The Coconino sun., 1923-07-13
ARIZONA DEMANDS
EQUITABLE FREIGHT RATES


railroad rate hearing ever held in Arr
zona--the intrastate rate action to be
brought before the state corporation
commission by the combined shippers
of the state on July 16-are practical
ly completed according to F. A. Jones
and Roland johnson, traffic experts in
charge of the matter for the ship
pers, who are planning on making the
most important examination of intra-
state freight schedules in the history
of transportation in the southwest.
While the hearing will be concerned
chiefly with class rates, the experts
have pointed out the fact that upon
class rates are based commodity rates,
and, in the long run, interstate rates,
for the basis of interstate rates are
the rates within the state, and no re-
ductions of interstate rates may be ex-
pected while the rates between points
in Arizona remain unadjusted.
With this thought in mind scores of
shippers throughout the state, repre-
senting every line of industry and
every commodity transported by rail
from part of the state to another,
have joined in the July Is hearing.
The work of aligning the complaints,
preparing the exhibits and completing
all the multifarious details of such a
case is under the direction of Messrs.
Jones and Johnson, with traffic ex-
perts in other cities assisting them.
Those communities and business firms
which have a traffic expert to repre-
sent them will be taken care of by
their own men, while the commun-
tiles and firms which are without such
representation are presenting their
cases through Mr.. Jones, who was for
merly member of the corporation
commission and who is now head of
one of the largest traffic offices in
the state.
In commenting upon the Importance
of the coming hearing and upon the
definite need for it which has long
been apparent to every shipper, big
or little, the following examples were
given in brief interview
The cantaloupes, lettuce, oranges
and other fresh fruits and vegetables
raised in the Salt River valley and
shipped to every other part of the
state, carry class G rate on carload
shipments and a fourth-class rate on
less-than-carload lots. The present
class C rate from Phoenix to Douglas
is 551a cents on this kind of business,
with fourth-class rate of SLIT For
a like distance in Nevada, 245 miles,
the class G rate is 33 cents and the
fourth class rate is Sc cents, or a.
difference against Arizona of 22h
cents for the class c rate and 81 cents
on the fourth-class rate. The same
glaring discrepancy obtains in ship
nents to the north. The class c rate
between Flagstaff and Phoenix on po-
tatoes is 81 cents, and the fourth-class
rate is $106. Nevada rates for the
same distance are 33 and 66 cents,
with Arizona shippers again holding
the sack. The rate between Globe and
Phoenix, 800 miles, is 661a cents on
class G shipments and $1.377a on
fourth class shipments. Compared
with these rates are the Nevada rates
for the same distance of only AL cents
and 83 cents, respectively.
Yuma produces large quantities of
winter vegetables, especially lettuce,
cauliflower and cabbages, as well as
oranges and grapefruit, which are
shipped to all consuming centers in
the state. That there is something
radically wrong with Arizona rates is
shown in the fact that from Yuma to
Flagstaff, for instance, distance of
450 miles, the rate, class C, is rs
cents, the fourth class $1.5712. The
Nevada rate ON the same class of
goods is 53 cents on carload lots and
only 971z cents on less than carload
lots, or difference of so cents.
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modities in the state is powder, which
is used not only in the mines, but on
the farms, the roads and hundred
other activities. Powder is manufac-
tured in Arizona at Curtis, Cochise
county, and is sent all over the state.
There has been much road-making in
the northern part of Arizona, with a
consequent large use Of explosives.
The rate on explosives from Curtis to
Flagstaff, distance of 420 miles, is
$2.49h on carload lots and $4.99 on
less -than-carload lots. The rate in
California, from San Francisco to
Winnemucca, Alt miles, is $1.53 on
carload lots, and $3.06 on less than
carload lots, while Montana has al
rate almost as low-$1 so on carload
lots and $500 on less than carloads.
These instances are multiplied over
and over again, the experts declare,
in the cases which are being prepared
for the July Is hearing. There is yet
time for individual shippers who are
without counsel to have their own
cases prepared, and full information
concerning such cooperation may be
obtained by writing to Intrastate Rate
Conference, 217 Home Builders Bldg,
Phoenix, Arizona. Requests for fur
ther information should be sent imme-
diately, as there is scant two weeks
only remaining before the hearing
takes place.