Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-03-02
SAND AND GRAVEL MEN WORKING FOR
 RATE REDUCTION
Claim Low Freight Rates Will Materially Aid the
 Building Industry.

secretary of the National Association . of Sand and Gravel Producers. and George J. Nattkcmper of Terre
 Haute, Ind, have been in Washington i for several days endeavoring 10 get i the railroad administrator to reduce freight rates on sand. gravel. crushed stone, and slas. This action. they as sert, will be beneficial to the building industry throughout the country and immediately will assist in the accel-
 eratiCn of building and construction activities. so much desired by the de- partment of labor
 These two representatives of the sand and gravel interests have ap- pealed to F. T. Miller of the divl- sion of public works and construction development of the United States de- partment of lafcr. asking that he in- 'terest him Self in the freight rate situation. ln presenting the situat
 to the division, iMr Sutton made the following statement:
 "There are thousands of idle open top railroad cars ill the country to- day. To utilize these cars is to in- crease railroad revenues They can be utilized by the sand. gravel, crush ed stone and slag producers if the pro- hibitive freight rates put in effect during the war arc revised.
 "The reasons for promoting and stimulating improvement work of all kinds advocated by the various de- ipartments of she government and sanctioned by the president are ap- parent and in general are as follows: Reasons Advanced.
 1. To stabilize labor by providing employment for demcbilized soldier; and workmen released from war ac- tivities.
 ? To tide over the period of read justment d ring which time industrial and commercia! conditions must be restored to peace basis.
 ,. To bring uc to normal state of development the following con- struction work deferred because of the demands for and transportation of materials of war
 (a) Highways.
 (b) Public buildings.
 (c) Private buildings
 (d Railroad repairs and etXen- sions
 Regardless of tlie evident need for carrying on improvement work with the sireatest possible dispatch the hastening of construction worfk is be- ing discouraged throughout the coun- try. Ill analysing thme situation it is found that the reason for delay is the questions of cost involving the items of labor. materials and trans portation. All of these factors of cost are high at this time and in con- sequence thereof building work that would otherwise proceed is being put off in the hope that the cost will sharply decline so that appropriat- tions and funds now available may De used for work already projected.
 "lt will be conceded without argu- ment that wages should not be rad ically decreased during the existing state of affairs. Moreover, a. sharp decline in the price of materials like wise would bring disaster. It ap- pears, therefore, that the only source of relief lies in the reduction of trans portation charges applying on basic building materials.
 ''In this connection it is well to point out that, in consequent of the provisions of General Order No. 2S, taking into consideration the disposi- tion of fractions, sands, gravel, crush ed stone and slag bore d much great CT increase than other commodities, inasmuch as instead of 25 per cent, the advance amounted to from 25 per cent to 150 per cent. It is assumed that the high rate of increase was placed upon these materials in order to discourage the production and transportation of such materials and to act as a means of curtailing con work in general during the war period. In view of the reverse conditions now obtaining, it would appear that this form on building ac- tivities might be removed along with other restrictions released by the var ious war agencies.
 "On account of the decreased dem and for coal due to the cessation of war work and the prevailing mild there is at this time on ev cry railroad in the country surplus of open-top cars. This surplus will in- crease as the season of maximum approaches unless the of other commodities suit able for shipment in open-top equip mcnt is provided for A car surplus likewise means a reduction in the number of men employed by the rail- reads, thereby further complicating the labor situation.
 "To recapitulate, reduction in freight rates applying on sand, gravel, crushed stone and slag will accom- plish the following results:
 |. Stimulate and hasten the pro moticn of improvement work, thus giving employment for the increasing number of idle latorers. ?. Increase the revenue of the rail- roads.
 3. Provide for use of the great sur plus of open-tOp cars.
 4. Permit deferred construction work to proceed without further de- lay.
 ,. Remove the aiscrimipating .charr- acter of General OSderSAXo. s2S.
 6. Encourage the development of permanent wealth which will aid ill