The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-02-27
LOWER THE RATES.
Explanation of the Unequal Freight
Rates to the judith,
Basin,
Great Falls Merchants Must Make an
Effort 20 Secure Better
Rates.

why is il that Great Falls merchants
do so little business with the Judith
basin: Well. III toll YOU just why. 1t
il because w are 50 completely handi-
capped by high freight rates" So said
ID. l.. Willard Of Bach. Cory ~ Co., in re
spouse to the question OF "A TRIBUNE
representative yesterday. Further gucs-
tloning brought to light the fact that the
freight rates from st. Paul to LcwIstOwn
10y way of Great Falls are nearly if not
quite double the rate by way Of Billings.
Not long ago." said Mr.. Willard, "wc
gent one OF u representatives down
into that country. He was shown bills
on which the freight rate was just
about half what We have to pay. These
bills are made out in such a way that
they appear to contain an crror-so that
if any question is raised concerning the
rate and it is charged that the North
crn Pacific is cutting the established
rate it can be called an error. For in
stance, we will suppose it is
a bill for a car load of
canned goods the rate on which
is say 3l.4J. It will be billed 10000
pounds canned goods at SID, and car
rlcd out to the total. Sl.ij, instead Of
$50. DO you see the scheme: The
rate is in fact cut square in two, but il it
was ever caught up. 1t would appear
merely as a clerical error. As long as it
is not caught up the merchant gets the
benefit.
Row the Northern Pacific people are
giving LcWistown these low rates in
spite of the fact that the wagon haul
from Billings to LewistoWn is longer
than from Great Falls 20 LewistoWn
and a great deal longer than from
I Nrmington 10 LcWlstoWn. We have
done our best to get Il better rate. but
tuus far have had No success. Why the
Great Northern ignores this question IS
more than | can understand. The
Judith basin would give them an i'm
intense volume Of business. every pound
81 which now goes to tine Northern
Pacific. But the ways Of the railroads,
like those of Providence, are mysterious
and past finding out
"Why is Great Falls handicapped on
freight rates 10 the Judith hasin:' asked
IL TRIBuNE representative OF Il gentleman
closely connected with the Great North
crn railway.
1T is as plain as Il pikcstail. was the
reply. The sole reason Is because the
Northern Pacific violates its agreement
with the Great Northern fixing the same
rate for both roads t. the Judith basin
The Northern Pacific cuts this rate. The
Great Northern knows it, but will not
cut in return. This is Il mistake. | be,
lievc, but they say they propose to i've
: up 10 the agreement, nc matter whether
the Northern Pacific does or not. This
has been going on for several years and
. IN more places than one. .
but asked the reporter, why is II
that the Great Northern" knowing ol
! these facts. will make an agreement
, with the Northern pacilic::'
That il a question ! cannot answer
/ presume the Great Northern p"upl'
: have some good reason for it. though. 50
l far as | am personally concerned, / cui
: see neither rhyme . reason in II. tcI
tainly, il they would make q similar f"i'
they would secure a large amount O.
= business. as the wagon haul Is Iuuci
shorter this way. liut if the merchant
OF Great Falls will interest iiicmsclyD.
= sufficiently IN the proposition to make
united effort to secure a better rate.
: believe the Great Northern would gran
It. 1t is an important matter ana ON
that ought to be taken hulu Of. W.
] want to get Il wool market here bat "
T. cannot do il unless we can offer nthc
s advantages with it. Now this matter Il
: trade with the judith basin is very close
ly hinged to the wool question and be
. iieve that concerted effort on both line
would bring us what sc want
! speaking OF railroad rates. remarked
= another gentleman. "do you know VII.
= the Devils Auction decided not to com
:. to Great Falls and give us Il season II
the opera house? 1t was simply becahs
they could not stand the rate iron
Helena here. The troupe carries MI.
e people and it would have cost them sS.S'
g a piece or $40 just for railroad fares
Y No large can stand such a pul
Q as that. We will have hard work get
t ting large companies in our opera hous'
as long as this rate is maintained.