5 2 



UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



factor in bringing on the depression which prevailed during the latter 

 year. However, the resolution shows that the freight rate discrimination 

 was felt to be a serious grievance. 



On May 21, 1896, the Denver chamber of commerce adopted a 

 resolution stating that Colorado industries were subject to extortionate 

 and discriminative transportation rates, and that these rates had reduced 

 the volume of business in many lines below that of 1884. The resolution 

 also provided for the appointment of a committee of three to solicit 

 money to carry on the fight for fair freight rates. 1 



It is thus apparent that in 1896 the freight rates were complained of 

 by the most prominent business organizations and the newspapers. 

 Whether or not there was justice in these complaints of the shippers can 

 be determined by an examination of the rates themselves. The following 

 table gives the commodity rates in force in 1896, Chicago to California 

 and to Colorado. A glance is sufficient to show that everything was 

 charged more if it stopped in Colorado than if it went on through to the 

 Coast. 



Transcontinental Commodity Rates, 1896* 



Chicago to California 

 Terminals. Average 

 Distance 2,500 Miles 



Chicago to Colorado 

 Common Points. Aver- 

 age Distance 1,000 Miles 



Boots and shoes 



Burial cases 



Carpets 



Carpet linings 



Cash registers 



Clothing 



Coffee (roasted and ground) 



Chocolate L. C. L 



Dry goods 



Drugs and medicines 



Earthenware (plumbers') 



Glass (plate) 



Glass (colored, decorated etc.) 



Hair (compressed, etc.) 



Hardware 



Hose (garden) 



Iron and steel (bar, road, hoop etc.). 

 Iron and steel (boiler and plate) 

 Iron pipe 



H-5° 

 1.50 



i-75 

 1.50 

 2.40 

 1.50 

 .80 

 1.50 

 1 .00 

 1 .20 

 1 .00 

 1.50 

 1.50 

 1 .00 

 1 .00 

 1 .00 



■5° 

 .60 



•5° 



$2.05 



3-°7* 



2.05 



2.05 



4.10 



2.05 



1.25 



2.05 



2.05 



2.05 



1.65 



6. 15 



6.15 



2.05 



1.65 



2.05 



•77 

 ■77 



■77 



* Kindel, A B C of Freight Rales, Denver, p. 17, 1896. 

 1 Kindel, ibid., p. 9. 



