The Coconino sun., 1923-09-28
AN ALL ARIZONA FIGHT
FOR SQUARE RATE DEAL


The remarks of Mr.. F. A. Jones be-s
fore the meeting Of Arizona puhEshar
ers at Flagstaff on Monday on the
subject of Arizona freight rates and
the discrimination which is pfaetfced
against Arizona should have an awakz
ening effect and result in a co-opera-
ton for the abatement of an evil
which has obtained in varying degrees
for forty years. Il
1t has beerr a matter Of concern to
Phoenix for at least twenty years, and
struggles have been instituted against
it. Previously we had acquiesced in
it in most remarkable manner, as
we shall Illustrate: Previous to the
middle nineties shipments from the
East destined for Phoenix were sent
to Los Angeles and shipped back, so
that we PAID in addition to the Los
Angeles rate the exorbitant back haul.
Strangely, the merchants did not com-
plain SO much about this superimpos-
ed rate as they did of having to wait.
while their goods were being carted
about the country over 900 needless
miles by slow freight. S
Finally, one of the two roads serv-
ing Phoenix started movement which
brought about "reform;" that is, it,
was agreed that goods for Phoenix
should not be hauled to Los Angeles
and back but should be unloaded at
the junction and sent here directly,
but the Los Angeles back haul still
attached. IS
We remember that freight agent
of one Of the roads carried the glad
tidings of this arrangement among
the merchants and to the newspapers
and desired that proper credit be giv-&
en- the roads as public benefactors.
Later, however, there was revolt
against the back haul for which there
was not the slightest reasonable pre-
text. Then, as now, water COMPETE
tion was urged, whereas, as a matter
Of fact, there was not the slightest
competition anywhere along the coast
except very little at San Francisco.
Los Angeles and San Diego were as
much in the back country as If they
were situated 500 miles from the
ocean.
Following various hearings Of pro-
tests by Phoenix shippers, CONCESSIONS
were made until the war destroyed
even the flinisy pretext of water conn-
petition and we were granted as low
rates from the east as the coast points.
enjoyed.
But the fight has been an irrepress-
ible conflict. It has had to be fought
over and over again. No sooner are
the railroads worsted than they pre-
pare for another campaign on the
same ground We are now confronted
with another application for fourth
section relief within less than year
of the denial of similar application
But the point for which we set out
in referring to the remarks Of Mr..
Jones is the aloofness of most parts
of the state from this continuous con-
troversy. The subject. of rates and
discrimination was hardly ever dis
cussed by the newspapers outside OF
the Salt River valley. Mention Wasss
hardly made of the existence of it. It
was of as little local significance as
a revolution in Tin1bHctoo. Newspas
per editors did not take the pains to
inform themselves as to the merits OF
the dispute.
While perhaps more vitally affected
than any other point in the state.
Phoenix was affected only more IN de-
gree. It was a matter of cUncerr to
every point. Yet in the various hear
irlgs, even IN the more recent one, con-
corning the reduction of intrastate
rates, something that certainly should
be considered vital To every shipper
and every consumer, it was with diff
ficulty that the interest Of civic bodies
outside of the Salt River valley could
be enlisted y
1t is desired now that through the
agency of the press of Arizona, every
region of the state may be made 70
understand that this traffic problem II
one of its own problems; that no bur-
den can be thrown upon one part OF
the state without falling upon all--
that Arizona as united whole must
make a stand to repel the yoke which
the transcontinental roads in the in-
terest of the Pacific terminals would
put upon it, as well as in their own
financial ifterest-to revive that juicy
back haul.-Arizona Republican.
---oi----
Smell is the most used sense of in
eactc