Ashland weekly tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1919-1924, 1921-05-18
Especial to TIdings.)


Coast in drive to obtain lower
freight rates has been concentrated
in a gigantic "Save the West" move
ment, officials of these industries
stated yesterday.
Producers OF fresh fruits and yege-
tables declare they are fighting to
save the industries from destruc-
tion and the only hope is reduction
of the present rail rate. Amend
ments to the Transportation Act Of
1920, which caused the last raise Of
3S l-S per cent in freight rates, will
be the first objective.
The assailed act guarantees net
annual earning OF G per cent upon
the value OF combined railroad prop
critics in the United States.
C.. c. league. President OF the
California Fruit Growers Exchange,
said today that by this act the In
terstate Commerce Commission is
charged with fixing rates on the
shippers OF the United States which
will produce an earning on billions
of dollars of worthless property -
railroads which, he asserts, should
have never been built, will be kept
out of the receivers hands through
the per cent they obtain on their
holdings. At the same time that the
growers of California organized TO
battle the legislation, the growers
of the northwest including Oregon,
Washington and Idaho. and the
producers of Arizona and Texas,
were starting similar campaigns.
These actions have led to a concert
ed battle for lower rates.
That citrus groves are being torn
out in Southern California because
each crop of fruit shipped to east
ern markets under the present rail
rates means a dead loss to the grow
ers, is the statement of officials OF
the California Fruit Growers Ex-
change.
Thirteen hundred cars OF apples
are in storage at Yakima, the pro-
ducers refusing to ship at total
loss, according TO o. c. Scots. secre-
tary of the Yakima Commercial
Club.
That the vegetable acreage of Cal
ifornia will decrease SO per cen
this season because sitting railroad
rates have made it impossible foi
growers to operate except at a loss
is the assertion Of Thomas 0'Aeill
president of the California Vegetable
Union.
Potato and onion growers of Ore
gon, Washington, Idaho and Califor-
mia recently notified all railroad
systems that they were facing bank
ruptcy because of rates now in ef-
fect.
Fruit and truck growers In Texas
will not be able to ship this years
crop because freight charges exceed
the value OF the products. declares
Ben e. Keith, OF the International
Apple Shippers Association and the
Western Fruit Jobbers Association.
"Three thousand cars of vegetables
have gone to waste in the Rio Grando
Valley this year because they could
not be shipped at existing rates."
asserts U. S. Pawkett of the Rio
Grande Valley Association.
Senator Frank r. Gooding, Of
Idaho, says in behalf Of the people
Of his state, Il believe that every
railroad company is entitled to a
fair return on its investment, but it
should not take more. want TO
stress the fact that we must wage
our fight in the right spirit - but
we must wage it The road is not
entitled to more than a Just return,
am convinced that no railroad has
been suffering from lack OF re-
turns"
Cantaloupe growers of Imperial
Valley claim that their cantaloupe
crop of 900 cars will be a heavy
loss this year, il lower shipping
rates are not procured Immediately
of the melons are ex-
Dected to start June l,
"The fruit growers of the Pacific
coast, including the states Of WASH,
ngton. Oregon and California, dur
ng the coming season will have
otal of 100000 cars of fruit de-
,lares G. Harold Powell, chairman
,f the California PRODUCERS Trans
,ortatlon Committee, organized at
he instlgation Of Governor William
D. Stephens. "the largest part Of
his produce should be distributed
n the eastern costal zone OF the
United States.
with this factor In view the
growers who have a capital invest
nent exceeding 5000, 100000 pro-
'ose to form central Organization
which. acting in close cooperation
With similar organizations and
'acked by commercial bodies OF all
will present a pow
rful and united front In the battle
o obtain lower rates.
Some Of the influential organiza-
ions backing this fight are; The
Fruit Exchange, the Cal
fornia Fruit Distributors. the Cal