Arizona republican., 1921-08-14
ID SHOW PRESENT HAY-CRA|N RATES
 ARE PROH|bIT|VE

By raising freight rates to a pro- hihitive figure tiie railroads are kill ing the soose tfat laid the golden eggs is the corsention of the Arizona corporation commission with refer ence to the hay industry.
 Amos A Betts of the commission is enroute to Washington to attend a hearing before tl.e interstate com merce commission Aug. Is to consider the complaint in which 22 western states have joined. seeking a 25 per cent reduction in the rates on hay and Erain and grain rroducts- MT. Betts is one of committee of five which will present the case.
 The case will be argued with es- pecial reference to present economic might be justified if the producers were securing a good price, but the opposite is true, with the result that the farmer finds his markets cut off on all sides. Mir. Betts is loaded down with affiGavits to this effect from the producers. as well as other data in affidavit form showing the cost of production.
 Before the war hay was shipped from Phoenix to Ei Paso at 25 cents per hundred or s5 per ton, and the hay sold for s33 per ton. Under those conditions one ton of hay would pay for the transportation of 6.6 tons to market. Today the rate on hay from Phoenix to El Paso is 39k cents, or an increase of 5S per cent over the pre- war rate, ard hay is worth only sl1 per ton, thu proceeds from one ton Being sufficient to ship 1.39 tons.
 With Stafford shippers the differ {t.1I ro6 war one ton of hay would pay the cost of shipping S.25 tons. and now 1t will pay for the shipment to Fl Paso of only 1.74 tons.
 Before the war one could ship hay from Yuma into Los Angeles for 1894 cents a hundred. The present rate is 2e1. cents. Before the war the pro- ceeds from one ton would pay for the transportation O. SIS tons; now 1t pays for shipping only 1.s6 tons.
 Before the war, according to an affidavit by W. ". Pace, farmers of the Gila valley found a market as far off as Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana. but under rates which now run as high as $23.S0 this territory has been closed
 Showing the dire effect of the high rates on the hay industry of Gilbert, heretofore one of the largest produc- ing sections, Leonard Metz is the sisner of an affidavit to the effect that only six cars of hay have left that point since June, when the first crop was sold for $10 per ton.
 That the cost of producing alfalfa hay in the Salt River valley is Sl6.l5 , per ton. is the sworn statement or II. c. Heard. county agricultural agent. This statement $ supported by fig ures summarized al follows for a five year period: 30 cuttings at $6.1s per acre. .s1S7 -5o Fixed charges per annum -.--. lS4.su Cost of seeding -...-........ lS-zu
 Total cost five years ..... $3S I.6U
 Assuming a yield of "A tons to the acre the cost per ton figures $16.15.
 Hay production in Arizona was on the increase unti. last year. when the large cotton acreage and the hlgn rates on hay resulted in decided falling off. In 1918 there were shipped from tho Salt River valley 4fos cars and in the year following, Ee2e. In 1920 only 1405 cars were shipped. With favorable rates the industry would resume its old time uroportions, it is believed.
 Laurence c. Wilson, representine the farm bureau of Casa Grande, ls accompanying Commissioner Betts or his trip to Washington and Will ap- near as a witness in the nay fat' case