an order requiring the defendant Railway Company to maintain a depot and agency at that point. A copy of the earnings at Frazer as above referred to was furnished the complainant and he was advised that the Commission would be pleased to consider any figures that he cared to file contradictory of the figures submitted by the Railway Company. Under date of March 6th, 1908, the complainant again addressed the Commission requesting the establishing of a station and agency at Frazer, stating that the business at the point mentioned had increased since the date the first complaint was filed. The Commission secured from the Great Northern Railway Company figures for the months of May to December, 1907, inclusive, which showed that the revenues at Frazer for passengers and freight were $238.15 and $927.99 respectively, the total earnings averaging $145.77 per month, and held that the business did not warrant the inauguration of station services as requested by the complainant. NO. 9. FORMAL. J. E. TEMPLeton, Et Al., VS. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY. Subject: Daylight Passenger Train service. Result: Order made for mixed train service between Great Falls and Havre. Station building enlarged. Complaint filed August 27th, 1907. August 27th, 1907, J. E. Templeton and others of Fort Benton and vicinity filed complaint with the Commission asking that daylight passenger train service between Great Falls and Havre be established on the Great Northern Railway. The Commission held a public hearing at Fort Benton September 26th, 1907, and afterward on October 17th, 1907, issued an order for a daylight mixed train service between the points mentioned. See Order No. 4. The station building at Fort Benton was enlarged on request of the Commission and made more comfortable. On January 9th, 1908, the Great Northern Railway Company made request to the Commission to withdraw the mixed train service established by order of the Commission claiming that the travel on the trains was so light that the company was at heavy loss in running the same. The Commission set a public hearing to be held at Fort Benton January 20th, 1908. At this hearing it was shown that the travel since the inauguration of the service did not warrant a continuance of the same; the people of Fort Benton and vicinity agreeing. Upon this showing the Commission consented to the withdrawal of the trains. Subject: Delays in L. C. L. shipments of perishable goods to various points upon the defendant Company's line in Montana. Result: Through efforts of the Commission the service complained of was greatly improved. Complaint filed August 2nd, 1907. Matter arranged without hearing. On August 2nd, 1907, Lindsay & Company, Ltd., dealers in wholesale fruits and produce at Helena, filed complaint with the Commission regarding delays in delivery of perishable goods at destinations, by the defendant Railway Company. The complaint set forth that on account of the delays mentioned, the complainant was subjected to financial loss and inconvenience. The Commission at once took this matter up with the officials of the Northern Pacific Railway Company and instructions were issued to improve the service; such instructions were carried out and the service greatly improved. NO. 11. FORMAL. ALEX BARKLEY & Co, VS. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY. Subject: Freight rate on hay, Chinook to Fort Benton. Result: refund made. Investigation showed complainants had been overcharged; Complaint filed August 31st, 1907. Adjusted September 13th, 1907. Alex. Barkley & Co., filed complaint in which it was set forth that they had been charged a rate of $3.00 per ton on hay, car loads, baled, from Chinook to Fort Benton and that such charge was excessive. Upon investigation it was shown that the complainants had been overcharged, the established rate on hay between the points mentioned being $2.40 per ton; refund was accordingly secured. NO. 12. FORMAL. HUTTIG MANUFACTURING CO., VS. NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY. Subject: Unsatisfactory demurrage rules and charges. Result: New uniform demurrage rules for all railroads in Montana, the same applying on both interstate and intrastate shipments. Complaint filed Sept. 14, 1907. Order, promulgating new demurrage rules Jan. 14, 1908. Under date of Sept. 14, 1907, the Huttig Manufacturing Company of Billings, Montana, filed complaint with the Commission, stating that the demurrage rules, then in effect were unsatisfactory and in many cases worked a hardship on the receivers of carload freight. On July 10th, 1908, the Commission held a hearing on the subject of Demurrage Rules and Charges, a number of shippers and representatives of railroad companies being present to give testimony. January 14th, 1908, the Commission issued an order promulgating new demurrage rules applicable to all roalroad companies operating in Montana and by arrangement, the same apply on interstate as well as intrastate shipments. The new Demurrage Rules are among the most liberal to the shipper, of any in existence in the United States. NO. 13. FORMAL. MADISON CLUB, VS. NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY CO. Subject: Passenger Train service on Gaylord branch. Matter arranged October 3rd, 1907. On September 19th, 1907, the Madison Club of Virginia City filed complaint with reference to the passenger train service of the defendant Railway Company on the Gaylord branch of its line. The complainant stated that the passenger trains were always late, causing long waits at Alder, Whitehall, Logan and other points, greatly inconveniencing the traveling public. The matter was immediately taken up with officials of the Northern Pacific Railway Co., with the result that the service was improved to the satisfaction of the complainant. NO. 14. FORMAL. J. K. MILLER, ET AL., VS. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY. Subject: Better loading and unloading facilities for freight at Columbia Falls. Better station accommodations at same point. Held: House Track to be constructed and station building enlarged. Orders made November 14th, 1907. Under date of July 29th, 1907, J. K. Miller and other residents of Columbia Falls, also residents of Kalispell and vicinity, filed complaint in which it was set forth that the facilities provided by the defendant Railway Company for handling of freight at Columbia Falls, were entirely inadequate; further that the station building at Columbia Falls did not in any way meet the reasonable requirements of the traveling public. The Commission made a personal inspection and held a public hearing on the subject at Columbia Falls, September 26th, 1907, at which were present representatives of the defendant Railway Company and citizens of the town. As a result of the hearing on November 14th, 1907, the Commission issued two orders in the premises. Order No. 8 requiring the construction of a House Track within 30 days. new passenger station within 60 days. Both orders have been fully complied with by the Railway Company. Subject: Request for platform near Complainant's place B. & M. Siding. Complaint filed August 7th, 1907. Matter arranged without hearing. J. E. Williams of B. & M. Siding filed complaint requesting a platform constructed at his place. The Commission's inspector investigated the matter on the ground and made a report in the premises. The subject was adjusted by the Great Northern Railway Company officials authorizing the construction of the platform. NO. 16. FORMAL. BITTER ROOT FRUIT GROWERS' ASSOCIATION, VS. NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY CO. Subject: Failure to furnish refrigerator cars for fruit loading. Result: Cars secured for Complainant. Complaint filed September 13th, 1907. Matter adjusted November 25th, 1907. Under date of September 13th, 1907, the Bitter Root Fruit Growers' Association, through its Manager, H. Ferbrache, made complaint that the Northern Pacific Railway Company was not furnishing a sufficient number of refrigerator cars for the loading of the Association's fruit, thereby causing great loss to the growers. The Commission took the subject up at once and secured a betterment of the service by having diverted, numerous refrigerator cars that would have otherwise gone to Southern Idaho. NO. 17. FORMAL. C. W. GARDINER, VS. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY. Subject: Plowing of fire guards along line of railway. Result: Work of plowing guards commenced and pushed to completion. Complaint filed Aug. 5th, 1907. Matter adjusted without hearing Sept. 11th, 1907. The complainant, C. W. Gardiner, of Galata, Montana, in petition filed August 5th, 1907, stated that the Great Northern Railway Company was not complying with the state law in regard to plowing fire guards along its right of way, thereby greatly increasing the danger of range fires. The subject was immediately taken up with R. W. Bryan, General Superintendent at Minot, N. D., who at once issued orders for the plowing of fire guards and agreed to complete the work as rapidly as possible. |