The river press., 1908-03-25
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1908.
MONTANA FREIGHT RATES.

Some interesting information was
developed at q hearing held by the
Montana railroad commission few
days ago, at which the subject OF
freight rates was under investig alton.
The meeting was attended by large
number of Montana shippers and rep
resen.atives of the railroad interests,
all of whom were given opportunity
to present their side of the proposi.
tion.
One of the most important features
of the hearing was comparison be-
tween the freight rates paid by Mon.
tana clippers and the rates in effect
in adjoining states, for services of q
similar nature. Exhibits gathered by
the Montana railroad commission
show hat for a similar shipment made
over a similar distance, the rate In
Montana is about fifty per cent, higher
than the charges in effect in South
Dakota. Compared with the rates
prevailing in Minnesota and Wiscon.
Sin, the Montana freight charges are
So to 54 per cent. higher, and il com.
pared with the rates in Iowa the dis.
elimination against Montana business
men is still more pronounced.
In attempting to explain this great
and apparently unfair difference 10
rates the railroad attorneys claimed
that the lower freight charges in some
OF the other states are;due to legisla'
tive restrictions. This explain alton
may be true, but it is not q satisfac.
tory excuse for the high rates exacted
from the people OF Montana. II the
relatively low rates in effect in the
Dakotas, Minnesota and other states
are unreasonable and unfair, they car
be set aside by an appeal to the courts
The acceptance Of the lower rates re-
Quired by legislative enactment proves
that they are not Improbable to tht
railroads, and indicates that q con
siderable reduction in Montana freight
charges should be made.
The extent of the tribute collected
from the people Of Montana by exces
sive freight rates was indicated il
data presented at a public meeting il
Helena some time ago, the informa
tion being obtained from the otiicia
reports OF the interstate commerce
commission. According to this au
thority, the average net earnings 0
the Great Northern per mile on It,
line east of Minot, were 90, 800, whil
from Minot west to the Idaho lin
Towering its Montana field the ne
earnings averaged $4,000 per mile
These data related to business durinl
the yearsl904, NO later figures beinl
available, and the amount of freigh
transportation has been largely in
creased since that time. 1t 10 eviden
that Montana citizens are paying NOR
than their just share toward the ne
earnings of railroad corpor rations.
1t is urgediby the railroad interest
that it Is not advisable to agitate tn
subiect OF lower freight rates at tn
present time, because it will discour
age other railroads from seekin
Montana business. That kind OF ad
wee will be just as applicable to th
situation ten years hence "a it is q
the present time, land contemplates tn
continuance Of conditions that ar
unjust to the communities affected.
The people Of Montan aUare entitle'
to freight rates more in harmony wit
the value of the services rendered, an
which more nearly conform with thos
in effect in adjoining states. 1t is ar
parent that q considerable reductiO
IN Montana freight rates should b
made, and that lower scale {
charges would yield fair and re,
sonable profit on the business.