The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-23
WOOL RATE HEARING
BROUGHT TO CLOSE
Various Phases of Industry
Shown by Testimony of
Last Day.
BIG INCREASE IN COST
Sheepmen Declare Industry Is
Improbable Under Pres
ent Conditions.
BIG INCREASE IN COST

Ward Prouty of the interstate commerce
commission. last evening concluded the
Salt Lake hearing in the wool rate case
The hearing was adjourned TO Portland
or. where Mr. Prou,y will begin the
taking of testimony next Tuesday morn
ING at In o'clock.
Yesterdays testimony related almost
altogether 10 a showing that II costs
great deal more To produce Wool now
than IL did ten years ago or tiNe Iehrs
ago In addition 10 sheepmen OF utah
giving evidence on this head, the score
tarr OF the Montana Woolgrowers asso-
ciation and flockmaster from wyoming
gave evidence. The secretary OF the
Montana association, {. ID. HOLIDAY,
proved q highly interesting witness. not
alone from the value OF his testimony re-
latinc 10 the increased cost of WOOL pro
duction. but also from INC tact .na1 nj MI
business and the only witness who came
10 tho stand in the hearing WIN tar's'
figures and theories at his tongue cna,
Three representatives of Salt Lake
banks testified that the woolgrowing IN
dustrv was Improbable TINS year; que
they said. IN the increased cost or pro
ductlon. On cross-cxamination by the
railroad attorneys, the bankers said busl-
ness conditions In other lines as well as
the wool industry were also quiet az this
Rejects 81 Rate as Basis.
7. NJ. Sloan. assistant general freight
agent OF the salt Lake Route, was re-
called 10 the stand al the forenoon ses-
sion. The important question OF inc 81
rate on wool. Los Angeles 10 the coast
based on water competition. was again
brought IN. Mr.. Sloan said that II the
81 rate on wool were 10 he used as
basis Tor other rates. he would prefer
that his line cancel the rate and turn all
The wool business over 10 the ships. Mr..
Sloan said that II often became neccs-
sayy 10 make rates on products OF The
soil 80 that western producers could
compete with producers OF Ike commodi-
ties In the east.
Oliver NJ Runvon of Ogden. a dealer in
hides and pelts. said the local rates on
lides were all right, but the rates east
were too high. He complained especially
Of the advantage Portland dealers mac
over Utah shippers because Utah ship
pcrs mus, have fun carload lots To enjoy
the rate enjoyed by Portland shipper
of smaller Quantities. Mr.. Runyon also
Hartman lines and the passage Of the
Law against rebating. he had received
rebates OF about II cents the hundred on
hides. ~ that time. however IL was
brought out the Ogdcu-Chicaco rate was
about 81 g. whereas il now is $1:ln5!, 10
: ;. Jensen, buyer OF sailed hides
about alleged discrimination In favor OF
coast and Denver SINNERS Portland.
he said, had q rate OF - cents. Denver
20 cents and Ogden $l1' 10.
Bankers Give Testimony.
Thomas W. Boyer cashier of the
a banker. he had knowledge of the condl-
ton of the sheep and wool industry. he
said That lt this time the WOOL business
was very much depressed. lic kne" oil
ONLY fcw Instances when the business
had been profitable, Mr.. Boyer said. on
cross % eSamination. that the tarin aSitn-
tion. the impending presidential election
and unsettled state OF business conditions
generally contributed To the unfavorable
situation. The curtailment Of the range
by settlement and the reclamatlo oy
tho government OF large areas under irri-
CATION projects he said. were all contrib
ntInc factors but the chief cause OF the
depression in the wool industry. nc said.
was the Increased cost Of production.
erct National bank. and T.. A. Culoert-.
son. assistant cashier OF The National
Bank OF the Republic, corroborated the
TESTIMONY of Mr.. Boyer both on direct
and crosse N9mtnatioD
r. 7. kcslcr woogrowcr Of Beaver
CITY. told OF the Increased cost OF pro-
ducins wool. covering practically the
same ground that covered by state
senator H. W. Lun, at Wednesdays Sos
sion. Mr.. k"slcr said nc estimated the
increase in the cost OF production at
about 50 - per cent,
Mackay's Automobile.
Al the afternoon session J. c. Mackav.
sheen owner and county commissioner
OF Salt AXE was witness Mr..
Mackay. following The general line OF the
testimony OF the shecpmcr. said that the
cost OF production had increased very
largely and that tho industry in many
Of the past wears had been Improbable.
In several different wears. Mr.. Mackay
said, nc had lost money.
Attorney Smith. for the Oregon Short
Line. suggested that Mr. Msckay struck
him rs type NJ highly successful busi
ness man and he wondered why man
So astuie Mr. Mackay would stay in
The sheen business II there was no
Mr Smith said ho had scen Mr.. Mac
KAY driving an automobile" which he
Understood Mr.. Mackay owned. and also
had noted many other evidences of pros
rcrity.
Mr. Mackay emphatically denied that
he had ever driven an automobile. and
said that when he rode in AN automobile
IL was county commissioner and not
as sh"epman.
Mr. Mackay said that any kind OF,
rate would help the Industry,
Callister on Increased Cost.
l.. H. Cailster Internal revenue COL
l.cior and a member Of the CalIater
Livestock company. also president Of the
Utah Woolgrowers association, said the
business IL used TO he. lie recounted the
difficulties which besct his company
owning @ln0 head. Tho purchase OF land
for grazing purposes was a biG Item and
land must bc purchased. he said. since
tn" public ranges were so much cur
tailed. Mr.. Calllsier. produced a letter
from Inc Denver ~ RiD t-anJr railroad
which Was reply to request for n
reduction In tho rate of wool ,renspor-
tation. IN which the railroad company
declined 10 grant a reduction. This let
tor wns submitted as cumulative evidence
IN The attempt 20 prove that the rail-
road companies had long ago becn asked
TO lower tho rates on MOOT.
ON rrusS-NNe inination Mr.. Catlistcr was
asked by Mr. smith:
What connection have YOU with tho
Herald Republican?
u am one Of tho directors"
II notice that the Herald Republican
has been debating this question about
rates good deal especially since tn!s
hearing began. Is that policy dictated by
Tonr personal efforts In any way?''
''It Is not
Storage Warehouses Beneficial
G Il. stewart. secretary uf the Utah
NooGrnwers association. supplemented
'he testimony 81 former Witnesses about
The depressed condition OF the sheeprnen
Nj. stewart had good deal 10 offer
,hout the benefit of a stoppage in tran
sit privilege on through rate. An Incl
dcnt occurring some years ago was dc 10
tailed hF Mr. ..gJ l.,