Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1909-03-26
HON. ]. c. LAWRENCE
IN PULLMAN
Announces Proposed Visit of
State Railroad Commission
in Near Future.

Hon. j. c. Lawrence, of the State
Railroad commission, spent last Sun
day night in Pullman, the guest of
his brother, P. w. Lawrence. Mr..
Lawrence annouced the intetlon of the
State Railroad Commission to make a
tour of all of the railroads of the state
in the near future for the purpose of
giving general inspection to the lines
and to meet the patrons of the roads
and hear complaints. if there be anv.
This move will be made in the hopes
of bettering the service and the accom-
mediation at all railroad points. When
seen by the Herald reporter Mr.. Law
renee said:
1t is tho intention of the commits
sion to make tour of all of the roads
in the state. We shall go over the
Northern Pacific about the middle of
May and the Inland Empire electric
road after that time. We will inspect
the o. r. & N about June l. 1t is
our intention and desire to meet the
patrons of the road and hear COM
plants, if there be any, of lack of ac-
commodations or insufficient service at
any point.
"We shall demand of the railroads
sufficiency and efficiency in service.
We shall not only deman plenty of ser
vice, but service of good quality.
"We will give patrons an opportu-
nifty to come before us with any COM
plant of merit as to either service or
accommodations and if the people have
no complaints they cannot blame US if
we make no order for better service.
We shall give personal inpsection of
depots. yards. and stations generally
to ascertain if they are properly heat
ed, lighted, watered and have ade-
quate toilet, waiting room and track
facilities. We shall go over the system
carefully and the inspection will be
the most thorough ever made by the
commission. The outlook for the COM
mission is bright since the supreme
court has affirmed our attitude and de-
cided that we have the right to make
rates and we are going to make
thorough inspection and see that the
proper service is rendered before the
rates are made.
Mr.. Lawrence came over to Whit
man county to attend "good roads"
meeting at Garfield Saturday night,
and ran down to Pullman to spend
Sunday. He returned to Garfield
Monday to close sale of land at the
highest price ever paid for farm lands
in Whitman county. He sold 16 acres.
The land is unimproved. This farm has
made several records in high prices.
1t was the first farm in that section to
sell for $50 per acre and that sale was
reported in all of the papers of the
Inland Empire as establishing a new
record in farm land prices. That was
eight years ago and the farm of 100
acres sold to R. C. Wilson, who
UOuSub II VII MI. AdWISuC0 y dUNlC6,
for $4,000. That price included one of
the finest farm houses in the country
at that time.
Three years ago Mr.. Lawrence
bought the farm from Mr.. Wilson,
paying $50 per acre, which was the
record price at that time for farms in
Whitman county. This week he sold
l6 acres, without improvements. for
$125 per acre, which establishes new
record in high prices. The land lies
about two miles from Garfield. The
purchaser is C. E. Manning. who has
lived in Whitman county, near Gar
field, for 81 years and knows land
values. He has land adjoining the
tract bought from Mr.. Lawrence and
bought this tract to increase the size
of his farm.