Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-14
Maine FARMERS
FIGHTING FREIGHT
discrimination


vision of Markets, who went to Bos-
ton as the personal representative of
Commissioner of Agriculture, Frank
p. Washburn at the conference of
New England agriculturists in pro-
test against the discriminating cut Of
10 per cent. in farm products freight
on Western railroads, against the in
terests of Maine farmers, has re-
turned and made report to the COM
missioner of the meeting. Mr.. White
says:
1.-The meeting was attended by rep
resentatives of the Oranges, State
Departments of Agriculture, State
Farm Bureau and Extensions Serv-
ices of the State Universities and
shippers from all over New England.
Glen c. Seavey, editor of the New
England Homestead, called the meet
ing to order and Il. H. Bronson of
Boston was appointed clerk. Mr..
Seavey outlined the reasons for the
meeting. One outstanding feature
was that the 10 per cent. reduction
on agricultural products applies to
all sections of the country except
New England, thereby bringing agri-
cultural products from far distant
points into competition with New
England products at a less freight
rate. He also pointed out that New
England railroads will haul ship
ments originating outside New Eng
land at the 10 per cent. reduction but
those originating within New Eng
land must all go at the old rate.
MI. Rich, counsel for the Associat-
ed Industries of Massachusetts,
brought out two distinct discrimina :
tons. First, that several months ago.
livestock rates were resumed west of
the Mississippi but were so arranged
that on shipments where the rate
previously was so cents per hundred
or less, no reduction was made. Thus
the short haul shippers received no
benefits Of the reduction. Second, Now
England is bad enough off anyway,
being in the northeast corner of the
country, and the general tendency of
rate reductions of late years has been
to bottle up New England products,
while opening the New England mar
kets to western productions at pre-
ferential rates. The Associated In
dustries, said Mr.. Rich. favor reduc-
ton on certain articles, including
coal, rather than horizontal 10 per-
cent. reduction on all articles. 1t was
his opinion that the railroads are not
in position at present to stand 10 per
cent. on all articles.
"a letter was read from p. r. Todd
of the Bangor & Aroostook, express
ing his opinion that the ]. GnC@plans
to go into all freight rates on Dec. IA
and consequently there was no need
to worry. A strong protest immedi-
ately came from the meeting, from
the fact that the 10 per cent. reduc-
ton will go into effect at once and
that the proceedings of the I. G. c.
under ordinary conditions take long
time to reach a conclusion.
'The following facts were brought
out by various speakers: The rate re-
duction will apply to car lots of
milted feeds, hay and straw, cotton
seed products, fruits, citrus and po-
tatoes and vegetables, livestock, eggs,
butter and cheese, but not to milk.
The effect Of these rates would be to
bring Michigan potatoes into New
England at a sufficiently cheap
freight rate to cause Maine shippers
a loss of one-half million dollars.
For instance. the distance from Grand
Rapids. Mich, to 33d street, New
York is 779 miles. and the freight rate
is So cents. while the distance from
Pressure Isle to 33d street is 761 miles
and the rate is els cents. Ten per
cent. reduction would thus give pre-
ferential to the Michigan potatoes Of
9.3 cents.
"Garret Forte, vice president Of the
Boston & Maine, explained the posi-
ton of his road. saying that they
were combing their system to reduce
operating expenses, but inasmuch as
no action could be expected by the
Labor Board to reduce wages before
next year. the prospect of materially
reducing operating expenses at pres
ent is small. He called attention to
the fact that grain rates were reduced
several months ago to meet Galveston
and Montreal port competition and
that these rates will not be further
affected by the 10 per cent. reduc-
ton"
Mr.. Hart. counsel for the e. & A.,
explained that the shipment of pota-
toes furnished 5000 of the income Of
the q. L. A. and he gave assurances
that the b. & A. will give heed to the
adopted by potato men at
Pressure Isle on Tuesday. December
). However, so far as actual prom
SEES for relief by the B. &, A., there
was nothing definite to be drawn
rom Mr.. Harris remarks.
Geo. s. Hobbs, vice president of the
Maine Central explained the difficult
les of that railroad, saying that their
payroll under government control had
been increased from z million to over
sixteen million dollars per year. and
hat the 1891 deficit would total two
million dollars. He emphasized the
act that the Maine Central has