Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1912-03-02
WANT BETTER
FREIGHT RATES
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAaE)

The foregoing rates on "ooo on
the branch are absolutely prohibit
tive, and the rate Of $3.50 per cord
from Bonners Ferry to Spokane is
prohibitive, and We ask to be put
on basis with Colburp, $1.00 rate
If Bonners Ferry bad $40 rate
on wood to Spokane the G. n. Ry.
Co. would more than likely have
hauled 800 cars while at the $3.50
rate they haul less than hall
dozen cars.
What we now ask and ought to
get for the Kootenai Valley branch
is that it be placed on equal foot
ing with the main line for all it's
commodities, and we trust and be
lieve that when these facts are prop
erlv put before your company that
there will be no hesitancy in grant
ing this relief.
The Immigration department OF
the Great Northern Ry. Co. is
working in harmony with our or
ganization to bring settlers and in
vestors to the Kootenai Valley,
and we feel sure that that depart
ment has repeatedly requested us
to report anything that stands in
the way of the success of our joint
efforts.
The Koctenai Valley has a vast
area of unsettled and undeveloped
splendid farming and fruit land
upon which we are trying to place
home builders; it also has vast
quantity to timber and forest pro-
ducts of vast commercial value, in
which we are endeavoring to inter-
= est the manufacturer. Two thirds
or more of the Valley is served by
the Kootenai Valley branch. This
territory, if placed on an equality
I with the main line in the matter
= of freight rates, would, ere long
e furnish an emmense traffic for the
? G. N. Railroad.
We have exaggerated and are
j conducting an aggressive campaign
i of publicity and other work for the
h purpose of getting these resources
developed, but we find that we ar,
greatly handicapped by these arbi
trarv freight rates on the X. V
e branch, and one of the ways tina
IS your company can effectively assis
t US is to adjust the rate On a basi
d with the main line.
e Upon investigating the Kootena
il Valley rates, our frrit growers ant
e farmers very forcibly pointed t
e the fact that our rate on apples ant
# potatoes to eastern points are tn
!. same as Spokane and Wenatchet
,r We submit that this is an injuetic
s and a great barrier to the develop
= ment of this district as an appl
II and potato producer These tw
y products are our leaders, and Civ
g ing them due credit, IN all on
=. pub icty work we have pointe'
1t with pride to the great WELD AM
is the perfection of apples and pota
lr toes as commercial commodities
e Here, too, we feel that we shoul
d have the benefit of our proximit
It to the eastern market and not
compelled to pay the same as ship
pers 10S ana 285 miles west of Vi
We, therefore, ask that Bonner
- Ferry be taken out CT the Spokan
T" and Wenatchee gronp and place
" in a group by itself, for rate maxim
y purposes, or what would be stil
Is better. put it in the same grou
with Kalispell, Mo tana.
i There are many other commodi
Y ties not mentioned in this lette
similarly affected by these rates
= and we hope that when you max
II the favorable adjustment that
u will apply to all of them.
y We are sending copy of thi
- letter to the Gen. Traffic Manage
st Paul, and one to the head c
the Immigration Department
same place. with the hope of gettin
the matter acted upon with tn
least possible delay.
Yours Very Respectfully
D.rpr rr,t,nxr ENsss.tu~ut,.,