Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-11-09
DROP |MPE RAT|VE
IN FREIGHT RATES
SECRETARY WALLACE SAYS THE
FARMER CANNOT BEAR THE
BURDEN MUCH LONGER.
QUESTION is VERY COMPLEX
Costs OF Railway Operation Were
Largely Responsible for the Nd
vances IN Rates, but These Now
Show Signs of Declining.
BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY

BY JAMES p. HORNADAY
Washington. --"One of the heavy
/ burdens which the farmer has been
forced to carry at time when he was
least able to carry 1t has been the
large increase in freight rates. said
1 Secretary of Agriculture Wallace in
1 talking Of the troubles of the farmers.
He pointed out that in 1920 freight
rates on many Of the more important
farm crops were almost double what
they We're before the war: these in.
creased rates not only imposed
4 grieyous financial burden but in many
cases narrowed the market for crops,
which We're not worth enough to carry
the freight rate to distant markets.
AT the same time" said he, 1.-THE
increased rates on the things the
farmer had TO buy added to his cost of
living and the cost of production by
just that much. Had prices of farm
crops remained at the 1919 and early
1920 levels, the higher freight rates
could have been paid without incon-
venience. A freight rate of % cents
a bushel when corn is selling for S1.75
bushel is not a serious matter but a
Decent rate on 50cent corn is ruina-
ton. During 1920 the influence of the
administration was exerted In every
proper way to bring about a reduc-
tion in freight rates on farm crops
and number of important reductions
were secured. Rates are still alto
gether too high however, with rela-
tion to the selling value of crops, and
further substantial reductions must
come in the near future.
This railroad question is exceed
ingly complex and difficult. When the
federal government took over the
roads 1t was on the agreement that in
addition to proper maintenance they
should be assured of earnings equal to
the average of the three years, June
30, 1914 to June 80, 1917. Costs OF
operation were increasing steadily and
the government advanced both passen-
ger and freight rates.
Railroad Costs Too High.
ubiquitous working agreements and
shop rules which greatly reduced la.
Dor output We're accepted. The result
was that railroad costs Of operation
increased far more than railroad re
ceipts. During this period practically
everything shipped was selling at a
price high enough to have carried
correspondlngly high freight rate
Good business administration would
have provided for railroad income dur
Ing those prosperous times large
enough to meet the government con.
tract and would thus have saved the
hundreds of millions which the gov.
eminent afterward had to pay. Also
II should have made it possible for
prompt reduction In rates when the
prices of farm crops made 1t necessary.
"The urgent demand by farmers for
large reductions IN freight rates have
led some people to think that If the
farmers could have their way they
would put rates so low that the roads
could not possibly operate Nothing
could be further from the truth. The
farmer is almost wholly dependent on
the railroad for the movement of his
surplus crops and live stock. Much
agricultural freight is perishable and
must have expedited movement. The
farmer therefore. has d direct interest
In efficient railroad operation and
knows that the roads must be permit.
ted to charge enough to cover all prop.
er costs of operation and enough In
addition TO give fair return upon
the money invested and thus keer
capital i'm the business. Neither does
the farmer want government opera
ton OF the railroads He had enough
Of that in his three years experience
to satisfy him for all time. He will
never forget the losses. both direct
and indirect which he suffered be.
cause he could not ship when his stuff
was ready for market, and because
Of bad service.
Rates Must Come Down.
Nevertheless. freight rates on farm
crops and live stock must come down |
With present prices for his crops and /
with probable prices for the next wear
or so, the farmer simply cannot afford
to pay the present rates. They are
out of all proportion to the pay he gets
for what he grows.
"a hopeful sign which points toward
the possibility of reductions I'm rail.
road rates is the gradual reduction in
the part wages contribute to the total
operating cost. Apparently, the rail.
roads are making steady progress in
the reduction of these costs, and should
therefore he nhla soon m paolya e,,h
stantial reductions in freight rates on
farm products. In considering the
matter of freight rates of agricultural
products there are two things which
should always be kept in mind First.
that the cost Of transportation is es.
sentially part Of the cost of produc.
tion, so far as agriculture is con.
cerned. and any increase in transpor.
tatiOn costs must come out of the