The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1902-08-09

niSnl Al NoAlAA Itkafdlng the reduction ~
freight rates asked for by the farmers q
the inland Empire:
Il think the reduction viii be aboui
40 TO 50 cents per ton, maximum. Thu
Is about 10 per cent gross"
This viii be for all points in the Inland
Empire. IL will be about to liz cent.
per bushel.
Chairman Mccrsskey said in reference
to this proposed reduction:
I'VE viii represent that the eonditiOl
Of the country Is such that a 10 cent rate
is needed. The people have been asking
for this for years"
The Conference.
The meeting at ColfaK was called to or
der few minutes after II O'Clock by y
9. MeCroskey. lie said il was conceded
that the best way 10 reduce freight rate.
vas to meet the presidents of the rail.
ways. He expressed the hope that a. q
result Of the meeting the freight rate
question would be thrown out OF politics.
President Han was the first speaker. In
addressing the meeting he said in part:
M Hill spenk9.
"We ought TO be able TO reason TO-
gether as the interests represented BY you
are united with the interests represented
by us A railroad can not overlook the
interests Of the people Of the country
through which II runs We can't over
look the farmers interests without over
looking the interests Of others.
You earn your money by shipping
products raised ON your land. We earn
our money by selling transportation. We
arr interested in you. The thing for us 10
do is TO 20 adjust the rates that we can
keep step"
The speaker brought up the shipments
Of wheat TO Europe, saying:
Fortunately new markets have been
oPened up in Asia. Regardless Of the
price at Liverpool or other markets your
wheat is bringing you about enough 70
keep you raising il. You have found a
way Of taking your wheat to the sea and
getting what you can. The wheat ca
ported 10 Liverpool is sold under disAd-
vantAges.
4 don't know what you are going to
do unless yea turn your eyes TO the east
for new markets. Maybe you can indnge
those exporters TO give you some of the
margin Of profit between the coast and
Liverpool. For the last two years one
fourth Of the crop has gone east. The
railroads have made wheat more valuable
in Minnesota, and possibly We can help
you here. The railroad people are glad to
meet you half way. Let the people ana
the railroads be good neighbOrs and fair
10 each other. would like nothing bet.
ter than for the people along the read TO
own the railroads themselves. There Is no
reason why they shouldn't Many Of our
people pat their all into our railway.s
President Mellen Of the Northern Pa
cific followed President Hill. He said in
part;
Il think that the task Of the Northern
Pacific reaches this city by probably the
longest and most imPossibly devised roate.
I hope that with increased prosperity VIC
can expend money in the improvement Of
our property. l believe We can share
with you a little Of the present prosper
ity. We came here with this disposition.
Let US get a fair agreement between your
desires and our ability. If we can't meet
your whole wishes now let us meet
again"
President MOhler of the o. r. 4 n. said
in substance;
at gives me more pleasure to meet
you than 10 collect the freight on a car
of wheat, which is the greatest pleasure
have had for a long time" The speaker
told Of the work done 10 improve the road
and called attention 10 the recent redac-
ton in passenger rates from I 10 cents
per mile. Continuing, he said:
"Mr. Mellen has intimated TO you thai
We are going to do something. not try 10
do something. think that we will meet
you more than half way. We must have
partnership. Now, the navigation com.
pany will meet your committee this after
noon with Presidents Hill and Mellen.
who have your interests at heart. Arr
duction Of rates here means a reduction Of
rates elsewhere"
w. d. Martin, president, and Francis
Jones, secretary, Of the Farmers Grain
company Of Nez herce, were in Cclfax to
present petition from the Farmers Grain
club, signed by coo farmers on the Clear.
water, for reduction Of rates.
The addresses Of the railroad presidents
were announced for II O'Clock, with a
conference in the afternoon, at which the
railway officials and farmers committees
will discuss the matter at issue.
After the conference President MoAles
Of the o. r. 4 n with his party went to
Portland, excepting w. Z Cotton, who
goes on a pleasure trip to Yellowstone
park.
Presidents Hill and Mellen went 10
Moscow and Lewiston after the conferences.
They were accompanied by Assistant Sa.
perintendent p. w. Campbell Of the o. r.
a N. A. far as Moscow.
Another ExteAnaen.
At COifax President Mohler Of the Ore
goa Railway a Navigation company an.
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