Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-09
BANQUET FOR IHoRNE
Shippers Of State Honor Railroad Com
missioner For Work in Securing
Lower Freight Rates-Thorne 6Iames
Railroads For Loss in Population.

Des Moines. April 9.-Clifford Thorns,
chairman Of the Iowa board of railroad
declared that the de-
crease III the population OF the state Of
Iowa is due to a large extent to unfair
freight rates in an address at a dinner
given by the traffic organizations Of the
state of Iowa at the chamberlain last
evening for the purpose Of considering
the results OF the recent decisions Ut
the Iowa rate cases"
Mr.. Thornes address was a speech OF
acceptance OF a large leather brief case
presented to him by A. b. Coombs, OF
for the interior cities OF
Iowa and q loving cup presented by r.
T. Egan, of Burlington. for the river
cities. Mr.. Coombs also presented brief
cases to Judge J. II. Henderson, At
torney General George Cosson and
Assistant Attorney General c. A. Rob-
bins. and Mr.. Egan gave two other cups
to Judge Henderson and Mr.. Robbins.
Mr. Thorne's line OF argument was
that while the natnural teldency, as
shown In other states, Is for the rural
population to decrease, the urban pop
ulation increases fast enough to more
than make up the deficiency. But In
Iowa. he declared, the increase In the
urban population has not been suffi
cient to make up for the people the
state has lost from the country dis
tricts. The reason the population Of
the cities of Iowa has not Increased In
to those Of other states. he
said. Is because It has been Impossible
to build up the great industries that
attract people to the cities on account
OF the unjust freight rates that the
III this state have to
contend with.
Mr.. Thorne read statistics to show
that during the ten years from 1900
to 1910 Iowa's rural population had
decreased $4,000 and her urban popu-
lation had increased only 1O7.oOO leav-
ing net loss of 1000. while In all the
other states OF the union there had
been a net gain: in Ohio it was $4,000:
in Illinois $4,000, and in New York
/ $4,000.
THE problem that confronts Iowa.
he said. "is the increasing Of the size
of her cities. She must induce the peo-
pie who are leaving her farms to stop
i: hc:. 3S"n cities aHa 10: 60 10 some
other state. Industrial activity Is the
great factor In building up city, but
manufacturers can not be expected to
locate in cities where they are forced
to pay higher freight rates for the dis
tribution of their products than they
would in some other city. When con-
sider the unfair rates which our ship
pers have been Obliged to put up with
l am amazed that we have as many
factories as we have.
"Chicago with smaller population
that the state Of Iowa produces Ave
times as much in manufactured pro-
ducts as the entire state. 1t Is up to
Iowa to induce manufacturers to To-
cate here and to do so she must assure
them of fair rates. The railroads should
let bygones be bygones and help build
up the industries Of Iowa so that the
Increased traffic would increase their
earnings
Following the regular program those
present set on foot q movement to
form a permanent state organisation
for the purpose OF looking out for In
terests OF in. shippers of the entire
state in freight rate matters as q cure
for the evils arising from the existence
Of several district organizations. each
or which was trying to secure some
thing for itself without thought for
other parts OF the state. A motion was
passed to have the chairman appoint o
COMMITTEES Of ave with ]. K, Mahon OF
Ottumwa a. chairman to formulate
plan OF organisation.