The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-10-26
GOOD|NG HOLDS
BRIEF AGAINST
UNION PACIFIC
Senator Assails Railroad
For Extracting Idaho
Life Blood; Wants Or
ganization of Farmers

Orderly marketing for agricultural
products and reduction OF freight rates
on the Union Pacific system to give
Idaho a chance were advocated by
Senator Frank Gooding in an address
to a fair sized audience at the Huree
theatre here Wednesday evening. That
the Union Pacific has Disseminated
against and exploited the state are
statements which Senator Gooding
used in introducing the most bitter
attack that has ever been made against
the railroads in Caldwell in a public
address.
why should Idaho pay 100 per
cent more freight than other states
pay for the same service on the same
road?" Senator Gooding asked. "All
we ask" he continued, 'is the same
rate on a mileage basis on west bound
stuff that we pay east"
Refuting the usual argument that
Idaho's handicap is great distance to
market, Senator Gooding declared
that Idaho, 500 odd miles to tidewater,
is more favorably located with refer
ence to foreign markets, Europe, the
Orient and South America considered.
than any state west of Pennsylvania,
Pacific coast states excepted.
But exorbitant freight rates to Port
land make it almost impossible for
Idaho to utilize this outlet for her pro-
ducts, according to Senator Gooding.
He cited many items to demonstrate
that rates to Portland from southern
Idaho Disseminated against this Sec
ton, he said, "The Union Pacific has
a throttle hold on this territory"
Northern Idaho. with competitive lines
operating, has rates lower than those
in vogue west bound from equally dis
tant points in southern Idaho. He
cited Gooding alfalfa meal shipped to
Portland at 35 cent rate which can
be shipped the same distance from
northern Idaho to the coast for Fl
cents. And this rate applies over the
o. w. R. & N, a Union Pacific di-
vision. He cited the fact that i've
stock shipped from Montana took a
much less rate than does southern
Idaho stock shipped the same distance
to the coast.
Not only do these rates extort un-
usual proceeds from Idaho but in ad-
dition the rates charged by the Union
Pacific within the borders of this state
are too high, according to figures sub
mitted by Senator Gooding. He cited
a number of commodities, using the
car mile basis, which are habitually
shipped from Utah points into Idaho
for far less than Idaho shipments,
transported the same distance within
the state, are handled for.
Reasonable rates on west bound
freight would so deluge the Union
Pacific with Idaho products that
double tracked road would be inn
perative, Senator Gooding declared.
Nor is the claim that west bound
rates are high because the haul is
short justified, Gooding declared. The
average freight haul in the United
States is 1888 miles. 1t is more than
500 from Idaho points to the coast
and this haul can be properly desig-
mated as a long haul, Gooding declared.
Condensed milk may be hauled from
Logan, Utah, to Mountain Home at
rate a little less than half that charged
for the same product shipped from
Nampa to Soda Springs, exactly the
same distance. Cattle can be shipped
from Montana for So less per car to
Portland than from equally distant
points on the Union Pacific in south
crn Idaho. he said.
What these high freight rates have
meant to the Union Pacific was cited
by Senator Gooding when he declared
that. roughly, $50 million OF dollars OF
improvements have been made on the
line in the last 20 years, half OF II
being paid for by operating revenues.
In addition the road has always paid
good dividends, the aggregate beng
about sol millions. Stock that make
up the difference in improvements
was sold at a price below the market
quotations to a favored few, according
20 Senator Gooding.
Evidence of the result OF this
ssranaIe hold upon Idaho were ei'e1
by Senator Gooding when he declared
tb,, the farm marriages had increased