The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-04-27
FRUIT GROWERS FIGHT
INCREASED RAIL RATES
Proposed Increase Would Add z IL
Gents Charges On Box of Apples
To Eastern Points

day that the Interstate Commerce Com
mission had granted all railroads per-
mission to file supplemental tariffs in
creasing freight rates generally IS per
cent, effective June 1st, has created a
panic among shippers in all parts OF the
country and especially in the Wenat-
chez Valley.
That the increased rates would have
a disastrous effect in this valley is the
belief of those who have made study
of the situation. It would mean ~
cents additional freight for each box Of
apples to the Mississippi river and east
ern points.
Shippers everywhere will fight the
added rates and it is probable that they
will succeed in reducing the proposed
increase.
The Commissions order is subject
TO recall or change before the effective
date of the rates. In this way the COM
mission brings the issue squarely before
the railroads and the shippers in def
mite form. Hearings have already be-
gun at which each side will be given
an opportunity to state its views.
Shippers from virtually all parts OF
the country have signifed their inten-
ton of opposing the granting Of so
large an increase as IS per cent which
the railroads claim is imperatively nee
essary if they are to continue to oper-
ate proftably in the face of the soaring
cost of supplies, equipment fuel and
general wage advances under the Adam
son law and otherwise
Supplemental to the general tenta-
tive order the commission issued an Or
der permitting the increase to apply
tentatively, on all thru rates which are
lower than the total Of rates to and from
intermediate points. This affects chiefly
the towns and cities in the intermoun-
tain territory. The order permits a
horizontal raise of IS per cent on all
rates including those to intermediate
points.
The commissions attitude is made
clear in this section Of the order:
THE commission does not hereby
approve any rates that may be filed un-
der this authority, all such rates being
subject to protest, suspension, com
plant, investigation and correction if
in conflict with any provision Of the act
to regulate commerce.
All commodities are embraced un-
der the order with the exception OF
those upon which the roads have signi-
fed that applications for specific in
creases would be made.
Several weeks ago when it was first
learned that the railroads would ask for
an increase in rates, the Wenatchee
Valley Traffic associations filed protest
with the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. The matter has now been
taken up with other traffic organizations
and word has been received from Cali
fornia that the associations there would
Cooperate in the fight against the in
creased rates.
Pres. J. H. Dengel, president Of the
Wenatchee Vally Traffic Association in
an interview given to tine Wenatchee
World said:
The very life Of the fruit industry OF
North Central Washington is threatened
by this proposed increase, Mr.. Dengel
asserts. Government crop statistics
will prove that in year OF production
We would be absolutely disseminated
against. The increase Of our present
freight rate, $1.63 IL per barrel to
Chicago would be disastrous to the
growing and shipping OF apples from
this district, Mr.. Dengel says. New
York growers now enjoy a freight rate
of ~ cents a barrel to Chicago and
they can sell al our freight charge,
s1.o3 Ia, and show a profit. We
ought to have decrease in the present
rate rather than an increase, if the in
dustry is to be anything more than an
ordinary risk. In order to make the
production Of apples in this valley
profitable, there must be crop failure or
short production in other districts"