Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1921-04-22
ONE GREAT TROUBLE.
(Bristol lIcrnld.Cnuricrl

Whiie rnilrond freight hates nre
high, md should he reduced ms soon
as possible. II Is tho opinion of econo-
misls and business men generally
that tho present depression is due
not to high freight rates but to world
causes arising out Of tho war. Edgar
=. Clnrk, Chairman of tho Interstate
Commerce Commission, touched upon
this question in II recent letter to
United Stntcs Senator Shortridgc.
AT the time the Increased rates
were innugurnted," snid Mr.. Clark,
1t was recognized that some read
Justimcnts would be necessary. Many
road)ustmenta have boen made.
We have had some vigorous COM
municntions from interests in Flor
ida that the rates were sitting tho
movement of fruits and Vegetables
from TINT State, but upon inyestipa-
lion and ascertninmcnt of nil tho
incts 1t developed TINT the move,
mcnt of fruits and vegetables for
The period Novembo !, 1920. to March
|. 1921, exceeded by several hundred
cars the movement during tho Same
period Of 1910-2O."
Since there has been an Increase
IN shipment Of fruits and vegetables
from Florida since freight rates were
Increased, tho fruit and vegetable
growers of That State hnvc made mn
nlllounded md unreasonable COM
plnint. Tho rates hive not intcrfcr-
ed with the movement of these com
modities. Freight traffic has fallen
OIL greatly, but according to Chair
man Clnrk's stntemcnt the high rntes
are not altogether resonsiblc for the
decline. "ln many, instances" he
says, enquiry into situation de-
monstratcs that II is not tho high
freight rates TINT Is preventing tho
sale but the prices that must be paid.
One great trouble IL that prices Of
many commodities nre being held Mt
too high level. The public knows
tho prices are too high, It refuses to
buy IN the usual quantities, conse-
quently there il not as much business
rs there would be IL prices were re-
duced ns they should be. Tho price
OIL coal, FOR instance. has not come
down to reasonable level, and the
consumer refuses to buy more than
no needs at present, hoping for re-
duction in price later. AS result.
there is u condition approaching
staEnation in the mining industry
ana the ralronds are not hauling the
coal that would be moving from mine
to market if the public were buyinr
as freely MS formerly ut this seasen.
I'VE are in no wise insensible to
tho difficulties which shippers gene
rally, are experiencing" says Mr..
Clark. "but the plight Of the shippers
can not well be much worse than That
Of the railroads" That no doubt is
true. Prices Of commodities are held
up, the people decline to buy LIBERAL
ly, and freight traffic falls off, while
on the other hand, labor resists re-
duction Of wages, and the railroads
are not only paying high wages but
are working under national agree
ments which make efficient and econo-
mical operation impossible.
Tho Railroda Labor Board has
abrogatcd the national agreements.
effective July 1, and labor must make
up its mind to accept reasonable
reduction In wnges. Then, with a
further decline in prices Of commo-
dities, the public would begin to buy
what it needs, business would soon
return, to normal, frenght rates could
DC reduced, and everybody would be
benefited.