The Glenwood post., 1921-08-27
RATE REDUCTIONS KS.
MOSTLY BUNK
Western Slope Editor Bitterly
Cridcises So.ca|ied Cut
in Freight on Fruit
IS mere CAMouFLAGE

That the railroads are handing out
lot of Chunk" and "propaganda
under the claim of reducing railroad
rates, but used simply as a sop to the
farmers in an effort to convince them
that the roads are doing something in
their behalf, is the claim Of G. E.
Adams, editor of the Grand Junction
News and the Montrose Press, who
handles the subject without gloves in
the following article:
Every few days they will tell Of some
great reduction in rates and throw it
out to the unsuspecting public as
sop, This reduction when run
down and analysed, usually is no re-
duction at all 80 far as any good it
does. 1t is production" where there
is no business. -
The latest is an order reducing the
rate on apples from the western slope
to points east of the Indiana and the
Illinois state lines to $3.50 per cwt.,
or the rate which Oregon and Wash
ington, 1900 miles farther away, enjoy.
Now how many apples are shipped
from Grand Junction to points east of
Indiana and ulinoisi How many ap
pies will "enjoy' this reduction,
This rate was reduced from $1.63 to
$1.5O. In other words, it was 10 cents
higher than the rate from washingto
to Oregon with a 1500-mile farther
haul. Consistency! Why should the
western slope not have at least an
equal rate in place Of a higher one!
Why should we not have proportion
ate rate!
Anyone can see that this apple
freight reduction will not benefit us
any. In the first place the northwest,
has the very same rate into that coun-
try. They will command the market
there. If the railroads were as benefi-
cent and humanitarian as they claim
to be they would grant us a rate con-
sistent with the mileage.
But no.
A letter has come into the hands of
the Montrose Press which we are using
right here. We want every reader to
look through it, for it shows just what
tho railroads have in mind. It shows
how little they care for the public.
This letter, mind you, was written
by the freight traffic manager Of the
Denver & Rio Grande to the interstate
commerce commission at Washington.
1t has never been published. But 1t is
mighty important document Just
read it and see how the public is to be
hoodwinked.
1t says:
"We are advised with respect TO the
proposed reduction in the rate on ap-
pies from the Pacific coast to the east.
1t has been customary heretofore to
apply from Utah and Colorado, rates
lower than those currently applied
from tho next more westerly zone, but
owing to the conditions under which
the reduced rates from California are
being established, it has been thought
that shippers might well expect to pay
from the interior points charges equal
to those paid from the Pacific coast"
Do you get that? "Shoppers might
expect to pay from the interior points
charges equal to those paid from the
coast, ..,Y
Continuing, the letter states:
1.-THE situation as to prices and other
market conditions which will prevail
this season in the marketing of fruit
and vegetables has not developed, and
we believe that no one can say at this
time with respect to our rates from
western Colorado that they are too
high or will prevent free movement
Of traffic, although we all realize that
such a condition may develop later.
believe the government crop report OF
June this year showed the apple
crop about 10 per cent normal - com
pared with 70 per cent on June l last
year, which would mean . total crop
Of 1Os,000,000 bushels this year Is
compared with 100000, 900 bushels last
year. Our own reports, - you will $50
from the enclosed statement, Indicate