The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-03
Legislative Joint Committee
Holds Closing Session of
Long Investigation.
FREIGHT RATES AND
TRANSPORTATION MATTERS
Result of Investigation Will
Be Submitted to LegisIa-
ture Next Week.

The last meeting for the purpose of
taking testimony was held by the
Joint committee TO investigate coal
shortage and freight rates and discrimi-
nations in railroad transportation, was
held Friday morning in the Mayor s Of
fee. The testimony of h, c.. Griffin
was completed, and Harry Joseph and
Lucien II. Curtis were examined as wit
| nesses. Mr.. Griffin furnished a copy
of the agreement for the organization
of the local Utah Railway association.
This association was organized on the
first day of May, 1897; Its object being,
as stated, TO promote harmony between
the Oregon Short Line and the Rio
Grande Western Railway companies. to
the end that just and reasonable rates
of charge for the respective service
may be made and maintained between
all points common to the two lines, and
to prevent discrimination between
shippers. The charges between the sew
cral points in Utah on freight, moving
of cars. and the like by the respective
companies are set forth in detail. Mr.
Griffin stated that the paper was an eX-
act copy OF tho original agreement In
Harry S. Joseph stated that he was
a mining promoter and mining engi!n;,
eer. Asked if he was a SHIPPER, he said
he was. 81 am not shipping now as
formerly; have shipped from Tintic
and from Bingham.
''You have occasion to transport ma
terial into your mining ,camp?'
"Yes, sir, coal, lumber and ma
chineryp
"What is your experience in ship
ming over The railroads! ~
'sWell, ] want to state that, as far
as Tintic is concerned, there is gross
discrimination against Tintic. They
charge us on ore greater amount than
they do for a like ore from greater
distance on the same road. -
What are the charges IN and out of
Tlntic on ore?'
Il want to state that from Tintic
they charged up rate and are charging
us rate on ore of a gross value of @25
and over, $3.50 ton, from Eureka,
Mammoth and Silver City, to Salt Lake
valley smelters. From Frisco, 2l0 miles
from the same objective point, they
charge on the same class, of ore, 500,
and from Oasis, l2S miles, or forty
miles further, they charge $500 per ton
on the same class of ore
care the charges on both roads the
same1N
"On both roads the samoa joint
tariff on ore from Tintic Lately we
succeeded in getting the tariff reduced
25 cents ton, based on value The
rate now on ores running less than Sl5,
based upon gross value, is Sl.25 per ton,
as against $l50 before the reduction
was made. -
AT present there are three valuations
The first valuation is Sl5 and under
gross value; the charge is 81 25 per ton.
On $25 and under, gross value, 50 25
per ton; on ores $25 and up TO 800, |
$3.50 per ton. ] am not familiar with
the operations OF these particular lines. |
think the rate charged on S25 is
too high. and ] never could see the
difference in shipping $25 ore and SIS |
ore. / think the classification of ores |
out of Tintic unfair as compared with |
other camps, such as Frisco and the |
Horn silver mine
Mr., Joseph testified at length on this |
subject of rates, and showed himself the |
best Informed witness that has ap- |
oeared before the committee on the |
subject upon which he was questioned. |
But he offered no feasible remedy for |
he conditions complained of.
LucIus Fl. Curtis, the next and last
witness, said he was engaged in mining:
hat is, he was trying TO develop n coal
nine near Helper. The name of his
company is the Independent Coal and
Coke company. 1t has no association
With the transportation company. Tt
vas soon ascertained that Mr.. Curtis
Knew little or nothing of the subject
natter OF the investigation and was ex-
used
This closed the investigation by the
which win meet on Monday
n executive session.