The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-08-30
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 30, 1906.
REDUCING RAILROAD RATES.

Among the interesting news of the
past week is the announcement that
the Great Northern railroad has re.
duced its rates upon grain shipments
to the Twin Cities and the head of
navigation on the great lakes, the new
rates applying to points as far west
as the Montana eastern boundary line.
The dispatches announcing this reduc-
ton in railroad rates describe it as a
voluntary act, and intimate that it is
an evidence Of unselfish devotion to
the welfare of shippers who will profit
from it.
The extent of this reduction in rates
upon grain shipments ranges from
about one-half cent per bushel for a
short haul from Minnesota points to
five cents per bushel upon grain
shipped from the western part Of North
Dakota. According to railroad ".
.horities who claim to know the size
of the crop to be.marketed, the lower
freight charges will mean a saving Of
about So 500, 900 tolthe farmers of the
northwest.
1t will occur to the student of rail
road affairs that.sx substantial reduc-
ton in rates upon grain shipments is
somewhat remarkabl IL ia view OF the
fact that railroad1 authorities have
commended that the old rates were not
bt,,hnn chan thn icoc,ina ~ month
Grain rates were among the lowest in
the list, and II reduced charges upon
any commodity were justified or de-
sirable, it would: seem that the cut
should have been made in rates that
are VIGOROUSLY exOrbitant. 1t is
also observed that the favored terri
tory extends no further west than the
Montana line; the staple products of
the Dakotas and Minnesota are recog.
nized as deserving applicants for low.
er freightsrates, but shippers of Mon
tana products must pay tribute at the
high levy heretofore in effect. 1t
would have given greater satisfaction
to the people Of Montana if the rate
reduction had applied to commodities
which they produce or 10 goods i'm
ported from outside points and upor
which they pay high transportation
charges.
There are some unbelievers who
maintain that the reduction in rates
upon grain shipments is not entirely
an act OF b%enevolence. They intimate
that it is a dramatic bid against Pres
ilent Roosevelt's demand for govern.
ment regulation OF freight rates. They
may use the incident as an object les
son to demonstrate that if the rate
making power is permitted to remain
with the railroads, it will be exercised
with prudence and q liberal regard
for the public interests.
Another.view of the matter is given
in railroad gossip which says the re-
duction of grain tariffs between the
eastern boundar line of Montana and
St. Paul by President J. J. Hill of the
Great Northern, and which rates were
at once met by the Northern Pacific,
is but the beginning Of q rate war be-
tween the Great Northern and the Soc
line. In many instances the reduction
is as much as . cents u hundred, ant
that mean that hundreds of thousand.
Of dollars will remain in the pocket.
Of the farmers instead Of being pait
ou, to the railroads for freight. Tn,
theory is that Hill, by a sharp attack
hopes TO whip the 500 into making al
equitable division of the grain traffic
or else make the hauling of the grair
60 inexpensive as to make it impossi
BILE for the 500 to pay dividends
Should the 500 meet the new rates
say railroad men, then the war vii
have begun.
For many years the Great Norther,
enjoyed unmolested. all of the traffic il
a large part of Minnesota and Nortl
Dakota. During the past two years
however, the 500 has been buildin,
rapidly into territory pierced by in
Vulnerable branch lines and the resu1
is that the 500 has been getting a goo
share Of the business: so much in ia,
that it is rapidly taking a place anon
the strong roads Of the country.
Whether the reduction in grain rat,
is IN act of benevolence, a part of Il
railroad campaign against Presides
ROosavalt. Or an incident in tho firl
against a rival railroad system, Il
fact remains that the shippers atfectt
will benefit from the change. 9th,
patrons Of the railroads will indul.
the hope that the good work of ra
reduction will continue.
HON. Is THIS. MR.. SECRETARY.