The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-04-23
Ignite RATE
BASE NOW is
ON HIGH LEVEL
Continued from page u

the balance of 10 percent being de-
livcred to railroads for use in heat
ing their stations and under sta
tionary boilers. Mr.. Smart further
showed that ABA percent of the coal
tonnage used in North Dakota ORR
ginated at the docks at Duluth and
Superior; that 45.S percent was
North Dakota Ignite, 10 percent
Montana and Wyoming coal, in 1918.
Another interesting fact in con-
ncction with the development OF the
industry brought out by Mr.. smart
was the fact that Ignite is being pre-
pared by screening at practically all
mines in the state, and that "A per-
cent of Ignite shipped is lump, 10
percent run of mine and l6 percent
screenings.
Elements In Rate Making
"The principal elements to be Civ
en- conSl liberation in determining the
rcasonablenes of a rate are the cost
of service to the carriers, the value
value of the article, the nature of
the article, risk in handling, distance
hauled, the bulk and weight Of the
commodity, whether any extra tacili-
ties of service are required of the
carriers, the expense of handling at
terminals, the volume of traffic, the
period of movement, whether staso on
al or even flow; comparison Of rates
on the particular commodity, with
rates on other commodities under
sub stantially similar circumstances
and conditions, carrier competition,
competition between producing cen
tiers of the commodity, whether or
not there will be an exceptionally en-
pity car movement returning and
whether or not the rates will pro-
duce an increasing movement Of the
commodity.
With reference to North Dakota
Ignite Mr.. Smart stated that the
value of the commodity, value of SER
vice to the shipper and rates that
will not destroy but be conducive to
IN increasing traffic are the three
most important elements for consid-
Grafton.
The average Ignite haul, Mr..
Smart pointed out in support of his
contention that present Ignite lates
are just and reasonable, is 1858
miles as compared with a haul on
bituminous coal of 1872 miles in the
entire western district, SO miles
average haul for clay, sand and gra-
vel, 46 miles for ice and 144 miles
for cement
Average Loads Heavier
He also asserted that the average
loading per car of Ignite coal is
heavier in North Dakota than the
average loadings at Duluth and Su-
perior, that coal is hauled similar
distances in other states in the west
ern district at rates lower than the
present Ignite rates in North Da-
kota and that numerous other COM
modities are now being carried by
the railroads on rates lower than
the present Ignite rates. He COM
pared the rates on Ignite in North
Dakota with the rates ons agricul-
tural limestone in Missouri, with the
comment that both commodities were
very important TO the citizens of the
states, the ground limestone for fer
tlizing the fields in Missouri and
the Ignite for keeping the people
warm in North Dakota. Both COM
modities, he said, should properly
be. given reasonable rates as ear
minimum rates as possible-tnat is
the lowest possible rates which still
would give the railroads a reason
able earning from the haulage.
Market Extended
The extent to which the market
for North Dakota Ignite coal has ex-
tended within the last few years UNI
der present freight rates, with the
intimation that it has cut into the
territory supplied from the Superior
Lake docks, was placed before Ex-
aniner w. H. Wagner and the North
Dakota railroad compassion today in
the third day of the hearing of the
railroads proposal to increase Ignite
coal rates approximately so percent.
B. "A. Pratt of the Zap Galleries
Company, J. NJ. Enright, sales man
ager Of the Washburn Ignite, Coal
Company; and J.. L. Thuerer, sales
man for the Republic Coal Company
at s;Minot, were put on the witness
stand to describe the scope Of the
Ignite market and the conditions
metjs it's Development.
Through these witnesses Stanley
Houck, attorney for the North Dako-