The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-12-07
TAKE STEPS To
6ETL0W RATES
FOR IDAHO HAY
Canyon County Organ
lied in Request for $40
Freight Rate to Market
Alfalfa Surplus.

No replies had been received either
by the local Commercial club or the
Western National bank Monday in
response to requests wired Saturday
afternoon to officials of the Union
Pacific system asking for $40 flat
freight rate for southwestern Idaho
baled hay destined for middle western
livestock centers.
Nearly 10000 cars of hay can be
shipped out, according to figures sub
mitted at a meeting held here Satur-
day afternoon when the problem of
aiding Idaho hay producers culmin-
ated in asking for reduced freight
rates and the adoption of the follow
ing resolutions:
Whereas, we the representatives of
the Canyon county farm bureau, the
farm bureau of the state of Idaho and
of the commercial clubs of Caldwell,
Parma and Nampa, assembled in joint
meeting at Caldwell in the interest of
the hay growers of southern Idaho,
find that the hay of this territory will
not be sold this year without special
freight rate to permit shipment to
various sections of the east, therefore
Seek Immediate Action.
"Be it resolved, that we immediate
ly ask for prompt reduction in the
present hay rate to $40 ton to Mis-
souri, river points and $l2 ton to
Chicago as emergency rates to permit
the movement of the 1920 hay crop,
and that all bodies represented in this
meeting Immediately wire to the Off
Gals of the Union. Pacific. the inter-
state commerce commission, as we'll as
the public utilities commission of Ida
no, asking that this rate be put into
effect at once; that we especially rec
ommend that R. A. Smith, department
of agriculture of the Union Pacific
railroad; ]. A. Reeves, freight agent
of the Oregon Short Line of Salt Lake
and President P. E. Calvin of the
Union Pacific be sent special wires
outlining the request as follows:
"'Rate $40 to Missouri river points,
$l2 to Chicago. Six thousand to ten
thousand carloads in state to move
Use of inferior box car equipment per-
MISSILE. Good effect on general bust
ness conditions
BE it further resolved, that we send
copies of this resolution to the various
farm bureaus, farm organizations and
commercial club bodies of southern
Idaho, asking that they use all pos
sible influence for the new rate no,
only to Missouri river points but to
Chicago as we'll, and that they use
their influence with as many differ
ent influential officers as possible
who may be able to give assistance
to this emergency.
Resolution committee,
LOUIS S. YODER, Secretary,
BEN ROSS, Chairman"
Somewhat hurriedly called, tn
meeting was not so we'll attended al
the importance of the business in hant
warranted but representatives wer'
present from Nampa, Parma, Wilder
Deer Flat as well as from Caldwell
In addition to those interested in get
ting lower rate for hay, many potato
growers were present in the Interests
of a lower freight rate for this crop
). After consideration, it was decided
however, to center efforts on the ha!
problem for the present.
II H. c. Baldridge of Parma asserte,
!, that he was not only fighting for thi
particular reduction in freight rate
J but for a broader policy that woul
J materially reduce the present discrim
nation. against the western farme
and producer. He said that step
; must be taken along this line to pre-
, vent further increases in the cost Q
: marketing Idaho products where the
! can be sold.
In addition to the action taken b
representatives of the various com
munities OF Canyon county, the West
!, ern National bank also sent wires t
: Union Pacific officials requesting
;, freight rate that would permit placin
n the bulk of Idaho's bumper hay GRO
r in the hands of middle western feee
: ers at prices which were not prohib
}. tive.
!. Hay at present is quoted at Kanss
a City from $3.50 to $50 per ton. b
!. cause of lack of color, Idaho grow
hay will not take the highest gradin