The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1917-05-18
UTAH ROADS WANT
INCREASE RATES
ON FREIGHT

ontal Increase Of rs per cent in their
freight rates within the state. cffcc-
tive july ist. next They virtually
contend that an emergency exists on
account Of the work the railroads
must Do In connection with the dc.
tense IT the nation. aud they urge that
the proposed increased freight rates
be permitted TO become effective
without suspension.
only three railroads operating In
the state have failed To- sign the. pe,i.
ton through their accredited agents
These are the Ballard and Thompsons
when operates short line from
Thompsons on the Denver and Rio
urandc. to coal mine az Ncsirn. the
inland railway which operates the
branch of the Saltair Route running
To the CRYSTAL Salt company's plant.
and the Cintah railway. which opcr-
etes a narrow gage line into thu Utah
asphaltum beds from Mack. Colo.
Presented By Reeves.
The petition was presented To- the
utilities commission by J. 4. Reeves.
general freight agent Ut the oregon
Short Line. II has been IN prepare.
ton Tor some time. II lays particular
emphasis on the conditions existing at
present. and likely to exist In IN. near
future, a. result Of the war with
Germany. a. ". blood h. the only
member OF the state commission at
present In the STATE. the other two
members with the secretary being IN
other states investigating the work.
ings 1T the public utilities laws there
The petition. however. was filed with
Acting Secretary Barnes aud Commits.
sioner Hood. under the law. has fun
power 90 transact such pr.iiminar,
business ~ mnl D.. necessary In con.
nection with tn riinE ~ additional
papers. setting r. time for hearing aud
the like.
The petition b. similar IN form and
In request 60 that fiicd with the inter.
state commerce commission. and nov
being heard at Washington. II IL be-
licvcd probable that the decision uf
that commission viii have an import
ant bearing on the action a. be- taken
by IN. Utah commission.
To the Honorable the Public TIN.
ties Commission uf Utah Your petit.
TONERS respectfully represent that
they are IN need 81 an advance In
freight rates Ia enable them Co meet
outlay incident e. the oh.
s"rNanrr at the AdamHon law and In.
rident a. other greatly Increased op-
rating costs. Increased cost Of equip.
mcnt and capital. aud Increased taxes.
and to meet the demands Of the gen.
rral commerce NJ the country and thu
additional obligations that are arising
In connection with plans for national
defense. These Increased costs aud
cannot be met by the rev.
rnue derived from the present basis
n rates.
Your petitioners further represent
hat IN" obligations imposed by the
Ndamson law aoded Co the great ad- |
vance IN wages. fuel. materials. sup
plies and equipment which have &C. |
'uired recently. operating nv contin.
ling factors In greatly decreasing the |
irt operating income ~ your petition.
-.
Your petitioners fu-,her represent
hat additional equipment and Inn
iruvyncntH IN operating facilities
,ayo become impcratiyely necessary /
luo 60 changes In the nature. volume
md distribution Of the general com.
nfrcv of the country and 60 facilitate
he movement of such commerce and
a. prcs"fNe ana promote the CONNER
.ini and industrial interests ~ the
uuntry. large sums OF money must
~ expended by your petitioners for
editions and hcttormonts
Your petitioners further represent
hat they are confronted with the
leocSsity Of making. ana desire 60
make promptly. adequate provisions
~ serving the needs az the nation In
all transportation Incident to the ma.
lonal defense. That adequately aud
Efficiently Ia carry out their obliga-
lon In this behalf and 60 meet the
necessities ~ the present crisis. large
ums Of money must be expended IN
r"Viding and preparing facilities.
nj serious Interference with their
ommerce and diminutionS OF the
arnings therrfrom will necessarily
esult from the preferred aud expe-
tied service 60 be required Of them
. This behalf.
Your petitioners further represent
hat they are now la great need ~.
nd viii require In the very near fu-
ARE. large amounts OF new capital for
he Improvement. betteTment aud nee
ssary extension OF their properties;
nd that, under present conditions
hey encounter increased costs OF cap
AT la connection with financing Inn
royements, additions and better
rents and viii In the future be put
, the necessity of paying high prem
ims for capital In view Of the great
ecrease In net incomes from their
roperties.
Your petitioners further represent
nat "A great decrease In their net OPP
rating incomes viii result from the
iuseH above set forth IN consequence
which your petitioners are In i'm,
lediate need Of an Increase IN freight
ites that may he effective with the
ast possible delay.
"a petition similar In form 20 this
~ been filed by all carriers opera
NIX In Western Classification terri
'ry with the interstate commerce
ana similar applications
n being made by said carriers 10 the
'spectiye commissions OF other states
western classification territory
The Interstate commerce commits
on. by order dated April 20, 1917.
hS authorized the filing Of tariffs |