The Delta independent., 1913-09-12
PROGRESS OF THE LOCAL
FREIGHT RATE FIGHT

The executive committe OF the Mont
rose and Delta Counties Freight Rate
association, composed of Messrs. J. F.
Kyle and 5. 3. Wonder OF Montrose,
j. E. Hlllman and E. J. Matthews OF
Delta county and Ed DeGuelie OF Ola
the, met in the office OF c. J. Moyni-
han in this city Wednesday afternoon
for the purpose of considering matters
in connection with the campaign for
better freight rates. Attorney Moyni-
han representing Montrose county and
Merle d. Vincent representing Delta
county were also present and are to
look after the lega lend OF the fight.
Since the organ.ation OF the associ-
alton a month ago the executive com
mittee has been busily engaged in cor
respondence with prominent freight
rate people, and the result OF the cor
respondence was made known at the
meeting yesterday.
Chairman XVI had written to Fred
Wild, the D. x +. G. freight man, ap-
prising MIN OF the purpose OF the new
organ. alton, expressing a willingness
OF the committee to confer with the ID.
q r. G. freight department on the
question before taking it up with the
commerce commission ii the railroad
officials SO desired. Mr.. Wild agreed
to arrange for a conference with the
general traffic manager, Mr. Hughes,
at some date agreeable to the commit
tee, and intimated in the letter that
the company may or may not see fit TO
grant our request as the result OF the
conference This conference will be
arranged for as soon as the committee
has gathered the necessary evidence
to make their case.
letter was read from F. A. Jones
OF Phoenix, Arizona, the freight rate
expert who won Grand Junction case,
to the effect that he was in position TO
take the Montrose and Delta county
cases. This was welcome news to the
committee. for they we're afraid that
Mr.. Jones present official position as
member of the Arizona state com
merce commission would prevent him
from taking the case. From all sides
the committee had been advised TO get
Mr.. Jones if possible. and he had been
pointed out as the most efficient
freight rate expert TO be had for such
fight.
Mr.. Jones worte at considerable
length. pointing out the various phases
of fight of this kind, and requesting
information as TO the basis and the
extent of the campaign which the as
sociation desired to make. Messrs.
Moynihan and Vincent were author
lied to prepare an answer TO Mr..
Jones letter, giving him the informa-
tion desired. II is the desire of the
committee TO make the request as
comprehensive as possible, covering
both classes aso commodity rates both
ways from Chicago west and from the
Pacific coast east. Our claim will be
based on the long and short haul pro
position and the unjust discrimination
against this section. The committee
feels that we are entitled to Pueblo
rates on freight from the west and
salt Lake CltN rates on lTelenl iNih
the east, provided that such rates are
proven to be reasonable.
Some valuable information has also
been received through correspondence
which Mr.. Moynihan has had with Mr.,
Costigan of Denver. who has had con
siderable experience on the freight
rate question. Messrs. Moynihan and
Vincent are going to Denver on other
business the first OF the week, and II
is their intention to spend about half a
day with Mr.. Costigan, from which
they expect to get much information
which is expected to help the associ-
alton in their fight.
The members OF the committee re-
ported good success in the raising of
the money to carry on the fight and
they are satisfied that there will be no
trouble at all to get all the money nee
essary TO make the fight.-Montrose
Enterprise.