The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-03-29
NO ADVANCE MADE.
IN RATES FOR
LUMBER
Pacific Coast Lumbermen Are
Needlessly Alarmed
Nothing Considered.

Official announcement was made yes
terday by traffic officials of the North
ern Pacific and the Great Northern
that no immediate changes are con-
templated in lumber rates from the
Puget sound country to Missouri river
and st. Paul gateways, as reported
unoficially to the interstate commerce
commission at Washington Pacific
coast lumbermen.
The statement made by the trans
continental lines is as follows:
we have not considered an in
crease in Pacific Missouri river
lumber rates, except as they may have
been involved in discussions cover
ing the general rates and cost of SER
vice; no immediate changes are con-
templated."
The advices received by the inter-
state commerce commission were that
the lines proposed to advance the, rate
on lumber from 40 cents to 60 cents
per 100 pounds from Puget sound
points to st. Paul and Missouri river
cities. This would mean an increase
of SO per cent and it Is evident on
the surface that the roads have not
been considering any such advance,
even though conditions may warrant
the lines in putting In new lumber
tariff. The report from Washington
states that the shippers on the coast
have intimated to the commission that
they will make a fight in the courts
If such an advance Is made.
Conditions Change.
1t is interesting to note that the
conditions governing the hauling Of
lumber from the Pacific coast points
have changed materially since the in
dustry got its start there. The rate
of 40 cents was made at time when
lumber was drug in the market on
the coast and the lines were ready
and willing to stimulate the coast lum-
Der industry because it helped them to
maintain more even condition in
east and west bound movements.
Fifteen years ago or SO west bound
traffic was considerably heavier than
the east bound movement. To reduce
the empty car movement east bound
the roads put in rate on lumber
which stimulated the buying of Pacific
coast products in the eastern market.
In those days Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin cut enough timber to supply a
large part of the country and the
cheap rate from the west helped the
Pacific coast product to enter in COM
petition with the products from this
territory.
When the industry was young on
the coast lumber was selling at $3.50
per 1000, while it runs up to $40 a
1000 at present.
Create Empties.
1t is argued that owing to the de-
velopment of the lumber traffic from
the west, conditions have entirely
reversed from what they were fifteen
years ago. Instead of hauling emp
ties from the west the lines now haul
empties to the west in order to take
care of the lumber movement. The
lumber industry has become so strong
ly developed, it is urged, that the
western lumber traffic has become I'M
profitable in view of the empties that
have to be hauled west to take care of
it. Because of the fact that empties
have to be hauled west the lines get
a revenue of only $3.50 for hauling a
car 1000 miles.
The traffic men maintain, however,
that the question of lumber rates has
been discussed in so far as they come
in under the head of general rates
and the consideration Of general traff-
ic conditions and no immediate change
in the lumber rates are under con-
termination