Arizona republican., 1920-03-02

That freight rate on cement of $2.30 per ton from Fl Paso and production points in southern California to Phoe- nix and other points in Maricopa county be granted by the railroads en- tering the county was asked in 9. peti- ton made jointly by the Merchants and Manufacturers association, the Phoenix chamber of commerce. the Maricopa County Highway commission and the City of Phoenix, and for werded to the interested carriers yesterday The petition was based upon a re- port made by the traffic bureau of the Phoenix chamber of commerce. since the railroads pay ten per cent of the taxes collected in Maricopa county, the report stated in one of its arguments, they should be interested in having the county highways to be constructed un- der the s4.000,000 bond issue built as economically possible. of the best material that can be obtained at the lowest possible cost.
 This report, which accompanied the petition, was prepared by Roland Johnston manager of the traffic bu- reau. and contained facts and figures tending to show that Maricopa county was Justified in seeking a, material re- duction of the freight rate on cement for road building purposes It was learned last night that the Maricopa County Highway commission would also make application for a re- duced rate on asphalt. Members of tie county highway commission, including J. c. Peterson, c. c. Green, F. T. Hur- ley, Engineer Perkins, and Supervisors w. K. Bowen and J. R. Bradshaw, left for Fl Paso last night to inspect roads of various types in the vicinity of that city.
 The petition, which follows, was ad- dressed to the district freight agents of the Santa E'e, Southern Pacific, and Arizona Eastern railroads. It was for warded to the railroads as corporations, the United States railroad having ceased to function when the roads were returned to private ownership yester- day.
 Mir. Fred P. Cruice, District Freight Agent, Atchison, Topeka and Santa F'e Ky, and Press Bancroft, District Freight Agent, Arizona Eastern Railroad Co, Southern Pacific Railroad Go.
 Petition
 Whereas, Your petitioners believe that the freight rate on cement from Fl Paso and production points in Southern California to Phoenix ana other points in Maricopa, county should be reduced for the use of cement in public works; and
 Whereas. the county of Marfcopa is about to spend the sum of s4,0o0,00o in road building, which road bull Hing may require very large amount of cement now therefore
 We the undersigned petitioners do ereby ask that a special freight rate on cement of $2.30 per ton be put into effect forthwith from Fl Paso and production points in Southern Califor- nia. to Phoenix
 You will find attached herewith; a report made to the executive commit tess of the traffic bureau of the cham Der of commerce by the manager, Ro1aAd Johnston; which report states the facts on which we base our peti- tion- You will note that this rate is not asked as commercial rate but for the sole purpose of reducing the cost of roads to be built in Maricopa county by the $4.000, ,0000 bond issue. Respectfully submitted, traffic bu- reau chamber of commerce,
 By ROY $. GOODRICH.
 Chairman.
 P R. HELM,
 Merchants, and Manufacturers As sociation,
 By JNO. F. BARKER
 cHAs. B. cHRIsTY.
 Secretary.
 DAVE GOLDBERG
 Chairman.
 W. c. BUTTON.
 CHAS. O'MALLEY. MarIcOpa county ElSnWdy COmmiS- sion.
 By E. HACKETT,
 Chairman.
 A. F. JONES,
 Secretary.
 J. G. PETERSON,
 P. T. HURLEY. City of Phoenix.
 By V. A. THOMPSON,
 City Manager. This is the report submitted by Mir. Johnston:
 March l, 1920. Executive Committee, Traffic Bureau,
 Chamber of Commerce, Gentlemen:
 Acting under your instructions, 1 have made an investigation to ascertain
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