Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-03-08

r. GOOding, for help. Mr.. GOOding has
taken the matter up with character
istic energy and his success in handl-
ing Idaho's fuel problem justifies the
prediction that he will be able to re-
liev4 the situation.
The following letter from Governor
Gooding to Senator Borah sets forth
not only the car shortage trouble but
also several other matters vitally af-
fecting the interests of the Idaho far
mers:
Feb. IS, 1915
Hon. W. E. Borah,
Washington. D. c.
Dear Senator:
am II receipt of your very kind
letter in which you advise me that
very little encouragement can be given
in the car situation in Idaho.
regret very much to advise you.
Senator that the car situation is grow
ing more serious each day. I am in
receipt of daily advice from Pocatello
Of the number of refrigerator cars
received at Green River by the Oregon
Short Line and the records show that
during the last five days the Oregon
Short Line received only seventeen re
frigerator cars. This is a very serious
situation and unless there is imme-
diate Improvement, it will mean a great
loss in our potatoes.
The people Of Idaho are clearly en-
titled to know the reason for this car
shortage at this time both for potatoes
and hay. so if it is POSSIBLE. We can
euard against such an unfortunate con
dition in the future.
There are other matters. Senator,
besides the car shortage. of which the
farmers Of Idaho have a right to com
plain. and it is through their delegation
in congress that they must get relief. /
and know that you viii be glad to do
all you can to relieve these conditions. /
I called your attention in my tele-
gram to the government buying pota-
toes on competitive bids and buying /
them for less than s1.OO a hundred /
through commission firms. BY the
time the farmer furnishes the sack
and pays the commission he receives
from sixty to sevebty-fve cents a
hundred for his potatoes. This is so
far below the cost of production that
I feel the potato growers of Idaho
have a right to protest especially
when they were encouraged by the
to plant potatoes last
spring when the seed was worth from
four to five cents a pound.
Another matter 7 want to call to
your attention is the price of wheat
fixed by the government. The follow
ing is a copy of a night letter which I
sent to Mr.. Hoover under date of
August 18th. 1917:
"As Chairman State Defense
Council for Southern Idaho wish to
urge on you necessity of dealing
Justly and fairly with western and
eastern farmers. believe the price
of wheat should be the same at all
railroad points. the government i
paying the freight charges to all I
the market centers in America 1t ,
costs considerable more to produce ?
a bushel of wheat in the west than {
in the eastern and middle western +
states. What would be fair price
for 70 With frrr,t I
in these states would be ruinous to
the western farmer where freight i.
rates are excessively high. 1t is the +
duty of this government to recog Y
nize individual efforts in every part !.
of this country. One man should not f,
receive more for growing a bushel ii
OF wheat for the government than ri
another. Western states have re- a
sponded patriotically with volun-
teers In army and navy. Their
quota under conscription law will
be furnished without effort. Call of
government for liberty bonds and m
Red Cross subscriptions not sur b,
passed in any part of country"
AS you will see 1 made a vigorous W
'otest. My convictions have only al
zen confirmed over and over again W
at in this matter was right. tt
The new order by the president fix
g the s2.oo price at Pocate1lo does c,
It help the situation so far as Idaho wi
concerned From Gooding find If sy
e farmer sells his wheat at Pocat- an
o on $500 basis. it will bring him
'o-fifths Of a cent less than in Chi CIR
go at s2.20. There will be q few da
rmers close to Pocatello who have
ly short shipment to make, who sol
II receive a little benefit, but 1t viii an
{ improve the co editions of the rar- mi
RS as a whole. In fact IL they are pu
rmitted to do so, they win continue