The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-08-12
TUESDAY. AUGUST ~. 1919.
NEED FOR TRAFFIC STUDY.

A difference of a mere fraction IN
freight rates is often enough TO make
one city and break another. busl-
ness goes where it can be handled TO
the best advantage in the matter OF
dollars and cents. Sentiment cuts lit
tie figure in it.
The equalization of freight rates Is
one of the most complicated problems
to he undertaken by civilized man.
Men who have grown grey in the rail-
road traffic departments have to credit
some of their grey hairs TO puzzilng
over the making of rates, and the ell
fort 10 get them fair and equal. When
the schedule is completed 1t is often
found that it will not fit some paTtlc-
ular case, and the whole thing has to
he torn mn and started over again.
The city of Duluth has certain nat
ural advantages because of its posi-
ton as a lake port. In the early days,
when the city Was small that adNah-
tage was passed on to the twin cities,
because they were relatively large, n
ljululn mas DetIl SUI Juggling CNS1 az
to get some of that advantage back.
She has Just succeeded, after a lons
contest, and the relative rates VIII be
more equitable hereafter.
From Grand Forks certain goods
can be shipped westward a certain
distance at a lower rate than the same
goods can be shipped from ST. Paul or
Minneapolis. After that distance is
reached the rates from this city and
the big terminals is the same. Natur-
ally, the local manufacturer or dealer
is at a disadvantage han more distant
territory.
Matters of this kind are brought to
the attention of shippers all the time.
The inequalities are due to the COM
bination of many causes, and they are
not to be corrected without full knowl-
edge of the conditions and of the effect
of changes on other communities. 1t
is in this that one of the most impor-
tant parts of the FORK of a CONNER
cial organization lies.
The case is not one for the placing
of blame on this person or that 1t
is a case for long and careful study,
in order that there may be exact
knowledge. That is the first requisite.
When there is exact knowledge it will
be possible to point out the remedy
for.any improper conditions that nay
exist, and it will be possible to bring
up the matter in the right place.
The directors of the Commercial
club have under consideration the
employment of a traffic expert, a man
who starts in with a good knowledge
of rate conditions. and who is able to
apply that knowledge to the case of
Grand Forks. This is not a move in
antagonism of anyone, least of all the
railroads. In most cases where these
matters have been discussed it has
been found that the railroad people
are entirely willing to cooperate. But
the railroad men study the situation
from their own standpoint. and they
are not employed to look after the
interests of the particular cities
. through which their lines run. If
they can be shown that a given rate
works an injustice to a given city they
are usually willing to change the rate
provided that ear be done without
working an equality as great or greater
in some other direction. Very often
1t takes a great number of people to
work these things out. and the Grand
Forks Commercial club will he doing
a good work in bringing to the solu-
ton of the problem the services of an
other trained man.