Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1920-09-11
ROAD RATE BOOST
 HITS COPPER MINES

Should the 25 cent blanket increase in railroad rates ordered by the inter state commerce commission become effective in Arizona low grade copper producers operating on leased proper ty will be put out of business perman ently, according to we'll substantiated advices received at the Phoenix cham Der of commerce. To offset this un- favorable report comes favorable one concerning manufacturing for it is considered as foregone conclusion that the raising of the rates would within reasonable time compel Ari- zOna to manufacture it's own goods now shipped in from every point on the compass.
 The rates in and to Arizona, as pointed out, have for all time been excessive and with the coming of this possible advance the state will face a condition which it must solve with in itself. The manufacture of copper products, iron products, woolen and cotton products, regardless of varied opinion expressed heretofore, must come as natural result of the ad- vancement of the railroad rates, the chamber of commerce is advised.
 The hardship will be in the begin ming of the rate advance when prices will advance to the consumer but this will not continue beyond reasonable time. Already Phoenix is drawing to itself factories or branch factories as a result of excessive rates.
 This business has grown more than 200 per cent this year, according to chamber of commerce figures. With the added increase in rates there will come a much greater expansion and other cities will share with Phoenix this benefits for, as explained, the in- crease in rates would draw Arizona sections together for the common good. The advancement of the farm ing industry in the Salt River Valley and other section of that state has been so pronounced that Arizona as a manufacturing community has as sisted the satte of vision which far sighted men of business have had for a decade. The increase in rates is the final force that will bring Arizona into the class of manufacturing states is given as definite in chamber of commerce advices.
 The matter of markets for these goods is rapidly shaping itself through changed conditions of the country, especially the western states, and what is considered "safe" Mex ico.
 As the low grade copper mining on leased property the increased rat es will be fatal, say the advices, and nothing forseen now can arrest the total destruction of such mining eX- cept an advance in the price of cop per which at present is low. To il- lustrate this point. It is shown in the advices that with the 25 cent increase 64 tons of low grade copper hauled from lease near Douglas to Douglas for smelting would leave the shipper $32.23 which is not considered enough to pay for his powder and would put him out of business. The larger min- es, owning their property, can operate under the increase, but smaller propo- sitions especially the leases, accord ing to the advices, will receive death blow at a critical time in the copper industry when they should be receiv- ing all encouragement.
 As the possible railroad passenger increase in Arizona it is pointed out that 10 per cent increase in tickets, passenger from New Orleans to Los Angeles rides the entire distance for 3 cents mile, whereas the rate in Arizona, main line, is four cents a mile and that in consequence the Ari- zona passenger must pay four cents to ride on the same seat as the New Orleans passenger paying 8 cents a mile.