The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-07-29
Idaho County Properties Get
Hard Jolt by New Ruling
of Postmaster General
RATE PROHIBITIvE
Estimated Is Tons Mailed Out
Clearwater Route Monthly From
Elk, Dixie and Ten Mile

The postoffice department recently
announced a new ruling relative to
parcel post rates that will materially
interfere with mining operations in
the Clearwater district in Idaho,
where a number of small properties
now are working at a fair profit,
to the Butte and Anaconda smelters
by parcel post. The most of these
mines are being operated by the own
ers, the product being treated in small
stamp mills or the ore hand-sorted
and shipped crude, the returns net
ting IS to $40 the ton. but this mar
gin of profit will be absorbed by the
increased postal rates to become ef-
fective September l, and mining men
familiar with the district predict that
1t will result in the majority of the
mines being closed down.
Announcement Of the ruling comes
as a surprise to the miners, for, while
1t was conceded that the government
was losing from 100000 to S125, 900
annually transporting the ore and
concentrates to Sites, Idaho, the near
est railway point, it was believed that
the benefit to the mining industry of
that part of the northwest justified
the expenditure, and that the postal
authorities realized the needs of the
territory served sufficiently to continue
the service until better means OF COM
munication and less expensive trans
portation could be provided.
Mall % Tons Monthly.
It is estimated that about rs tons
Of ore and concentrates are being
mailed out of Dixie. Elk City, Newsome
and Ten-Mile monthly. six four
horse freight teams. working in re-
lays, so that one outfit leaves either
end of the line daily, being required
to transport the output to the rail-
way. The contractors receive two
cents the pound. but eight cents the
100 pounds less than the total postage
from shipment to delivery points. 1t
was believed. however. that the gov
ernment was planning to construct
highway up the south fork of the
Clearwater river from Sites to Dixie,
about 65 miles, and that automobile
trucks would be employed carrying the
mails, which undoubtedly would have
reduced transportation costs enough to
make the route self-sustaining.
The mining and business men of
the districts served. together with the
settlers who would be benefited, were
preparing petitions to congress, request
ing that sufficient funds be appropriat-
ed to finance construction Of the road.
and 1t is said that the federal for
estry department, through whose do
minion 1t would run practically all the
way. had indorsed the application. 1t
Is said also that government engineers
nAxy AA1
Tor the highway, and that the esti-
mates fixed the cost at not to exceed
100000.
The PostoffIce Ruling.
The postal rate now is s1.0S the 100
pounds, or "a cents for each 50-pound
sack Of ore or concentrates. This viii
be increased to $2.OS when the new rul-
Ing becomes effective, an addition OF
sSO the ton. The points where the
shipments originate are in the second
81 l50 miles. but the camps are about
zone from Butte, which has radius
goo miles distant by the mail routes
bringing them in the scope Of the rul-
ing, which provides that the second
zone rate OF cents for the first
pound and cent for each additional
pound shall not apply where the mail
the shipment and delivery points, but
That the third zone postage of cents
ior The first pound and cents Tor
each additional pound shall be sub
stituted.
This ruling was made by >the post
oliice department under power grant
ca the postmaster general to change
rates, with the consent Of the federal
commerce commission, to provide the
public with the best service and to
insure that the revenue from the SER
wee shall meet the expense. Many
other places besidse these Idaho min
ing camps win be affected by the in
crease OF postage including kalis-
pen and Poison, and a number oil
towns in eastern Montana.-Spokesman
Review