Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-29
IONANS PROTEST
GRAVEL RATE RAISE
SAY WORK OF ROAD IMPROVE.
MENT WILL BE HALTED
RATES ARE ADVANCED.
COMPLAINT LODGED
WITH COMMERCE BOARD
Gravel and Sand Tariffs Held to Be
Sufficiently High to Afford Profit
to Railroads = Proposed Increase
Would Raise Cost Of Paving $1,000
Per Mile and Be Prohibitive.

Would Raise Cost Of Paving $1,000
Per Mile and Be Prohibitive.
IBy E. G.. Dousherty.
Washington. June, 29--Road build
Ing in Iowa and other states will be
seriously interfered with if the in
tefstate2commerce commission grants
increases In freight rates on sand and
gravel. according to r. c. Fletcher of
Des Moines, and Floyd Goodrich, of
Humboldt, who have Just returned TO
their homes after attending the meet
ms Of the advisory council of sand
and gravel producers, held here.
The interstate commerce commits
sion was told by the gravelmen that
an increase OF 1000 per mile in the
cost Of road building would result If
increased freight rates were ordered.
The gavel men pointed out that 90
per cent Of the sand and gravel
transported over the roads is pro-
duced within seventy five miles of
the point where 1t is to be used. On
this basis. stoday's freight rates are
approxima tely double those in effect
in 1915. A rs per cent increase In
the transportation charge on q ton
OF gravel. road experts show, means
81 900 per mile added to the cost of
building the highway.
A further advance at this time,
Fletcher and Goodrich and their as
aociates maintain, will materially re-
duce the contemplated construction
Of roads, result inimical to public
welfare. There is no need for
further advance in the sand and gra-
vel rates. it was pointed out, as much
OF the loss in revenue suffered by the
roads can Sbe regained by increasing
those rates now preferentially low
IS, Local communities turnout the
country are at present endeavoring
tc- improve and to tend their good
roads under the guidance and influ-
ence OF the good roads bureau of. the
department of agriculture, admirAs-
tered by the way. by an Iowan, Tom
Mcdonald. Government experts agree
that added trans portation costs will
have an adverse effect on this activ-
ity. The Federal government annual
fly appropriated large sum Of money
ito assist the states in this highway
work, but the terms are such that
the states are unable to do their
share In face :of further increases. J.
The sand and gravel men pointed
out to the commission that the open
! - - L.. \ o1n
The producers told the commission
that the coal industry was being dis
eliminated in favor Of in the dis
tribution of open top cars. and urged
that a more equitable arrangement to
supply facilities for the sand and
gravel trade be authorized. On the
ground that construction work repro
sents A per cent OF the country'sr
business, the gravel men asserted,
the trade should be given adequate
facilities for the movement Of their
product so that construction of high
ways and buildings would not be in
iterfered with.
Water Power Case Delayed.
Water power improvements of
benefit to Iowa, authorized under the
water power legislation which passed
congress and was signed by the pres
ident. will not be approved by the
special government commission on
water power until late in July or
August, Secretary Of War Baker said
today. The absence in San Francisco
OF Secretary of Agriculture Meredith.
who heads the lowe delegation there,
is one reason given by Baker. Mr..
Meredith, under the law, is member
OF the commission, which issues Ii
censes to private interests enabling
them to take advantage of the un-
used water power Of any navigable
stream.
Baker, Meredith and Secretary of
the Interior Payne comprise the wat
er power commission. When Meredith
returns to Washington Secretary
Payne will be absent, having decid-
I'd to go to Alaska to investigate the
coal possibilities there.
The water power bill authorizes the
commission to grant permits OF leas-
es for period of fifty years to any
plant which desires to obtain water
power from any stream that is
classed as nayigable. A number of
applicants have already sought this
governmental license for projects
which will enable them to have the
motive power operated by water.