The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-08-29
RELIEF EXPECTED
REGARDING RATES
Witnesses Testify Be
fore Interstate Com
merce Commission

At the rate hearing before the in
erstate commerce commission,
Washington, D. c., during the week
beginning August Is, all the states
west Of the Mississippi river were
represented, excepting Oregon, Mon
tana, Washington, California, Ne
vada, Colorado, New Mexico and
Texas. Illinois was also represented.
The State of Idaho was repre-
sented by George e. Erb, president
of the public utilities commission OF
Idaho, Leonard Way, chief of trans
portation department, public utilities
commission and G. B. Ross, repre-
senting the farmers and various COM
mercial clubs of the state.
"The economic side of the ques-
tion was first presented, showing
that it costs 81 a bushel to produce
wheat on irrigated lands and $1.16 a
bushel to \, produce wheat on dry
farms in Idahor while farmers in this
country are selling their wheat on an
average of about rs cents a bushel,
thereby losing Is cents on every
bushel raised in the state" stated
Mr.. Ross. ~ts
The testimony of Mr.. Ross tended
to show that il the railroads main
tanned their rates at figure which
prohibited the farmer from produc-
ing crops of alfalf hay, wheat and
other grains and forced him to raise
concentrated crops such as dairy
products and livestock, that the tom
mage to the. railroads would fall OF
to such a point that it would be al
most impossible to operate them,
and" he added, ito bear out this
fact the following figures were
shown: Forty acres in hay will pro-
duce $4,000 pounds of freight. The
same forty reduced to dairy products
will produce a tonnage Of only 5000
pounds; hogs 100000; beef cattle,
$1,000 pounds.
"The difference between 40 acres
in dairy produce and the same In hay
would therefore lose to the railroads
98.2 per cent in tonnage. In wheat,
92.5 per cent" @
"Mr. Ways testimony tended to-
show that the railroad companies
got back over 100 cents for every
dollar they spend in the operations
Of their systems states Mr.. Ross.
These figures are taken from the
railroad companies own reports filed
with the interstate commerce COM
mission. The farmers OF Idaho,
are only asking that they
be put on an equal footing with the
companies.
"Mr. Wallace, secretary of agri-
culture, followed the Idaho witnesses
on the stand. He likened the pres
ent financial situation to shipwreck
within the passengers we're set out
in lifeboats with limited amount of
water and food. In that case each
would be given an equal amount SO
that life might be sustained for all
until they reached land.
"He believes that the railroads
and all other business should share
equally with the farmers the burden
Of this depression. He also showed
figures which bore out the facts pre-
sented by former witnesses in regard
to the cost of producing wheat and
hay.
''The secretary, we believe, was
the best witness that testified before
the commission on behalf Of the
Of this nation, and deserves
q great deal Of credit for the interest
shown and the statistics he has
gathered, his testimony showing
that he had a broad knowledge Of
the farming situation Of this country.
1T is impossible at this time to
predict just what position the inter-
state commerce commission will take
In regard to a reduction of freight
rates, but we feel that we made an
good case and we be-
lieve we are going to beSgiven some
relief, which should come inside Of
The next thirty days. Therefore, we
would like to have the wheat grow-
ers of Idaho get the benefit Of any
reduction that might be made thru
the interstate commerce commits
sion's findings In this case.
At& 9F4& s4s III