The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-30
'STATE IS HIT HARD
BY RAISE Of RATES
MUST BE GIVEN RELIEF OR
BURDEN WILL PROVE
TOO HEAVY.

bell Russell, state corporation COM
missioner, asserted yesterday that
intrastate freight rates in Oklahoma
will be adjusted and placed on a
plane with the interstate rates be-
fore the order of Director General
of Railroads w. G. McAdoo to in
crease all rates Is per cent is made
effective June 25.
Commissioner Russell declared
that the protests now being made
are such that the administration will
be convinced of discrimination
against the state should the increase
be added to the advances of the
railroads made March 20.
The commission yesterday sent to
r. II. Ashton, regional director at
Chicago, tables and maps showing
Oklahoma's intrastate rates as COM
pared with the intrastate and inter
state rates which govern the ship
ment of freight in states bordering
on Oklahoma.
The following letter was also sent
by Commissioner Russell:
1--WE have no objection to the 25
per cent advancement, but we ask
only that the intrastate rates in Ok
lahoma be equalized with what ship
pers and intrastate shippers in ad
joining states pay for similar serv-
ice. We have confidence in your
purpose to do this and we are as
suring our local shippers that this
adjustment will be made before
June Is. We regret to appear over
insistent or impatient but feeling
sure that when you get clearly in
mind the extent of this discrimina
ton, prospective and present, you
will expedite this matter SO as to
give relief at the earliest possible
date"
Hardship in Three Ways.
Three new outgrowths of the sit
nation in which Oklahoma is placed
as the result of McAdoo's order to
increase freight tariffs in all states
25 per cent, commencing June Is,
came to light yesterday by which it
appeared that unless relief is given
the shippers, jobbers and manufac-
turers of this state. these three hard |
ships must descend on Oklahoma
The business OF manufacturing
oil well supplies will be wiped out.
Coal mines in every part OF the
state stop doing business.
Oklahoma citizens and factories
next winter will be paying the high
es, price for coal in the states his
tory.
+. n. Adams, secretary of the
Tulsa Traffic Association, arrived
here yesterday for conference and
to Join forces with w. V. Hardie,
manager OF the Oklahoma Traffic
Association. Here is what Adams
has to say concerning the first prop
osition:
Oil Well Supplies.
Zone of the centers of making
equipment for carrying on the oil
industry in this state, oil well sup
plies we call it, is Tulsa, where we
have firms enough making the va
ried and large amount of material
and supplies to carry on the oil in :
dustry so that the production of
these Tulsa firms aggregates at least
ST. 100000 year. We find that this
oil supply industry upon which the
oil fields of Oklahoma and other
states as well are so dependent. now i
faces a situation where the govern
ment forces the oil we'll supply man
ufacturers to pay Is per cent more
for freighting their product nearly
every place it is shipped, than ever
before. This is true in respect to
Every community in the state where
oil we'll supplies are made. We |
ion't see how this industry can con-
inue in business with IS per cent
freight increase levied on it as an
nroad upon its gross receipts.
Would Have to Close
"The oil field industry is depend
mt upon its oil well supplies. I'm
ess relief is granted these Tulsa and
,ther manufacturers,they must close
m shop. When they do. the oil in
lustry Just must suspend. that's all
The government is feverishly all the
ime demandind fuel oil so much
O that there is an overproduction
# gasoline just now. The govern
nent can't expect good supplies OF i
uel oil if it increases freight rates :
Ike this" -
Hardie predicted the coal mines OF
his state must stop operations un-