The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1922-11-17

the Idaho Falls Chamber of Com
merce, was held in that town on
Thursday of last week. The meeting
was called to discuss some measures
for the relief Of the agricultural sit
uation in Idaho, which is acknowl-
edged to be serious. The meeting
was attended by Senator Gooding,
Congressman Smith, governor-elect
Moore, and men interested in indus
trial and commercial conditions from
Pocatello north. Blackfoot was re-
presented by o. Buchanan, H. D.
MacCosham and Peter G. Johnston.
Mr.. Shattuck, president Of the Ida
no Falls Chamber Of Commerce. pre-
sided and stated that this valley was
the one place where crop failure
was unknown. This year q great
crop has been produced. which can
not be sold, or if sold, will be loss.
He said the meeting was called to
discuss the situation and take some
action for relief.
Mark Austin, of the Utah. Idaho SUI
gar Co., spoke on the need of more
livestock to consume the hay and
other feed crops, the diversiication
of farm products with more enlarg-
ed series of rotation; Of better pro-
duction, saying that in many instanc-
es where farmers live side by side
with just wire fence between them
one will produce in abundance on his
lands and the other have but mea-
ger crop. Idaho has sunk from Sec
ond place as wool producing state
to fifth place. The shipping out Of
the state Of livestock reduced the
market for hay. Mr.. Austin outlined
. plan Of crop rotation, which If fol-
lowed out would result in greater
production at less cost of labor and
land.
G. J. Carlson, president Of the Bon
neville County Potato Producers As
ISOLATION, spoke on the freight rates
as they affect the potato situation.
saying that the condition today is
such that unless there is a decided
reduction in freight rates the end has
come so far as this section is con-
cerned as a potato producing section,
as the growers cannot stand the loss
es they have been forced to take this
year. Unwise policies in agriculture
had been at the bottom of many Of
the present day troubles. The pota-
to industry has grown up in place OF
the livestock industry. In the begin
ming Of that industry this section pro-
duced about 100 carloads annually
and was able to dispose Of them to
nearby communities. The industry
grew and it became necessary to find
an outside market. For a while it
low cost and the freight rate then
though high, was not objected to, but
the freight rate has been mounting
getting higher and higher while the
price to the grower of potatoes has
remained about the same with the oc'
casional exception of few years
when there has been shortage else
where, when a good price was paid.
Senator Gooding spoke next ant
said the railways were entitled to ;
fair return on their investment, bu
that Idaho was not getting fair dea
in the matter of rates. He said tn
rates were higher in Idaho than OF
any other railway in the world. HI
advocated taking away the passes .
some "a employees of the state VIII
ride free. The Senator talked TO
over an hour and among other thing
gave these illustrations:
l just want to give you few o
the local rates that the people of Ida
no have to pay, as we'll as few Q
the through rates.
For instance, the distance fror
Chicago to the Wyoming-Idaho stat
line is 1872 miles. The distanc
from the Wyoming Idaho state lin
to Portland is 1872 miles, yet the pee
pie of Idaho pay exactly the sam
freight rate as the people of Portlan
and Seattle.
Coal is hauled from New Castle
Bull, a distance of 446 miles, for $40
and to Portland, a distance OF lO3
miles for $3.50; a longer haul of SO
miles for IS cents a ton. II the
gave us the same rate on mileag
basis, Buhl should have a rate of
ton on coal.
The lumber rate from Portland
Omaha, a distance of 1747 miles, is
cents hundred. The rate frol
Portland to Gooding, distance {
592 miles, is As cents a hundred.
Idaho was given the same rate on
mileage basis, We should have raj
on lumber of 20 cents a hundred.
The wool rate from Portland
Boston, a distance OF 1907 miles,
'$1.65 a hundred. From Weiser to Boz
ton 1927 hundred. and from Poc'
tello to Boston $2.S2 hundred. tt
distance from Pocatello to Boston
TIT miles shorter than it is from Por
land, yet the Portland rate is only
little more than half of what it
from Pocatello.
The rate on wheat from Bull
Chicago, distance 1895 miles, is
oonts a hundred If we had the san