The Coconino sun., 1916-11-03

WaShingt0n lnulcatlng tnaV Inter- mountain rate hearings will be opened November goth at Chicago and con tinued at Salt Lake City and San Francisco. The general question of rates from the east to Arizona and other Intermountain states has been before the Federal Commission, the Congress of the United States and various courts, for the past ten years. Recently, the Interstate Commerce Commission found that water compe- tition between the Atlantic Seaboard and Pacific Coast had been so reduced as to remove the force that the trans continental railroads had heretofore relied upon to justify lower rates to the Pacific Coast than to intermediate points. Thereupon, the railroads, in stead of reducing the rates to Arizona to the basis of the coast rates, in- creased the coast rates generally, such increases amounting to as high as one hundred per cent. Increases were also sought to be made at inter mediate points. A vigorous protest went up from the shippers of the en- tire United States, resulting in the Washington Commission holding up the proposed advances. In the mean time, Reno, Spokane and Arizona filed formal petitions with the Interstate Commerce Commission, in effect de- manding that the long and short haul provisions of the law be strictly en- forced. The matter is highly import ant to all Intermountain states, and it is believed the hearings in Chicago, Salt Lake City and San Francisco will attract nationwide interest. The state commission will be represented to protect the interests of Arizona ship pers and the public in general.
 Following the Intermountain rate hearings, the Interstate Commerce Commission will hear, at Phoenix on December II, the complaint of the Arizona Commission against inter state passenger rates. The history of isis case goes back some two years at which time the railroads operating in Arizona attempted to increase rates from all points east to all points in Arizona an average of about four dol lars a ticket. The Arizona Commis- sion protested these advances and showed at a hearing of the case in Chicago that the rates from eastern points to Arizona were then from $12 to $15 higher per passenger than to points in, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washinton for equal distances. The Washington Commission refused to allow the roads to increase their rates to Arizona and indicated in it's opin- ion that the rates to Arizona should be based upon a three cent per mile rate applying in New Mexico and Arizona. The State Commission there upon filed petition with the Inter state Commerce Commission praying that the rates from all eastern states to all points in Arizona be placed up on a parity with rates under like con- ditions prevailing to points in other Intermountain states to the north This case is of considerable import ance to everyone in Arizona.
 Upon complaint of number of consumers in Bisbee that the Bisbee- Naco Water Company is charging un- reasonable and excessive rates, a hearing will be held in Bisbee on November 8th at the City Hall, at which time and place any parties will be 1heard in relation to the rates, charges and service of the Bisbee- Naco Water Company.
 The application of the Santa Fe Railroad Company for permission to advance all of it's freight rates in Arizona twenty per cent, set for hear ing at Phoenix November 18th, has been defered until December 11th owing to the fact that the Commis- sion will be engaged in matters be- fore the Interstate Commerce Com mission during the last half of No vember. The Santa Fe asks permis- sion to advance all of it's rates on all commodities, including carload and less carloads, twenty per cent, and the matter is of importance to inter ests being served by this line.
 Activity in mining way is reflect ed by the number of mining compa- nies incorporated and the number of companies applying for Investment Company Permits under the so-callet Blue Sky law. For the period covered by this bulletin, permits to sell stock have been issued to:
 Sunnyside Gold Mining Company of Oatman.
 Arizona Chloride Mining Company