Abilene weekly reflector., 1922-03-30
ABOUT THAT WHEAT RATE
MiIlers Club Explains What Is the
Situation

ottuuttVu
Editor Reflector: We read Win
interest the article In your paper
under the heading "Will Hike the
Wheat Rate" and while we Know
that same was printed in very good
faith, vet we believe that some parts
of II were very misleading, ana we
trust that you will take no oiiehse
at our stating our position III re-
gard to this article, and we believe
In so doing that we are giving you
the opinion of the mills III this ter
ritory.
We note that effective April l.
railroads quoting rates from Kansas
CITY to New Orleans will raise the
present rate of 33c to Ale which Is
correct, and instead Of being detri-
mental to the mills in this territory
It will be an accomplishment which
we have for the past few years tried
TO attain, as it simply puts us back
on a basis that we enjoyed prior to
the war, as the tariff supplements
that we have before us simply name
lie higher proportional rate from
Kansas City to New Orleans, while
the Rock Island tariff which quotes
through rates from this territory to
New Orleans remain the same or
sic per hundred pounds and gives
the mills in this territory chance
to quote -four prices to New Orleans
in line with those of Kansas City
mills while prior to this change the
Missouri river mills had 35c per bar
rel better freight rate than we did
to the point in question.
This new rate adjustment Will
have a tendency to put the Kansas
CITY mills and the interior mills on
a more equal basis and the only
ones to complain will be the river
mills and it is our opinion that they
will undoubtedly bring pressure
enough against this adjustment to
have same held up for another hear
ing before the interstate commerce
commission.
| Undoubtedly the Rock Island rail-
road will receive these shipments
until such a time as the Santa Fe
and Union Pacific will establish
through rates to New Orleans that
are in line.
We also note from your article
that the millers meeting in Wichita
voted that no change should be made
In these rates, however this meeting
was not of the millers, but of Kansas
Millers' Traffic Club, which is
round table organization affiliated
with the Kansas Millers' Club and
under their jurisdiction, an organiza'
ton to look after our interests In re-
gard TO better railroad conditions sc
far as rates and transit are con
cerned.
1t might be of interest to you u
know that the principal discussion a
this meeting was the shortage O.
railroad cars and engines, as IRON
The statistics that we were able Il
get together it was noted that shoul'
this country see a normal mOVemeh
of all commodities this year w
would lack 80 per cent of havih
sufficient cars to transport 'thes
commodities, anu were We apio
bring all the available cars INTO use
we would lack 15 per cent OF nav
ing enough power to move the 90 pc
cent box cars that we have, wlilc
YOU can readily see means yer
serious condition providing we nav
good movement of tonnage TN
| season.
J Numerous other topics were DIS
cussed at this meeting and will con
tinue to be discussed at these mOhtl
ly meetings and the traffic man feel
that while he is an employee of som
of the industries of the country, yt
in getting any adjustments that ma
be a benefi to their employers, it
also help to the community, ana l
particular the farmer, who is as muc
interested in securing adequate raj
road rates that are in line with ou
neighboring states, as well as max
ing a special effort to secure our pre-
portions of the available railwa
equipment to move our products.
II