for a number of years and up to July 15, 1881, but since that time have compelled me to pay regular rates--forty-two dollars. I have since that time shipped about 300 cars, making my dues about $2,100.00, which I propose to sue for under the law of common carriage if they do not settle soon. I wish to call the attention of your committee to this matter, as I believe this is one of your especial duties. Please let me know by return mail if I am not in the right of this matter, and also if you can't give me your assistance in procuring my just dues. Yours truly, JOHN L. WILSON.

DES MOINES, Iowa, December 29, 1884.

JOHN L. WILSON, ESQ., West Liberty, lowa:

DEAR SIR-Your letter of December 18th to Mr. Coffin has been by him referred to this Board. Will you please furnish this office with an affidavit setting forth the following facts: The number of years prior to July 15, 1881, that you had a $35 rate on stock; the regular schedule rate during that period; the rate you have paid since that date (July 15, 1881); the regular rate scheduled since that date; distance and direction of Atalissa and Downey from West Liberty; rates at Atalissa and Downey prior to July 15, 1881; rates at Atalissa and Downey since that date. An affidavit embodying the foregoing facts and such other as you think material will be the basis of our investigation.

By order of the Board.

To the Railroad Commissioners. Des Moines, Iowa:

E. G. MORGAN, Secretary.

WEST LIBERTY, IOWA, January 5, 1885.

GENTLEMEN—Cannot give particulars and dates as I would like to, for want of time. Was not at home when your second letter of inquiry came. They gave a thirty-five dollar rate two years prior to July 15, 1881, at this point on live stock; regular rate at that period, fifty dollars. The rate I have paid since July 15, 1881, forty-two dollars, schedule rate. Atalissa is five miles east; schedule rate, forty-one dollars. Downey five miles west; schedule rate, forty-three; schedule rate has been just one dollar more for Downey and one dollar less for Atalissa than rate at this point, as long as I can remember. I was a partner with H. H. Ady in the fall and winter of 1879 and 1880, and we were shipping over the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern, and Mr.JE. R. Clapp came to see us and wanted us to give them our shipments, and agreed to give us a forty dollar rate. We felt satisfied he was doing better by the other shippers from this point, but he declared upon his honor that they were receiving the same rate. We afterward found out that he had made a false statement to us, and was giving and had been giving Gray and Evans a thirty-five dollar rate. We went for them for what they were owing us extra, five doilars per car, which amounted to $305. W. M. Sage got terribly angry, and almost drove me out of his office, and said they would never pay it; but I put it in the hands of a lawyer and they then came to terms and paid half the claim, which we were foolish enough to accept. We should have had every dollar of it. Sage never has spoken to me since, and he is and has been, I think, trying to punish me by giving my opponents a benefit over me in a business way-I mean by giving them a special rate on each side of me. I ship the bulk of the fat stock from this point; shipped ten cars last week and have about the same number to go this week. I do not ask to be placed ahead of any shipper, but do insist on being placed on equal terms with them.

Yours truly,

JOHN L. WILSON.

Sworn to and subscribed before me by J. L. Wilson this fifth day of January, 1885.

[SEAL.]

GEORGE C. SHIPMAN, Notary Public in and for Muscatine county, Iowa.

DES MOINES, Iowa, January 9, 1885.

JOHN L. WILSON, ESQ., West Liberty, Iowa :

DEAR SIR-Your letter or affidavit, dated January 5, 1885, has been received. From it we find the following facts: That for two years prior to July 15, 1881, you paid a rate of $35 per car-load on stock from West Liberty to Chicago. That since July 15, 1881, you have paid forty-two dollars per car, which is the regular schedule rate; that you made some claim formerly against the company for overcharges in 1879 and 1880, and that you have settled that claim with the company; that the schedule rate for stock from West Liberty is forty-two dollars, from Atalissa, five miles east, it is fortyone dollars, and from Downey, five miles west, it is forty-three dollars. You express a belief that shippers at Atalissa and Downey are furnished special rates which give them advantage over you. We do not understand. you to complain of the regular rates, but of unjust discrimination against you in favor of shippers at Atalissa and Downey. Upon this question of fact your affidavit is silent. Please furnish us with an affidavit setting. forth the facts upon which you rely as establishing this charge. Upon receipt of the same we will investigate the matter. By order of the Board.

Railroad Commissioners, Des Moines, Iowa:

E. G. MORGAN, Secretary.

WEST LIBERTY, IOWA, January 15, 1885.

GENTLEMEN—I do express a belief and have to some extent certain knowledge that shippers at Atalissa, Downey, and other points, are given special rates which gives them advantage over me, and I certainly do think it a very unjust discrimination against me. The facts. on which I rely in establishing my claim are by shippers from those points, as some of them have told me they had received a certain amount off on large shipments, and a greater amount on small ones. Shippers who made these assertions did not know there was any trouble between myself and the railroad officials, and when approached upon this question of lateseemed determined to evade the question, and said they thought the C., R. I. & P. folks. would settle with me without going to law. In order to get at the exact truth in this matter of discrimination, it will, I think, be necessary to put shippers from Atalissa, Downey, Iowa. City, Wilton, and Walcott under oath. It is my belief that the schedule rate, as it now isforty-two dollars from this point-is entirely too much.

J. L. WILSON.

Subscribed and sworn to before me by J. L. Wilson, this 16th day of January, 1885. GEORGE C. SHIPMAN, Notary Public in and for Muscatine county, Iowa..

[L. 8.]

J. L. WILSON, West Liberty, Iowa:

DES MOINES, Iowa, January 30, 1885.

DEAR SIR-Your letter or affidavit of January 15th received. Please make an affidavit in which you will state the names and addresses of shippers at Atalissa and Downey and other points who stated to you that they were getting rebates and special rates on large and small cars, giving particularly the language of parties as you recollect it. We must have something specific and definite in order to investigate with any certainty. Your

affidavit only contains the statement that shippers have told you certain things, but does not give their names or addresses, nor the language of their statements? Please give this matter prompt attention.

By order of the Board.

E. G. MORGAN, Secretary.

WEST LIBERTY, IOWA, February 2, 1885.

Railroad Commissioners, Des Moines, Iowa:

GENTLEMEN—Your letter of January 30th at hand, asking me to give names of shippers who told me certain things in reference to rates, etc., under oath. I can't see why you wish me to prove up this whole matter and give names of shippers who said thus and so. I supposed if I gave you the points where they were discriminating, you would call on E. R. Clapp, Stock Agent, and W. M. Sage, Freight Agent, to contradict such statements, if they could, under oath. How long will the Board be in session, and would they wish me to appear in person before them? I will try and do so if they wish it any time after this week, as I will be absent from home for five or six days. Hoping to hear by return mail,

Yours in haste,

JOHN L. WILSON, ESQ., West Liberty, lowa:

JOHN L. WILSON.

February 6, 1885.

DEAR SIR-Your letter of February 2, 1885, has been received. The Board of Railroad Commissioners, no more than any other tribunal authorized by law to investigate complaints, can act without evidence. In our correspondence with you it was soon developed that you had no personal knowledge of the special rates complained of by you, but you wrote that certain persons had made statements to you that seemed to be admissions of special rates granted to themselves or other persons. When we call on you for an affidavit giving names of persons, statements made, etc., you say you "can't see why you (we) wish me to prove up the whole matter." The Commissioners say to you that the inability or unwillingness of the person complaining to aid in throwing any light whatever in the direction of the truth is a very discouraging circumstance. If, however, you think that on Wednesday, the 18th of February, 1885, you will be able to furnish us with any facts, we will meet you at Des Moines, at 2 P. M., for the purpose of a hearing. Please let us know if you wish to meet us at that time.

By order of the Board.

E. G. MORGAN, Secretary.

WEST LIBERTY, IOWA, February 16, 1885.

Railroad Commissioners, Des Moines, Iowa:

GENTLEMEN-I have concluded it would be useless for me to appear on the 18th. If it is necessary for me to prove up all they require, I might just as well drop the matter. As far as the assistance of the Board is concerned it amounts to nothing. It looks very much to me as if the Board were favoring the railroads. I certainly can't see why the railroad folks can't be called to testify in such complaints.

DES MOINES, IOWA, February 18, 1885.

JOHN L. WILSON, ESQ., West Liberty, Iowa:

DEAR SIR-Your letter of the 16th inst. received and contents noted. The Commissioners understand from it that you withdraw your complaint. The position seems to them to be this: You make charges of discrimination; the Commissioners call on you for proof, and you conclude that they are favoring the railways and can be of no service to you. They do not care to discuss your conclusions.

By order of the Board.

WM. E. WIEHE, LANSING, IOWA,

VS.

E. G. MORGAN, Secretary.

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL RAILWAY COMPANY.

Filed December 31, 1884.

Judge James McDill, Afton, lowa:

LANSING, IOWA, December 19, 1884.

DEAR SIR-I address myself to you as a Railroad Commissioner. I am disgusted with the many small dignitaries of railroads that have their being through private and public aid of the people. Disgusted because of the many manifestations showing the utter disregard to accommodate us. That is the reason that a passenger is forced to stay in North McGregor twenty-four hours, when there are chances on freight trains to go north that he is willing to ride on. Now, I propose: (1). That any railroad running but one passenger train on its line or any division thereof shall be forced to carry passengers on any and all of their freight trains. (2). That no company shall be allowed to depart from any station if at such place there is an arrival of another train on another road within one-half hour of such time of departure. It is deemed just as essential for these railroad managers to study accommodation as it now seems the study to avoid it if possible. Please try and see what can be done, and much oblige,

Yours truly,

WM. E. WIEHE.

DES MOINES, Iowa, December 29, 1884.

WM. E. WIEHE, ESQ., Lansing, Iowa:

DEAR SIR-Your letter has been forwarded by Judge McDill to this office. Please furnish us a statement of your detention at North McGregor twenty-four hours, while freight trains were passing on which you could have gone north. If we can do so upon investigation will take pleasure in endeavoring to add to the accommodation and comfort of the public with reference to trains from McGregor.

By order of the Board.

E. G. MORGAN, Secretary.

LANSING, IOWA, December 31, 1884.

MR. E. G. MORGAN, Secretary Railroad Commissioners, Des Moines, Iowa:

DEAR SIR-Mr. S. A. Wolcott, assistantant to the Division Superintendent, River Division Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway is the person by whom I desire to substantiate my complaint against the company, and with whom I have remonstrated concerning their new laws of exclusions as to persons riding on freight trains on this division, where there is but one passenger train a day. It is so much more unendurable as I have to pay $5 more than other commercial travelers, and being forced to stay at McGregor over night must pay from $1.50 to $2 hotel bill every trip that might be saved. Mr. Wolcott fully sympathized with me but could do nothing. It is on the time table, a law. From the nature of the curves and their reverse positions freight trains cannot stop at the stations North and South McGregor, and passengers must go around the bends and freeze because the railroad officials are permitted to play fool with men and have no time to decently listen to complaints however well founded. I again reiterate that any railroad company running but one passenger train a day should be compelled to carry passengers and provide decent shelter at proper places where to board any of their freight trains. This matter can be very easily fixed by me if I have the making of the time table and the expending of a little money for a shelter at the elevators, and direct trains to stop there every time. This is between North (and South McGregor. Not being permitted to ride after night, I must wait until the next days' passenger to get home if I come there with the passenger from the west.

Respectfully,

WM. E. WIEHE, ESQ., Lansing, Iowa:

W. E. WIEHE.

DES MOINES, Iowa, January 9, 1885.

DEAR SIR-Your letter of December 31, 1884, has been received. You are understood to complain of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company that it only runs one passenger train per day north from McGregor; that it runs several freight trains but does not carry passengers on them; that the passenger train is so scheduled as to time that it leaves McGregor about one half hour before trains on other roads arrive; that freight trains are not stopped at the station, but at some point near an elevator. We have gathered these facts with much difficulty from your letters, and may have mistaken your meaning. Please send us an affidavit setting forth clearly the facts and we will investigate the matter. By order of the Board.

E. G. MORGAN, Secretary. LANSING, IOWA, February 2, 1885.

E. G. MORGAN, ESQ., Secretary Railroad Commissioners, Des Moines, Iowa: DEAR SIR-Permit me to offer thanks for the trouble I have given you to gather such facts as you state with regard to my complaint against the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. l'aul Railway. It is not worth while to trouble you any further about it. A road that runs but one passenger train in twenty-four hours north of McGregor of course ought not to be complained of if they exclude passengers from their freights. I will not make an affidavit. Yours, WM. E. WIEHE.

DES MOINES, IOWA, February 26, 1885. ROSWELL MILLER, ESQ., General Manager C., M. & St. P. R'y, Milwaukee, Wis.:

DEAR SIR-Some complaint has been made to the Commissioners with regard to your running arrangements at North McGregor. It is claimed