328 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



road competition on the farmers of Massachusetts had been terrible, many of 

 them were actually destitute, situated though they were, in the center of Massa- 

 chusetts, the freight rates to Boston were as high as from Chicago to Boston, 

 and consequently Chicago prices were all that could be realized from their 

 grains. They could not raise wheat on their land without artificial manure, 

 and the price realized would hardly jiay the cost. They were driven from grain 

 raising to dairying, and at first did well, but the invention of refrigerator cars- 

 made this business a profitless one. Tliey had tried market gardening, but 

 soon found the whole country competing with them at that, and from that 

 they could not live. AVhat next they could undertake he did not know ; it 

 looked as though the whole farming community of Massachusetts would be 

 rendered bankru])t. They were prevented from buying western produce cheap 

 by the railroad companies charging 140 extra freight per car for interior towns 

 than if delivered in Boston. (This extortion has since been stopped by legis- 

 lation.) 



In western New York and in portions of Ohio the same effect has been felt, 

 though in a less degree. 



Now what has been realized in Massachusetts may soon be realized in Michi- 

 gan. Prof. Kedzie shows in his lecture that in a few years if railroad freight 

 rates remain the same, the lower counties of Michigan must give up wheat 

 raising as a profitable business. During 1877 nearly every railroad in the State 

 apparently, though unintentionally, exerted itself to the utmost, by lowering 

 through rates and vuiintaininri local ones, to discriminate against Michigan. 



The following table shows average of through and local rates in mills, for 

 1877 on some of our trunk line roads : 



about five times the average 

 Pere Marquette, while on the 



From this it is seen that the average local is 

 through rate on both the Milwaukee and Flint & 

 Central it is less than three times. 



The average local rate represents the average of 

 the line whether competing or non-competing, he 

 a nou-competing point would have to pay. Since 

 have not rei)orted their highest freight rates, but 

 on local freight is essentially the same as tliat of 1877, it will probably be do 

 ing no injustice to the railroads in assuming the 

 the same as those for 1877. 



We should then have the following result: 



the rate from all points along 



nee it is much less than what 



1874 the railroad companies 



as the average rate for 1874 



highest grain rates for 1874 



