The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-06-07
RAILROAD MAN PRE-
SENTS RATE VIEWS

H. C. Oliver, travelling freight and
passenger agent of the O.-W. r. & N.
Co., who has Just returned from a trip
east, was here Tuesday interviewing
local representative business men and
explaining the reasons for the railway
companies, the country over, asking
for Is per cent increase on all
freight. Mr.. Oliver explained the ad-
vancesss ssin cost of materials.had been in
instances as high as 80 per cent. The
salaries and wages have been in
creased.
at is not" said the railroad man,
that We want to increase our earn
ings to- the disadvantage of our GUS
toners and patrons. 1t is necessity
with us. We must earn more money
or we will be calling on the govern
ment or somebody for help.
''Now take it with your fruit inter-
ests here. You will admit, know
that the O.-W.R. & N. Co. has aways
been the best of friends to Hood River
an the company is going to continue so.
In asking for Is per cent increase we
do not wish to appear antagonistic. We
are making preparations to equip more
refrigerator cars and give better all
around service, but we cannot do this
with our present earnings. The rate of
81 per hundred pounds on apples from
here to eastern seaboard, if you will
stop to consider it, is mighty small,
Another thing the fruit shipper should
consider lis the risk that the railway
company takes when handling such a
perishable product.
''In common with the rest of the peo-
pie, the managers of the railroad lines
have had to meet advanced prices.
Railroad rates, being fixed by federal
and state commissions, the manage
ment cannot change these without au-
thority. He cannot, like the merchant,
or the manufacturer, add to the selling
price of his commodity without the
sanction of the commission. He must,
however, pay the current price for
what he buys. The purchasing power
of the railroad dollar is reduced. Ev-
cry article which enters into railroad
maintenance snd operation, labor, tax
es, etc., has increased in price from
Is to so per cent, while railroad freight
rates remain the same. The railroads
operating in Oregon, Washington and
Idaho are asking to increase their
charges in these states Is per cent.
The people of this and every other COM
munity in the states named should
rally to the support of the roads, and
urge, through the press and the com
mercial bodies the granting of the in
crease asked for. The railroads are
biggest factors in development of the
country. and we do not believe that
any stumbling blocks should be put in
the way of those who seek to advance
tn welfare of others"
While here Mr.. Oliver was accom-
panied sby Mrs. Oliver, who was max
ing her first trip over the lines.
Mr.. Oliver urged local men to agi-
tate movement to have Upper Valley
and Mount Hood ranchers engage in
cutting wood when cultivation of their
crops is completed.
''The transportation of coal is going
to be negligible" says Mr.. Oliver,
land unless wood is cut for their con-
sumption, some of the interior COM
munities, where fuel has to be i'm
ported, are going to face a severe
famine this winter. We guarantee a
market and profitable returns on all
wood that is cut in the Hood River
valley this summer and fall. "