, 1924-08-21
REVISED RATES
WILL AID WYO-
MING WO0LMEN

SPOKANE, WASH, AUG. 8. =
Sweeping benefits to wool growers
of the west will result from the re-
cent ruling OF the interstate COM
MERGE commission adjusting wool
freight rates to eastern markets &C.
cording to an analysis of the COM
missions decision by G. O.. Bergan,
traffic manager of the Spokane Mer-
chants association The new rates
become effective October 23.
In addition to a reduction Of rates,
the con. .lis5ion's order requires
rail, Dads TO provide for sorting and
bal:ng CT wool in transit at inter-
mountain points.
1.-THE commission in d%isposing of
other matters incidental to the move
ment of wool, requires h carriers
to provide baling, sorting and con-
centration privileges on traffic NOV
ing either east or west" said Mr..
Bergan. This should open new op-
portuuities for location of baling and
sorting plants at i~ntermountain
points"
In the decision, Mr.. Bergan con
tinued, the commission disposed of a
complicated transcontinental rate
matter in a constructive way and es-
tablished a precedent in the CO.
ordination of rail and water trans
portation. This, he said, is in ac-
cordance with Section 500 of the
congress declared its policy ito pro-
mote, encourage and develop water
transportation, service and facilities
in connection with commerce and fos-
ter and preserve in full vigor both
rail and water transportation
For a number of years all-rail
wool rates to eastern markets have
been in violation of the long and
short haul law, commonly known as
the fourth section of the commerce
act, in hat rates from the interior
points of production to Boston were
higher than rates from Pacific coast
terminals"
I'm 1921. the commission denied
further relief asked by the railroads
and ordered them to adjust their
rates SO as to remove all long and
short haul determinations. The car
riers then proposed tariffs substan-
TALLY increasing the all-rail rates
from Pacific coast terminals to the
eastern markets. Protests were
made by wool shippers. The COM
mission suspended the proposed rates
and instituted a general investiga-
ton of all wool rates from the west
erp territory. Its decision now pre-
scribes a rate structure giving every
wool shipper and each eastern mar
ket the full benefit Of their geogra-
phical locations.
Under the old structure, the point
Of production nearest the Boston
wool market had to pay a rate higher
than the point farthest away, while
under the structure prescribed by
the commission this situation will be
reversed and the rates will graduate
downward "a the distance decreases.
1.-The commission also adjusted the
rates westbound from points Of pro-
duction so as to produce q normal
movement OF wool traffic by way OF
the Panama canal. This readJust-
mont results In material reductions
on water shipments and gives . rate
structure which increases as the dis
tanee from the Pacific coast increas-
-. Tho effect Of this will tend to
balance better the volume OF traffic
between rail and water carriers and
extend to the producer the option
Of shipping by either form OF trans
portation."
Nj Bergan prepared the following
table to illustrate the change In the
all-ratl rates on sacked wool:
Boise Sal, Lake
Present rate to
Boston ----- $3.50 t2.72
Proposed rate
to Boston - 2.68 1.3+