White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-05
BY J. +. SHAUGHNESSY,
Chairman Nevada Public Service
Commission.

Information received from Wash
ington by the public service commits
sion is to the effect that the interstate
commerce commission has excluded
Southern Pacific branch line and
short line railroad points in Nevada
from the benefit of the S71a cents
per ton reduction in coal rates, eff
fective April %, from Utah fields to
Southern Pacific, Western Pacific and
Union Pacific main line points in Ne
vada except where combinations Of
locals to branch line points will make
lesser rate than those now in effect,
and these will occur only in few In
stances and in negligible amounts.
Coal reaches every home and busi-
ness and Industrial establishment in
Nevada, and 1t Is to be regretted that
the conservative request for a reduc-
tion of 50 per ton at all points
throughout the state of Nevada was
not granted by the interstate COM
merce commission. Coal Is a low
grade commodity, moves at the con-
venience of the railroads, and can
profitably bear a reduction of So per
ton: in fact, at Tonopah and Gold
field. where the rate Is $12.10 per
ton for a haul of $50 miles from the
Utah coal fields, the rate should be
reduced 81 per ton. For example,
at the hearing testimony was put In
evidence showing that coal moves to
Heppner Junction, Ore, a distance of
s54 miles from Castle Gate, Utah.
at $3.50 per ton. Many other similar
rate comparisons were shown cover
ing all points in Nevada. Among 9TH
ers, II was shown that the hauls from
the Utah fields to Reno and Wabuska
are practically the same length 600
miles,. The rates are now $6.25 and
sS.37s per ton respectively (no re-
duction being made to Wabuska) ;.
whereas for the haul OF 1.161 miles
across Nevada, over the Sierra Ne
vada mountains and down through
California to Bakersfield, the rate Is
but $3.50 per ton. II was also shown
that the rate-making policy of the
Southern Pacific to Nevada points Is
completely at variance with the pol
icy pursued by the Oregon Short Line
in Idaho, where the same rates are
accorded TO both main and branch
line points idaho Commercial Clubs
VS.. o. s l.. r. r Is /. c. c. 562).
All railroads serving Nevada were
made parties defendant by the public
service commission In its complaint
asking that coal rates be reduced at
all points throughout the state A
,prima facie case was made in support
OF the complaint by the introduction
of exhibits and testimony of witnesses
showing that the Nevada rates were
unjust and unreasonable by compar-
ison with those from the Utah and
wyoming fields to Idaho, Montana,
eastern Oregon and Washington, and
by comparison with those from the
New Mexico fields to Arizona points
for equivalent or greater distances.
Representatives of the short line car
riers failed to make any showing
whatever or rebut the testimony at
the hearing and were. therefore. In
default
The finding OF the interstate COM
merce commission excluding said
branch and short line railroads reads
as follows:
fAs the conditions affecting trans
portation on Southern Pacific branch
lines and on the short lines In Ne.
vada, except the Nevada Northern,
are not stated, no finding will be
made with respect TO the rates TO
points on such lines.
II is further stated in the Wash
ington advices:
THAT 1t Is not believed the COM
mission can be persuaded to act on
the presumption that operating con-
ditions are the same to branch line
and sort line points as to main line
points"
II is difficult to understand, in view