Arizona republican., 1909-10-15
EFFECTIVE JANUARY l:p10.
Railway Commission Se- cures a Saving of Nearly Thirty Per Cent on Class Rates-Also Announces a Passenger Reduction


 Arizona railway commission, the peo- pie of Clifton are shortly to secure the benefits of a reduced freight rate from Fl PasO, and as nearly all the shipments made to Clifton from the east are carried under rates built over Fl Paso. this adjustment means re- ductiOn in rates from all eastern points on all classes and on nearly all commodities. The railroads affected have agreed that on January l. 1910. there will become effective new rates amicably arrived at between the rail- roads and the commission that will result in reduction of 29A per cent in class rates. besides reductions in most commodity rates.
 The Arizona & New Mexico rail- way has also agreed to reduce its local rates between Lordsburg and Clifton, effective the same date, and has adopted the commissions class graduation table. This rate reduction amounts to 16A per cent.
 A commodity rate of 50 cents per hundred will be published on all ma- chinery and a rate of 20 cents on cement from Fl Paso to Clifton.
 Tine commission has also been ad- vised by the Southern Pacific of a reduction in passenger rates of one cent per mile on the New Mexico & Arizona railroad, running from Ben son to NOgales. The current rate is five cents and it will be reduced to four cents. This rate will become effective as soon as the tariffs can be properly published. which will be some time about the first of Decem- Der. This is another concession to the petitions of the commission made some time ago for a general reduction. of passenger rates by the railroads of the territory, former announcement having been made of reductions grant, ed by other roads.
 In the matter of freight rate reduc- tions from Fl PasO to Clinton the sub ject was not preached by general petition, as in the case of the other rates where several roads were in cluded, but was taken up through a letter from the commission to the lines interested, on August F, re- questing a downward revision of class rates. Since that date there has been considerabel correspondence between the commission and the traffic off cials and interviews with A. N, Brown, general freight agent of the Fl Paso & Southwestern system, and A. T. Thomson of the Arizona & New Mexico railway NJ O. Bicknell chairman of the railway commission, has given the subject a great deal of personal attention and is much grati- fled that the concessions have been made. It not only reflects credit on the commission but will be a saving of much money to the residents of eastern Arizona. It has been esti- mated that on the volume of the traf- fife from the east to Clifton and vi- cinity there will be an annual saving of approximately a quarter of a mil lion dollars.
 For better understanding of the measure of reduction, the following comparisons are given, of the cur rent class rates between Fl Paso and Clifton and the class rates that will go into effect on January !. 1910.
 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Current rates. .150 IA 140 136 122 Rates Jan. 1. .132 IF 1O7 9S s1
 A. B. c. D. F. Current rates. |. .122 100 94 90 90 Rates Jan. 1.... S3 50 55Ia 511z 491a
 Mir Bicknell left last night for Los where he expects to confer with Santa Fe officials on freights and fares. From there ne will go on to San Francisco to be present on Octo- Der 18th at the hearing of the Phoenix case. or the general rate. concerning which testimony was taken here last March by Special Examiner Lyon for the interstate commerce commission. The briefs have all been filed and now the case is to be argued orally. Mir. Bicknell says he does not expect any new testimony will be introduced and he will be present merely as an in- terested spectator in order to keep track of the proceedings. The hear ing. he thinks. will last about four days and he expects to be home about