The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-06-20
LUMBER RATES
ARE SMASHED
BYCOMMISSION
Sweeping Reductions Made by
Interstate Commerce Body
for Coast Points
Five Per Cent Cut Is Ordered on
Advanced Rates in East
ern Territory
Many Important Cases Are De-
cided Against the Rail-
roads

WASHINGTON. June 19.-Sweeping
reductions in lumber rates west Of
the Missouri river and per cent re-
duction in the advanced rates in the
east as well as other changes in the
tariff are ordered under decisions an
noenced by the interstate commerce
commission today.
The rulings are made in a group
Of important cases involving the rates
on lumber, shingles and other forest
products from points in the Willamette
valley 10 san Francisco and from Wash
ington. Oregon. Idaho, Montana and
British Columbia to eastern and south
ern markets.
These cases include those of the Ore
gon and Washington lumJer manufac-
turers' association against the Union
Pacific and other roads. Pacific lumber
manufacturers associations and others
against the Northern Pacihc and others,
and the Southwestern Washington lum-
Der manufacturers association against
the Northern Pacific They involve
general advance in lumber rates, in
many cases 20 and 25 per cent, from
north Pacific coast territory to points
east thereof, which became effective in
November
DECISION Is GEOGRAPHIC
The commission makes a geographic
decision in its action. On the ground
OF unreasOna bleness Il orders restora-
tion Of the previous rates west of
line drawn from Pembina, N D,
through Grand Forks. Council Bluffs,
Kansas City and Sioux City to Port
southern railway and Including all
points east Of that line which now
take the same rates as any point be-
tween and including Sioux City and
Kansas City" A part OF the increase
10 the more distant markets lying
east Of the Missouri river is permitted
10 stand.
Dinerential rates from Spokane rate
group points. Montana-Oregon rate
, group points and Hood River, EIlens-
burg and Leavenworth districts, which
lie east OF the Cascade mountains, en-
bracing parts Of Washington and Ore
gon. and al Of Idaho, TO eastern ter
ritory. are established under a deci-
sion in the case Of the Potlach lumber
company and others against the
Northern Pacific and other railroads.
Rates from the SPOKANE districts
were ordered made .ower than those
70 the Pacific coast. and the commits
sion directs restoration Of the uniform
dinerentials under the coast rates that
were in effect prior TO last November.
:. p. ADVANCE UNJUST
IN the case Of the Western Oregon
lumber manufacturers association
against the Southern Pacific company
the commission decides that the ad-
vance Of IS a ton from all mills in
the Willamette valley, not including
Portland, is unjust and unreasonable:
that from both the east and west banks
south Of Corvallis the rate should not
exceed $40 a ton, and upon the west
bank north Of Corvallis 1856 a ton.
Because OF the water rate the Portland
rate is not reduced
In the case of the Pacific Coast man
ufacturing association against the
Northern Pacific and other roads the
commission declines to establish an
other through route from Washington
% colorado common points and eastern
destinations. II requires, however, the
Northern Pacific railway. the Northern
Pacific terminal company OF Oregon,
the Oregon railroad and navigation
company the Oregon Short Line and
the Union Pacific TO establish through
rates for lumber from the Northern
Pacific line in Washington, north of
Portland as far as Seattle, through
Portland 10 ogden and Salt Lake City
ana Utah common points and 40
cents hundred weight rate on FIR and
spruce lumber, and 50 cents hundred
weight on cedar lumber and shingles
prescribed for through traffic
chairman Knapp and Commissioner
Harlan oissented from the conclusions
reached by the majority in these cases
on the ground that most of the advance
IN rates was reasonable.