Imperial Valley press., 1922-08-01
CONSUMERS MAY
NEVER NOTICE CUT
IN FREIGHT RATES

Saturdays reduction of freight rates
ordered by the state railroad commits
sion will mean no appreciable reduc-
tion in retail rates to the consumer, as
estimated today by FL Centre dealers
who were ready to make any estimates
on actual results. Shippers will get
some returns, it is expected when traffic
business picks up after the quiet sum
mer period, but the decrease hasn t yet
been figured out as anything sufficient
to be passed on according to opinions
expressed, with the exception of flour,
and this is still problematical.
The actual reduction on flour could
not be determined today, according to
Manager Thatcher of the Globe mills,
who States that the local cost of flour
is based on the Los Angeles cost, plus
the freight from that point, which at
the present time amounts to approx
mately 81 per barrel.
"'As soon as the new tariffs are pub
lished by the railroad company, the
public will be given the benefit Of
of whatever change the reduction may
have in the local cost he said.
The reduced rates are scheduled to
become effective on August 20.
While livestock shipments are prac
tically at standstill at the present
time, the substantial reductions on
livestock rates will stimulate activity
in these lines in the fall, according to
local livestock men. Most of this bus
mess in the valley originates in the
north end, but shipments from the
southern end are certain to increase as
q result of the reductions. The car
load reductions on livestock amount to
$50 on cattle, $50 on hogs in single
deck cars and 50 in double deck ears,
$3.50 on sheep in single decks and $3.50
in double decks.
Reductions noted apply both to class
and commodity rates and are estimated
to result i'll saving shippers approx
mately 100000 Il year on the normal
volume of business.
Reductions on lumber will amount to
approximately 60 cents per thousand
feet, according to c. c. Corwin of the
Sones Lumber Co., but this reduction
is offset by an increase of nearly $6
per thousand feet, he says, which has
become effective on practically all
grades of lumber ,in lumber Mills since
May l. a.
"Most,t of the lumber used in the
valley, said Mr.. Corwin, "comes from
Portland and the Pacific Northwest,
but the advance at the mill has not
effected the local market, as most
leaders were stocked sufficiently before
the raise became effective and did not
increase prices The present rate reduc-
tion is welcome and shows the trend of
public opinion that rates have generally
been too high to encourage much ship
ment in and out of the valley
j. E. Peck, of the l.. w. Blinn Lum,
Der Co., estimated the reduction on ce-
ment will amount to about IL cents a
barrel. Most of the cement is moved
in from San Pedro or Wilmington, and
the reduction will be considerably ap-
preciated' at that end.
When asked how the new rates will
effect fruit and vegetable shipments in
and out of the valley, E. w. Vessey,
Ell Centre commission merchant, said
the decrease is not sufficient to effect
the retail prices of these commodities
as it amounts to but 20 cents q ton.
He quoted the present rate applying. on
this class of shipments as 81 cents per
hundred, and the new rate as 33 cents.
Outside of tomato, lettuce and melon
crops, the bulk of fruit and vegetable
shipments are moved into the valley,
the outgoing shipments amounting, to
approximately 10 per cent of the total
movement, according to Mr.. Vessey. 4,