The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-12-21
COMMERCE. CLUB
PETITIONS FOR
RAIL RATE CUT
Asks That Attention be Given ia
Reduction of Building Ma
terial Freight Costs
AGAINST IS PERCENT BOOST
Holds That General Increase
Works Injustice and Les
sens Shipments

Resolutions adopted bye the Bis,
marck Commercial club asking the In.
terstate Commerce Commission for a
reduction in freight rates, particularly
the rates on commodities entering In
to the coast Of building materials, be
readJusted on lower level.
The club resolutions ask that in ad.
dition to reductions on specific COM
modities to stimulate the building in
dustry, that the IS per cent increase
made several months ago be with
drawn, it being represented thai the
increase has handicapped in ma
: terial reduction in shipment and as q
result, serious suspension Of con.
struction work has menaced the bust.
ness life Of jobbers and wholesalers !"
An exhibit containing specific in.
stances of wholesale costs on sand,
gravel, lumber, plaster, face brick,
hollow building tile and bulk lime and
the freight rates, is given. The whole.
sale price of carload shipment Of
face brick at West Salem, Wis, is
sfown as $504.0O and the freight
charges to Fargo $264,94. Other ex-
amples Of the cost of freight rates in
comparison to cost of the product are
given.
Resolutions Of Club
The petition to the Interstate Com
merce Commission, in the form Of
resolutions adopted by the club, fol-
lows:
The Bismarck Commercial Club,
representing the builders, traders and
other business interests in the City of
Bismarck, respectfully memorable
your Honorable Body, in our own in
terest, re the present level of freight
and passenger rates throughout the
country and also in the determination
of what will constitute a fair return
to the carriers from and after March
I, 1922, under Section Is; q 49, OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission Act
and calling particular attention to the
closing paragraph of Elk Parte, Pro-
ceeding No. "A, wherein you state,
~ It is impracticable at this time to
adjust all the rates on individual com.
modities The rates to- be established
on the basis hereinbefore approved
must necessarily be subject to such
readjustment as the facts may war,
rant. 1t is conceded by the carriers
that read justments will be necessary
It is expected that the shippers will
take these matters up in the first in
stance with the carriers, and the lat
ter will be expected to deal promptly
and effectively herewith to the end
that necessary adjustments may be
made in as many instances as prac-
ticable without appeal to U.S..
Il. We pray your Honorable Body
to- give special consideration to the
general level of freight rates on speci'
fic commodities shown in the attach
ed Exhibit No. l..
SO. A reduction in freight rates on
these specific commodities to stimu-
late activities of the building and
constructing interests and thus mater.
tally improve the housing problem
resulting from high prices OF building
materials.
Aqainst IS Per Cent increase
"33. We submit that the IS per cent
increase authorized under Elk Parte
NO. IA has handicapped in d material
reduction in shipment and as re-
suit, a serious suspension OF construc-
ton work has menaced the business
life Of, iobbers and wholesalers.
~; a. We submit that the reduction
would materially assist the employ
ment problem as well as tend to the
resumption of the operation OF the
building trades.
IS. We submit that the increase
has made practically prohibitive the
use Of sand and gravel for construc-
ton purposes. -, .
"'6. We submit that Exhibit No.
Gas of Bismarck) will show specific in.
stances of wholesale costs compared
with freight rates quite as actually as
though the Exhibit were prepared
specifically for our city.
'sWe memorable your Honorable
Body in the interest Of our pioneer
state, in the interest of certain NOV
ing of people to homesteads, IN tne
interest of general service and eco
nomic necessity; that, our PRAYER foi
the withdrawal of the 80 per cent in
crease, authorized by Ex Parte NO. .
Proceeding, on all the commodltles
shown in Exhibit !, shall be granted.