DUBUQUE SHIPPERS' ASSOCIATION

DUBUQUE SHIPPERS' ASSOCIATION. The Association was composed of the jobbers and manufacturing concerns of the city for the purpose of bettering freight traffic conditions and rates. In proceedings before the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Association worked to remove existing discriminatory rates to and from eastern cities. In addition, the Association quoted rates to members, gave advice on traffic matters, audited freight bills, represented its members at rate hearings and investigations, and as the only exclusive jobbing and manufacturing organization in the city handled nearly any question of interest to its members. (1)

The shippers in August, 1904 held a banquet at the DUBUQUE CLUB to hear the report of the Association's work. Shipping facilities to town west of Dubuque had been improved to the point that goods could be sent in one day instead of two or three. Tariffs had been adjusted and other arrangements had been made with the rairoads--all without trouble. It was expected a great deal of interest would be given to the report of the river and harbor committee. (2) In 1903 the Association sponsored a trip for members to their customers to encourage business. A similar trip for a couple of weeks to the north, south and west of the city seemed in the planning, but was then dropped in 1904. Suggestions were made not to have a trip so often. It was decided not to invite customers to Dubuque as had been done in the past because so few came. (3)

W. B. Martin, secretary of the Shipper's Association had a long history of representing shipping interests in Iowa. In 1908 he led the Iowa State Manufacturers' Association in an effort to reduce express rates in Iowa and charged that members of the Railroad Commission and the express company officials should be prosecuted. He alleged rates were determined solely by the Commission and the express companies. (4) Martin appeared in 1913 for the East Dubuque Railway Company, a branch of the DUBUQUE BREWING AND MALTING COMPANY, in a case involving discrimination in freight rates against the ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD. (5)

A proposed 5% increase in freight rates proposed by eastern railroads would cost river cities in Iowa between $75,000 to $100,000 for coal shipments. Testimony like this was given by Martin in testimony given to the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington, D. C. in February, 1914. Martin used as an example the DUBUQUE GAS COMPANY which alone would face an added cost of $2,700. This money, he argued, the company would be unable to collect as its rates were fixed. The commission assured Martin and other witnesses that instead of increased the river town would be receiving from 7-18% reductions in rates. (6)

In 1915 the Association was advised by the Interstate Commerce Commission of the suspension of the proposed increases in rates from New York City and New York rate points by the National Dispatch. The Dispatch was a differential fast freight line operating over round-about routes from the Atlantic coast and allowed to offer lower rates that those using direct routes. During the season of lake navigation, the differential lines meet the rates applying to boat lines. Direct routes charged 92.2 cents per hundred pounds of cargo. This was in comparison to 82.2 cents per hundred weight and 78 cents per hundred weight during open navigation. The suspension was due to the action of W. B. Martin of the Shippers' Association.

Martin argued that there was no proposed raise in rates to Quincy, Illinois or Hannibal, Missouri. This, he argued, was a violation of the "Mississippi River Case" where the Interstate Commerce Commission had prohibited the carriers from charging higher rates to and from eastern points to upper MISSISSIPPI RIVER cities like Dubuque. (7)

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Source:

1. "Shippers' Assn. Files Articles," Telegraph Herald, April 25, 1924, p. 16

2. "Shippers Plans to Review Their Work," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, August 15, 1904, p. 3

3. "Trip is Reported Off," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, September 25, 1904, p. 13

4. "Martin for Prosecution," The Telegraph-Herald, January 12, 1908, p. 1

5. "Freight Rates Hearing Friday," The Telegraph-Herald, May 22, 1913, p. 3

6. "Martin Argues Against Raise in Freight Rates," The Telegraph-Herald, April 6, 1914, p. 1

6. "Carriers Want More Revenue," The Telegraph-Herald, August 1, 1915, p. 27