White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-24
LOWER FREIGHT RATES
ON COPPER BULLION

Lower freight rates authorized by
the interstate m commission
may be a factor in bringing about q
more speedy reduction in the surplus
copper supply now said to be stored
at McGill. High freight rates on Ger.
tain commodities have been looked
upon as detrimental to Nevada's pros
perity and the action of h inter
state commerce commission Will be
received with approval and may be a
means of Fastening the time when
the production of copper will again
be actively resumed in the Ely dis
trict.
A Washington dispatch in Fridays
Salt Lake Tribune said that in order
that Utah copper may move by rail
to San Francisco or Oakland and
thence by water through the Panama
canal to New York and Baltimore. at
lower than existing all-rail rates from
Utah to the Atlantic seaboard, the
interstate commerce commission LIST
Wednesday vacated its order sus-
pending the proposed reduction OF
Western Pacific railroad rates to the
west coast. ard the schedule of rates
intended 10 have become effective De
ftnlDcT % last dTt dlloHtu " Dt
made effective.
Present fourth-elass rates between
Garfield smelter and International,
Utah, and McGill, New. to San Fran
cisco applicable to copper bullion are
$3.50, s31 and $3.50 per ton. re-
spectively. but under the new SEIZED
ule which the commission sanctions
the ate from Garfield and Interna-
tional will be reduced $3.50 per ton
and from McGill $500. Present
rates are on a class basis. The com.
mission in its decision says In part:
Copper bullion from the smelters
at the named points of origin Is ship
ped to New York or Baltimore TO be
refined. The present all-rail rate TO
New York is s22 from all three
points OF origin. To Baltimore the
all-rail ate from McGill Is s2l.20
and from Garfield smelter and Inter.
national Ia S21.4o. The record indi'
Gates that there has not heretofore
been and is lot now any movement
to those refining points via the Cali.
fornia ports in connection with the
coast TO coast water. The object OF
establishing the proposed rate is r.
form an available route in connec.
tion with water carriers operating
through the Panama canal. Repre-.
sentatives OF the smelling companies
and commercial organizations ap.
peared at the hearing in support OF
the proposed rates. No one has ap'
peared in opposition thereto or has
voiced any protest in the record.
THE Western Pacific is well con.
structed for handling tonnage Eco
nomical operating and traffic condi-
tons on the Western Pacific are such
that bullion moving under the pro.
posed rate could be handled by II In
through California trains from Salt
Lake at little additional expense. The
interchange arrangements with the
short lines are simple and the trains
pass through no terminals compare.
BILE to those through which bullion
moving east ward via the aili-rail line
must pass. II appears from the rec.
ord that the normal empty boxcar
movement on the western Pacific Is
w~estbound and that ordinarily the
bullion would be moved In ears that
otherwise would be hauled empty tc
California.
Copper bullion Is desirable traf.
fc. as IL moves throughout the year
loads heavily. car be carried In any
hoxcar capable of being locked. does
not impair the availability OF the
equipment for return loads OF other
traffic and, despite Its considerable
value. Is practically free from los,
and damage claims. The average an.
nual production OF bullion II Garfield
, for the last decade was about 10000
tons. II In probable that the annual
production at McGill In normal time.
would be a little less than half tina
OF Garfield.
The net rates would produce caI
earnings OF $254.S0 on shipment,
from Garfield and 1904 on those from
NcCill for n minimum load. The tor
mile earnings under the suspended
rate would be somewhat less than OF
all traffic on the Western Pacific, blu
the haul would be approximately ~
per cent greater than the average OF
all traffic