Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-08-24

pie to get their wood at the lowest
possible price and wants ali preateer-
ing stepped. We feel that We can
do this and We intend to, said Mr..
Lane. He stated that the Fuel Ad-
ministration believed that the rail-
roads could help and that certain
, concessions should be made.
Matter Broadly Discussed
Chairman Gurney of the Public Util-
tiles Commission stated that the rail-
roads might file schedules, and sug-
gested that it was question of cut
ting down the Profits all along the line.
Director Lane said that it had been
called to his attention by some Of the
railroad representatives that when we
passed through the war period there
was considerable profiteering in Maine
and the people of Maine did not get
any benefits. and that now the State of
Maine. through the governor, will see
to il that the people are protected.
Mr.. Humphrey of the Bangor <
Aroostoot stated that Messrs. Todd
and Wicks had already advised that
| they were willing to do their part. and
that they would meet the reductions
of the Maine Central.
George s. Hobbs. vice president of
the Maine Central Railroad, stated
| that it was the desire of that railroad
as in all other public matters to coop
| crate in any public movement. He
| pointed that that railroad had already
! reduced the rates on fuel wood cffec-
! tive July lst. 10 per cent. and that 1t
| looked as if the price af coal is going
| up and as if they would have TO pay
| high prices for coal. He stated that
| he understood that in Bangor the price
| OF wood has already been increased
| So per cord. 50 that any little cut in
! rates that the railroad might make
| would not have much effect. He said
! that the railroad representatives. want
| ed to be assured of square deal;
| that they were in a position where
they wanted . give full cooperation
! to any move for low price on fuel,
but that this reduction might go in
| any one Of four directions: To the man
who owns the trees. to the middleman,
| to the retailer. or to the consumer. He
asked what action would be taken to
keep this reduction for the consumer.
! Fuel Director Lane stated that the
| fuel administration was making an in
| vestigation of tie raising Of the price
! Of wood in Bangor, and that with wood
! shipped into Bangor the price would
| sell at retail at the cid figure and
| l,I, l,nt
| road rates are low, but that it is a
patriotic duty for all of us to help out;
and furthermore that it was the intent
! of the fuel administration to ship
wood into the places where there was
| profiteering to Iut stop to it.
| The representatives Of the other
| railroads all expressed their desire to
help out in the matter, leaving it to
the fuel administration to see that
| stumpage owners, retailers and other
handling fuel wood.
Letter Drafted to Railroads
At the Close IF the hearing the fol-
lowing letter vas sent out by Fuel Di-
rector Lane:
August %, 1922.
To
! Mr.. George S. Hobbs, vice president
Maine Central Railroad, Portland
Maine.
Mr.. l.. +. Larmour general freight
agent. Canadian Pacific 4. r., Mont
real, quebec.
| Mr.. q. l.. Nelson. general freight agent
Grand Trunk Railroad. Portland. Me
| Mr.. Garrit Fort, vice president B. &
NJ. Railroad. Boston. Mass
| Mr.. George +. Wicks. general freight
agent y. & A. Railroad
Gentlemen:
AS result Of conference held al
the state House TODAY it is under
stood that the railroads named above
Will give immediate consideration tc
! further reduction in the freight rates
| on fuel wood. including mill waste
| slabs and edsings. This being done
with the understanding that the re-
duced rates will run until December 81
1922
The proposed reduction is based upon
the q assurances which ! have made that
no proflteefing viii be permitted on the
! part of the stumpage owners. retailers
or others handling fuel wood and that
the consumers Of fuel wood will be
absolutely given the benefit of the re-
| duced freight rate proposed.
Very truly yours.
A. T. LANE.