Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-05
ook at the situation in the same

look at the situation in the same
light.
c. c. Brewer of Ashland said that
he thought it was poor foresight on
the part of the railroads not to give
the farmers a chance when they GER
tainly need it.
A. +. Mooers of Houlton said that
il the farmers up his way are to con-
tinue to finance the Bangor d Aroos-
took Railroad, it will be just so much
harder for them.
a. T. Merritt, master of Houlton
Grange, said that the Bangor &;
Aroostook Railroad is antagonZinS
the farmers OF Aroostook county.
I'VE feel that-the Bangor q Aroos-
took Railroad is not keeping faith
with u.s." said Mr.. Merritt. we
can't keep the boys on the farm un-
der the present conditions. This 10
per cent means million dollars a
year to the State of Maine"
T.. Z. Titcomb of Monticello, a po-
ilto grower, spoke in favor of re-
duction in the freight rates.
Judge Benz. i. Cleayes. secretary
of the Associated Industries Of
Maine. said that there were two
courses which are open.
"One of these" said Judge Clcavcs,
sis to have the carriers in Maine vol
unfairly acquiesce in a reduction of
freight rates thus coming in line
with the other carriers in New Eng
land, and the other course is to urge
upon the Inter state Commerce Com
mission to carefully study and con-
slider making the freight rate re-
duction effective all over New Eng
land"
Maine should not he subject to
the handicap of being obliged to pay
10 per cent more in freight rates
than the other New England states
unless it is absolutely necessary"
continued Judge Cleaves.
81 believe in fair treatment to both
groups. the shipper and the trans
rortation agency"
Alex MACPHERSON of Presque Isle, 4
potato grower. said he believed that
if this rate reduction was not grant
ed that the Aroostook farmer would
plant less potatoes and that plan
would certainly not help the Bangor
g. AroostOok Railroad.
f. A. Smith of Presque Isle said
he thought that it would be better to
take hay from Aroostook county
rather than have Michigan supply
part of the southern section of the
state.
Representative 4. G. T. Wilson OF
Pressure Isle. a potato grower. testi-
fed that some people thought that
the average Aroostook farmer was 4
millionaire.
"We are not all millionaires," said
Representative Wilson. Il tell you
that the grower of potatoes has to
take some big chances. a great
many. farmers are not planning to
plant tas many potatoes next year
unless there is a change in the pres
cnt conditions. I think the railroads
ought to come down from their high
horses and give. US the reduction in
freight rates"
Fred d. Good of Van Buren,, a lum-
Der manufacturer and shipper
thought it was unfair to compel the
shipper to prepay freight. 9
"Our little concern had to raise
$1,000 n month to prepay freight and
we thing this is hardship. a hard
ship that may compel us to do bust
ness in Canada" said Mr.. Cloud.
Howard +. Lunt of Houlton. repre-
senting commercial fertilizer com
panies. said that the freight rate
has been increased 100 per cent In
the past few years.
George V. Brown OF Caribou,
representing the Aroostook Fedora
ton of Farmers, favored "a reduction
in the freight rate. He knew of
shippers Of potatoes who would use
the Canadian Pacific Railway instead
of the Bangor 6, Aroostook IL the
rates are not reduced