The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-01-07
ADJUSTMENT in
RATES is
SOUGHT !. FOR ID.
Specific Aid to Certain Indus.
tries and on Commodities
Asked By Commission
HEARING IN WASHINGTON
State More Interested in Speci
fic Benefits Than General
Decreases Says Expert

! Efforts of North Daklota Commercial
| bodies and representatives of the state
railroad commission are, with respect
to freight rates, to be- directed more
to readjustment 'of rates affecting
various industries and commodities in
the state as contemplated by the Esch.
! Cummins act.
! Decreases amounting to- great sums
to shippers have been made, effective
January |, according to v. e. Smart,
rate expert Of the railroad commission.
These include: Wheat and flour
freight rate, decrease by one.half of
the 35 per cent Increase of August 26,
1920; rates on barley, oats, corn,
|Ncoarse grains cut TO a new basis 10
per cent lower than the basis of -four
and wheat rates., livestock, potatoes
and other farm vegetables, reduced
~ per cent effective January l. These
are temporary orders, effective until
July /.
Mr.. Smart left todav for Washington
bearing with him resolutions of the
Commercial Clubs of Bismarck,
jamestown, Fargo, Larimore and Mi
not, asking for readjustments and re-
ductlons in freight rates. These will
he presented to committee re9re-
senting western states, which will use
hem in the hearing before the in
terstate commerce commission be-
ginning January II on the subject of
a general decrease in railroad freight
Ind passenger rates.
Specific Questions Up
The most pressing questions for
North Dakota, according to Mr..
Smart, are rates affecting specific in.
dustries and certain commodities
where readjustments are necessary to
equalize competition outside the state.
He gave. as an example that there is a
fine gravel pit south of Mandan but
that under the present freight rates
graveli is being brought into North Do
kota from near Cr0okst0n, MINI.
Another question to be brought be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Commis.
sion on behalf OF North Dakota is the
freight rate between St. Louis, Mo-,
and other points and Fargo, Grand
Forks. Bismarck and other distribut-
ing points in North Dakota. Readjust-
ment of these freight rates is held to
be matter of placing distributing
firms in North Dakota on an equal
basis with outside firms in roofing pa
ner and building papers. North Da-
kota joins with South Dakota in this
matter.
Mr.. Smart will stop in Chicago on
January 10 to attend discussion of
changes in western classification
rates, and will be- in Washington also
at the time of argument on the case
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in which the express compan.
les seek a higher 'intrastate rate in
North Dakota.
Rail Expenses High
While the Intrastate Commerce
Commission will consider the question
of general reduction North Dakota
is interested in certain adjustments
to be made regardless of other action,
Mr.. Smart said. He pointed out that
the operating reports of the Great
Northern railroad in October showed
operating expenses to be 63.1 per cent
Of operating revenues while the aver.
age for the ten months ending October
was 91.7 The ratio was reduced
during October because of the heavy
movement of grain and other products,
Tut is very high for the remainder of
the time, he said. The same situa-
tion exists with regard to other roads.
The railroads will contend that these
operating reports show that the diff
ference between receipts and expenses
is not sufficient to permit general
reduction.