As usual while looking for something,I found a nugget that was totally
unrelated but still interesting so I'll share it. I think some may enjoy the
insight.
In 1913 the elevator at Polo,IL brought a case before the Illinois Railroad
and Warehouse Commission. The complaint was that the elevator shipped an average
of 41 loads of grain a year over the I.C. to Chicago and was unhappy with the
length of time the service consumed as well as the fact that in Chicago there
were additional switch charges to get the cars to the elevators and the I.C.
would not absorb them.
So the Polo elevator had asked the IC/Q to build an interchange track at
Polo so they could send the cars via the Q after being loaded on the IC. The
reason for this request was that the elevator was sure the Q provided better
service and would absorb the switch fees in Chicago.
Both RRs refused and after paying what must have been some hefty legal
fees, as the case was presented at length to the commission the Polo elevator
lost. The commission noted the grade separation between the carriers at Polo and
the estimated cost of $11,000 to build the proposed interchange track. It was
also noted that there had never been an interchange trk at that location.
Leo Phillipp