The Lamar register., 1921-01-19
FREIGHT REDUCTION REFUSED
Traffic Commission Refuses Reduction
on Alfalfa and Products.-Santa
Fe Railroad Should Act.

Word was received last Thursday
cago had refused to grant any reduc-
tion on alfalfa hay or meal from Colo
rado points to the eastern markets.
the action of the commission was said
to be based not on the needs or merits
of the situation as presented by the
growers of this state but on the belief
that if this relief was granted there
would be a general attack on rates all
along the line by the cotton growers,
the lemon growers, orange growers,
potato growers, cabbage and even
prunes.
The Register knows nothing of the
situation of these other growers nor
of the general proposition of the fair
ness or unfairness of present freight
rates from the standpoint of railroad
conditions, but we do know that in all
business affairs there are times when
half loaf is better than no bread
and with both the Santa Fe railroad
and the Arkansas valley that time is
right here. The officials of the Santa
Fe should act themselves and go over
the heads of the commission and re-
lieve situation that spells serious in
jury and loss not only to this valley
but to the Santa Fe itself.
The situation is pressing and can
not stand delay. Nearly two hundred
thousand tons of alfalfa are being spoil
ed for all shipping purposes in the
fields of this valley. This represents
not only a loss of nearly two million
dollars to the farmers but even at the
proposed reduced rate more than that
loss to the Santa Fe railroad, as all
of it would be carried to market in
the cars now lying idle at the division
points and by the trains now moving
empty cars to the east.
Mills lying idle for weeks, crops rot
ting in the field, men loafing for want
of employment and general stagnation
is a serious condition which can re-
suit in nothing but harm to this great
valley which is one of the Santa Fe's
will not be temporary only unless the
situation is quickly relieved. At the
same time idle cars rusting on the
switches, idle men drawing pay and
empty trains both freight and pas
senger-caused by the general stag
nation-are not improving the finan-
cial condition of the great railway sys-
ten which feeds the valley.
The Traffic Commission looks at the
situation from the standpoint of the
general situation of all the roads, and
not of a special case, and it is up to
the officials of the Santa Fe system
to take hold themselves and take the
broader view that what is good for
a great valley that is fed exclusively
by their system is good for the rail-
road. The Northern Pacific took this
view of a similar situation in Idaho
last month and granted n substantial
reduction on alfalfa and its products.
The officials of the Santa Fe should
be equally broad minded in this crisis
and consider the case on its merits
and not in its relation to some other
section or some other industry
There is no other product of the
Arkansas valley that brings anywhere
near the revenue to the Santa Fe that
the alfalfa hay and products does, and
it was the broad minded policy OF
President Ripley years ago when the
Santa Fe was just emerging from
bankruptcy and receivership that fix
ed rates to encourage the industry.
This more than any one factor made
the valley what it is today and made
it the most valuable feeder along the
Santa Fe system. All know what
President Ripley would do if he were
alive today and if his spirit can move
the present officials to take an equally
broad minded view they will unques-
tionably go over the head of the Traf-
fic Commission and grant the life saw