The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-12-27
NORTHWESTERN
RAIL BUILDING
TO BE R ESU M ED
Millions Will Be Spent in I'm.
provements, Says Owners
Of Carriers
RATE BOOST is PROPOSED
Secretary of Minneapolis Traffic
Association Sees Need of
Increase
RATE BOOST is PROPOSED

Minneapolis, Mimi, Dec. 27.-Prom-
inent railroad officials in the Twin
cities have accepted President Will
sons proclamation setting March l.
as the date for the return of the roads
to private control with intense salts
faction but they now look forward to
congressional legislation which,> il
satisfactory, will bring millions Of
dollars of railroad Improvements to
the northwest, they say.
Change in the personnel Of the va
rious roads is not looked forward to
for some little time anN it is not be-
lieyed that the board Of directors or
the officials Of the 500 line ana the
Minneapolis and St. Louis railroads
will be changed at all.
Our task now is to plan working
scheme that will be put into effect
when the roads are returned in
March, one official of the 500 line
said today. 1T is probable that the
operating and accounting systems OF
the 500 line will be changed but the
scheme must be planned to the small
est detail, which will take time Of,
tcials Of other roads felt the same
about the situation.
80 Regional Chiefs Pleased.
Railroad executives at Chicago eX-
pressed joy at the fixing of the date
for the return OF the roads and feel
as Minneapolis officials do, that the
roads will have to spend a billion dol
lars a year for five. years 20 regail
their old standards. This opinion was
expressed by Halo. Holden, regional
director Of western roads anil Il, ii.
Ashton, regional director for the
northwestern roads.
,Onc certainty flinders Business.
Uncertainty, as to what the level Of
railroad rates will bc wncn tho roads
are returned is impeding business In
the northwest in lines OF business
that are susceptible to freight rates,
according: to w. P..Trickett, manager
OF the Minneapolis Traffic association,
Trade in the heavier commodities,
such as steel, coal, flour and grain and
commodities of bulk and volume is
much more interested in rates than
trade in smaller articles on which the
freight rate per article is negligible.
AS increased freight ratos are not
absorbed by tho manufacturer, the
jobber or the retailers but are paid
by the consumer the question Of rates
is the most important aspect Of the
announcement Of the return of tho
roads to private control, it is pointed
out.
Increasing the income Of the rail
roads several million dollars a year by
allowing, them to charge more for
carrying freight will simply mean
that tho public will have ts-add this
amount to what it pays for its goods
Mr., Trickett points out, ,f
Substantial Increase Foreseen.
1t is generally conceded by shippers
In Minneapolis that substantial IN
croase in railroad rates will have to
be authorized when the railroads are
returned to private control, according
to Mr.. Trickett g
How much the increase will be is a
matter of speculation, although it is
expected that officials of the railroad
administration will be able to figure
out from the present deficit just how
much OF an increase will be necessary
to permit the roads TO operate on a
paying basis after March il
Mr.. Trickett believes that the rate
question will be taken up right after
the firstsOf the year. Announcement
may come in the form Of general
order from the interstate commerce
commission or the rate adjustment
may be left to the various freight
traffic committees in various railroad
centers of the country.
Mr.. Trickett Is the shippers repre-
sentative on the St Paul district
freight traffic committee and should
that body be called upon to recon-
mend new rates for the northwest Mr.
Trickett would voice an expression of
the shippers at these conferences. or.
doss received by heads of these com
mtttees to keep their Organizations
intact would, seem to indicate that
they viii be given important rate mat
.ters to work out. 81
Big Case Pending.
When the as per cent increase was
allowed after the railroads were
taken over by the governments rate
rotations In the northwest were SO.
rionsly disturbed and as a result MI.
merous rate cases and conferences
were held, and the city's principal
case is still awaiting decision by the
Interstate commerce. association.
ca ~Wnl1ynkMne-rAr,ss. r,s - T~saYA $500
MAkINGHAY AS