmh on gnged in the business also two young men and two draymen Withdiow principally on account of railroad ireight rato and because they had to build in order to accomodate a glowing busiuoss Tho main house was in Omaha Had not been engaged in a similar business sinco About April or May of 1885 Mr Gallagher was hero for the purpose of buying lots and building but alter ho was notified of tho with drawal ofratos bo made no f urthor oflort Hsd his information from Mr Plckon now geuorol mauager of tho house in Omaha Aftor withdrawal of rates honso did nothing except to closo out tho stock on hand Tho freight was prepaid at Omaha and in outshipments was paid by tho purchaser Goods wero shipped in car lots at about 0 cents a hundred Gotiirobatn of about 0 or i3 per cont Thought rate with tho rebate would porhaps equal about 2l cent rato Rato was secured by an undorbtauding between the honso aud railroad company Mr Gallagher he thought represented tho house and Mr Morohouse the railroad company R A Stewart was the next witness sworn Moved hero in 1888 was in banking busiuesfor eight years and now in creamoryWbusiness He recited tho experience of Jas II Hamilton who claimed to havo boon driven from Nor folk to Sioux City by a discriminating freight rato Didnt know tho exact circumstances Said tho creamery busi ness covered a largo territory and was represented by 21 creameries and sepa rator stations Mr Harding endeavored repeatedly to get a reduction of freight rates Thought companies could afford to ship by freight as cheaply as by ex press Result was express rates were raised They shipped east and west Mr- Haskell of Lincoln buys cream west of us and in competition Tho cream cry makes about 2000000 pounds a year Demand west is good and grow ing Didnt know the rates Mr White examined witness who admitted that ho had lately increased his interest in tho business and thought it was a good business Asked Avhat a reduction of rates wonld benefit ho said they could pay larger prices to dairymen and farmers and thus increase the amount of finished product Hnd facilities nnd men here to handle a much larger quantity and while profits would not bo increased the more but ter mado the more they would receive Mr Harding left because could do better elsewhere Mado a profit of ono cent a pound A H Allinson was sworn and asked about creamery business Couldnt say what class freight butter was shipped under Paid about 01 cents to Chicago and 1 08 to Deadwood Had never made a complaint Was manager since December boforo that had been secre tary of tho creamery company H H Patterson Run electric light plant and bny coal This was objected to because coal rates hnd not been com plained of Mr Smith then desired that the coal rate bo incorporated in the complaint and request was granted Buys coal hi Wyoming price was 25 cents at the minoa and freight charges wero 325 Had bought coal from Iowa but Kommerer and Rook Spring was better quality Asked as to chargo per month Mr Patteason said for incandes cent lamps it was 80 cents Mr White thought he could havo no objection if he got it but the commissioner thought the people who paid it might have ob jection to the rato ho also thought tho showing was important ns showing why manufactories conld not prosper E A Bullock was sworn Had been in tho foundry business and manufactur ing a warm air furnace for seven years Pig iron was shipped in and manufact ured and distributed Couldnt com pete with like business in other towns because tho regular tariff rato from tho Missouri river was practically a loss to the manufacturer A shipmont could be made west of Norfolk from Sioux City at practically tho same rato that same shipment could bo made Norfolk therefore the Norfolk lost what it cost to get the material from Sioux City to folk Had tired of shariug his fit with tho railroad company from man raw Nor-pro-and had transferred a largo share of his in terest to Sioux City Had 15 men em ployed at Sioux City nnd two nt Nor folk Business was still continued here Mr White wished to know what it cost to moke tho furnaces but Mr Bullock objected to revealing his private business aud objectiou was sustained by tho commissioner The hearing was here adjourned for dinner and met again at 1 0 II CASHilfflR Freight Rate Hearing Before Commissioner Pronty VAST AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE Representatives of Citizens and Railroads Heard CASE LASTED A DAY AND A HAM ArKiiuiMitx Will lie lliiiitl llifiii tin Wliolo ConitiilHnloii Iriiliiitili In Mil lniiollilo to Iliillrt tin ItrMilt lint IikiIih IliMirulili to Niirfulli It l im TiiisilniH Dallv Tho sitting given by tho interstate commerce commission to hear the com plaints of Noi folk merchants in regard to alleged height rato discriminations against Norfolk inoiohnnts was conclud ed today between 12 audi oclock It began yesterday morning at t oclock continued through the atternoon aud up to tlie hour stated today being practi cally a day and n half deoted to the hearing of testimony Daring that time considerable interrsti ig test i nony wis adducod and the business men generally aro satisfied that their case has been laid boforo tho commission in a comprehen sive and exhaustive ninnner Alter the testimony had beon heard Commissioner Pronty stated that there would be an opportunity presented by tho commis sion for tho hearing of aiguinents per haps in May when tho commission would be in Omaha Ho stated that tl o n gumonts could be presented either orally or in tho form of briefs or both aud the parties interested signified their willingness to present their argumonts at that time Tho sitting was then ad journed It ip impossible to say what effect this sitting will have on tho Norfolk situa tion but the case will bo decided on the merits of tho testimouy and if tho com mission can see its way clear to do so Norfolk will probably bo granted a hotter through rato Those who attended wero couvincod of Commissioner Prontys unprejudiced position and nro confident that the decision will be a fair one to both parties concerned AFTIHNOOK S HSSION When Commissioner Prouty callod tho meeting to order yosterday after noon E A Bullock wnB recalled to the witness stand Ho testified that tho freight on scrap iron from hero to Sioux City was 10 cents a hundred pounds for a haul of 71 miles and tho rato from here to Council Bluffs a haul of 120 miles was nine cents a hundred The rato from tho Iowa coal regions to Nor folk JIGS miles wub 2 per ton whilo to Blair a distance of 288 miles it was 1 per ton From tho same region to Lin coln a haul of 191 miles the rato was 1 20 per ton and to Fremont JiOO miles it was 110 per ton Ho further testi fied that the rato per ton per mile from Sioux City to various points in tho state was about one half what it was to Nor folk R B Weller of the Chicago Lum ber company gave testimony tho purport of which was to show that Nor folk under present rates couldnt bo mado a distributing point for lumber Tho balance of tho afternoon was de voted to hearing tho testimony of Chas II Johnson who again gave evidence of tho profound study he had mado of tho freight rato question and showed him self thoroughly posted in every particu lar He was asked as to what points he considered as competitive and on which Norfolk should bo placed at a parity with tho rates from Ohicogo to Omaha Lincoln Fremont and SionxCity Ho introduced tabulated exhibits showing a comparison of rates on shipments from 100 to 20000 pouuds and on carload lots showing a discrim ination against Norfolk Asauinstanoe his exhibit on a 100 pound shipment from Sioux City is filed From that place to Harrington a distance of 7t miles the rato is 8cents to Magnet 77 miles tho rate is 10 cents toWaupa 81 miles 10 cents to Bloomfiold 01 mites 12 cents to Hope 72 miles 12 cents to Beemer 1V2 miles 41 cents to Lincoln 151 miles 10 cents Snperior 2 10 miles 51 cents Petersburg 270 miles 50 cents Hastings 227 miles 52 cents Albion 270 miles 50 cents Creightou 110 miles 50 cents Pierce 80 miles 17 conts To Pierco tho M O hauls into Norfolk unloads and reloads aud hauls 15 miles further for two cents whilo to Croightou tho same performance is made the consignment is hauled 41 miles farther for five cents Tho rate from Sioux City to Norfolk is 15 cents Commissioner Prouty asked what would bo a fair rato from Sioux Oity to Norfolk and was told thnt from 28 to 80 cents would be fair Ho also asked what established the rate of 45 cents and was told it was tho long haul of 110 miles from Omaha to Norfolk Mr Prouty thought it astouibhiug that the long haul should establish the rate but did not want to be understood that ho considered it an unjnst rate but it was singular and perhaps there wen other reasons- for it unf uppiucnt on the surfiro Mr Johnson introduced comparative rates from Minneapolis Duluth Chi cago St Louis Kansas City and St Joe by which it was shown that points from which It wan desirable that Norfolk merchants should have the advantage of low aud equitable rates they did not gel them but that from points whcio there was nothing for them to buy us ftom Minneapolis St Joe and Kansas Ity where such goods us he and other mer chants handle were net mutln a specialty of t lime was a very lust rale bolim a I diffuieiicn of about 20 cents pir hurnlud pounds on car load lots Mr Prouty asked what he claimed would be a just into from Chicago to Norfolk an I he thought about the same rate as was applied to Lincoln HS a car instead of 122 as at lucent Mr Oirol thoMiHstinii Pacific wanted to know if that were done how they would get away ironi the Lincoln situa tion Mr Prouty said there seemed to be u way in every case but whcio Norfolk was concerned Mr Johnson went on to say that ever since he hud been doing business in Nor folk lie had been hying to gel uittw from Chicago to Noifolk byway ol Sion City but hud not yet succeeded because all tin ills stopped at Hope and that Norfolk was not on the uiilioad map A fow questions were asked by At torney Smith to make some points clearer and Mr White wiih asked if ho desired to question the witness lie said he didul dcsiio tons the testimony was all substantiated by the evidence introduced The sitting was then adjourned to meet this morning at s MOIlNINll MSSION The session was convened at s 10 this morning and business was at unco pro- ccedul with Iho first witness called was C A Alexander manager of tho cold storago plant 1 lis testimony went to show that under existing rates a cold storage busi ness hero is at a disadvantage It must conipto with b remniit Lincoln and other to amis in tho same territory but must pay higher rate of freight The rato from Fremont to Chicago is 15 cents per hundred or 108 a car while from hero it is II cents or id l 50 a car The Norfok plant shipped HO cms of products lust year principally to Lowell Mass to which point the rato is 1 I2 or il II HO per car Chus II Johnson was again placed upon the stand and said that in part his contention is for reparation or damages for tho overcharges Hint lie has paid during tho pact ton years hi evidence of the fact that ho has been overcharged he filed freight bills on pianos showing that he had paid moio than ho would havo done had he been located in towns no farther distant from Boston Ho stated that lie wanted to recover tho excess that he had paid over what the rato would have been had the Fre mont rate been taken as a basis He showed that his business had been seri ously affected by tho discrimination as Omaha and Lincoln merchants can invade his territory and diliver goods at a less rate than ho can The commissioner wanted to know to what an effect his business had been damaged and ho replied that it would amount to obout 8000 for the ten years Whenjho first commenced business in Norfolk tho rate was satisfactory but when tho roads changed tho classifica tion it worked to the disadvantage of thoJNorfolk morchnLt nnd in favor of the Omaha dealer He showed that no point in Nebraska the same distance from the river has as high a rato as Norfolk and no point in Nebraska or South Dakota tho samo distance from Chicago is paying as much as are the merchants of this city Ho showed that fireworks aro shipped into Norfolk by express at a less rate than by freight tho rate being 75 cents ns against 0 conts by freight Hard coil is shipped cheaper from Duluth to Lincoln than it is from the same placo to Norfolk Thoro is a bettor rato to Yankton S D from St Louis than to Norfolk Mr White asked what benefit it would bo to Norfolk if tho line to Lincoln be discontinued to which Mr Johnson re plied that Norfolk would still bo dis criminated against H A Pasowalk was placed on the staud and stnted that the car load rato on agricultural implements from Chi cago to Norfolk is -IS conts a hundred whilo tho rato to Omaha is only i0 cents and tho samo applies to goods shipped houiMoline Asked as to the actual effect this rate has on his business he stuted that formerly lie acted as distri buting agent in this territory for binders and repairs but sinco 189 1 that business hnd been discontinued on account of the freight rote Attorney Smith filed a stntemeut liaving a bearing on tho case and then the complainant rested its case It was announced that the testimony would bo written out nnd copios fur nished tho railroads interested and the complainant It was arranged that the exhibits should be left with Mr Smith where they could all be seen by all con cerned and copies made of them if do sired Iu opening the railroad side of tie case Mr White secured permission to 3 Ho a mnp showing the Norfolk sltuntiou as the rallronds see It Then Mr Whlto wanted to know what the commissioner wanted to henr from the railroads Tltn commissioner replied that he wanted to know what elleot any reduction would have on tin revenues of the muls and he would also like lo have a showing made as to what makes and coiiIkiIh the rates Mr lHihvill stated that the H 1 V l and i K As M V are two separate corporations the latter owned hugely by the stockholders of tho C - N V but tin ler nsepiuntotiimiiiKimioiit Tho Union Pacific and Burlington systems me tho chief oompolilois Tho I H M V stmts at Ptcmnii and limit that town to Itlalr it has n tnu knge contract over the H C v P by which f piys one half ol the interest chmges and ilM proportion of the expense Tho owneia of the C St M oV mti imlltcly distinct f i oni IlieC V N W although the owneis of the stock of tho I V N V own a per cent of tho St Paul road Gciieuil Munuger G l Ilidwellol tho l IC iV M V road wiin hit induced by tho defense and swoin lie was asked what ellVct on the rincuues of his iimtl theio would bo if Nnrlolk wiih noenrdi d I ho Lincoln rale lie stutul that the Klkhoin would bo compelled to reduce nil rates enst ol Not folk to Kiomonl ami establish viitualy a blanket iiite west of Fiemnut Wesl of Not folk they would bine to build up a into nl a like i eduction to tho west lino ol lliostnte Iho icduclion would iiImi ailed all iilhiM lines thing business in tho stato Tho Union Pacific would ho compelled lo make the samo lediiction toColutiihim and would build up liont Columbus weft to the state line Tho changing of any into would cause the checking up of the cntito state befoic tho chtiugo would be entiiclv uppment Tho St loo and Grand Island would havo to carry the same into to Grand Island and tho ellcct would be felt aciosH the lino iu Kansas In regard to the scope mid character of the territory west of Noifoll witness stated that for a distance of about 50 miles tho territory was agiiculliiral be yond that for about 50 miles and from there to tho west lino of the stale about 200 miles it was a stock grning region til no value to agri culturalists The South Pint lo country west ol a Hue south from ViilcnlinowiiH somewhat better for agricultural purposes but none of it was first cIiish The popula tion ol the South Platte country was larger and towns more plentiful owing to its being an older settled country Under inigatn n the South Pintle coun try wns buing 1 armed but then was no iirigation along tho Klkhorn The western terminus of the Klkhoin was Casper in Wyoming and Bello Fourche in South Dakota It has no through line to the coast Tho trnlho from South Diueotu was largely stock shipments This tefl mony was intended to show that whilo Fremont and Lincoln had better rates than Norfolk it was because of a through line to the coast and also be cause there was a better country west of them He considered the question of how rates were established a most intricato ono Tho roads employed tho best talent obtainable iu their efforts to overcome the apparent inconsistencies existing aud it must bo believed that thoy were thoroughly wise iu tho matter thoroughly honest and at all times having the interests of the communities through which the roads passed at heart It is a matter of great grievance to the Elkhorn that people are not satis fied with that roads treatment of them They havo done more for Norfolk thun any other town on their line outside of tho capital and tho stntos metropolis Tho terminals aro established horo repair shops are located horo and tho company had considerable to do do with securing tho sugar factory to locate here Tho superintendents oillco and division headquarters aro located hero aud tho number of people deriving their support directly from the railroads is approxi mately 1000 Ho wished to correct any impression that may exist that Norfolk had not been fairly treated by his com pany Mr Bidwoll then went into detail to show how tho rates wero established He began at points on the great lakes where Duluth Minneapolis and St Paul and Chicago wero competitive points Showed wherein St Louis came iu for her share of business mid by nn intricnto system of reasoning along tho triangle basis explained any apparent discriminations All these points have feeders of largo systems of railway which as they pro ce d west come into compititiou for tho business along their lines Whero tho feeders of these great systems meet or come into competition they are com pelled to adjust tho long aud short haul ratf s Ho stated that n shipment from Chicago to Omaha by way of St Louis wns carried as cheaply as a shipment direct to Omaha by way of Clinton Coming across the Missouri river tho Lincoln situntion is encountered By a nice system of reasoning ho explained this situatiou The jobbers of Omaha and St Louis were in competi tion for the trade at Liucolli and west The Elkhorn and Union Paoifiu lines both come by way of Lincoln- and the Union Paciflo has beeu forced to meet
