Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1908-12-14

with the request that it be published:
RENO COMMERCIAL CLUB,
RENO, Nevada, Nov. 81, 1908.
GENTLEMEN:
For many years the growth and pros
perity of the State of Nevada, and that
portion of California east of the Sierra
range, have been retarded and held
back, and the cost of living made un-
necessarily high by the unjust, exces-
sive and discriminative rates of freight
charged to all parts of the state; not
only on the necessaries of life but on
everything that tends to the making
and upbailding of the state,
ALI efforts to have. the, freight rates
to the stAte reduced so al to permit it's
people o-prosper and the different com
munities within the state to grow have
so far been ignored, and to use the ex-
preston published in one of the leading
California daily papers, said to have
emanatedi from the San Francisco
Merchants Exchange, while we admit
that Nevada is charged exorbitant and
unjust rates of freight, yet, we have
the state by the throat, with strangle
hold, and do not propose to release that
hold"
Some months ago the citizens of Reno,
backed by the Commercial Club, petit
toned the State Railroad Commission
of Nevada to present the case of the
people of Nevada to the Interstate
Commerce Commission at Washington,
in consequence of which the State Rail
road Commission, on behalf of the
citizens, filed complaint with the Inter-
State Commerce Commission, against
the Southern Pacific Railroad Company
and allied lines, asking the Interstate
Commission to grant a hearing looking
to the fair and equitable adjustment of
of freight rates to this state.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has acknowledged the petition and
will give hearing in the near future,
the exact date of which has not been
settled. j
The State Railroad Commission of
Nevada, assisted by a corps of able rate
men have been working hard for some
time past tabulating these different
rates and making comparisons, so as to
present a strong case when the hearing
is held. WHAT WE ASK is: To he
placed on the same basis as other states,
such as Utah, Idaho, Montana and
Washington, all of which have inter
mediate terminal points within the
state, and in consequence of which,
they have grown and prospered and
their resources have been developed.
WE HAVE ALLIED AGAINST US
powerful interests. Not only the
railroad itself, but the various Cali
fornia Boards of Trade and Wholesale
interests who do not wish to see Nevada
free herself and become an independent
state, and have declared that they will
spend any amount necessary to defeat
the petition for better rates for the
state.
AS it will take a large sum of money
to pay for expert witnesses and assist
ants employed in the working up and
proper presentation of this case, and as
the State Commission of Nevada has
not the funds at their disposal to defray
these expenses it falls upon the citizens
of Nevada to donate the necessary
means to carry on this fight. As this
is fight in the interests of no partic.
ular business or community, but in the
interest of the entire state, we respect.
fully urge that each business club,
merchant and business man in every
community raise such subscriptions as
they can and forward to the Reno Com
mercial Club, Reno, Nevada, at the
earliest possible time. Any subscrip.
tions received will be acknowledged.
AS the time is short in which TO raise
the necessary funds to carry on the
work Of this case to present. when the