The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-26
IGNITE LARGE
FACTOR IN ND.
RAIL TONNAGE
Largest Shipments Purely
Within the State Are Good,
Commissioners Told
SCOPE IS BROADENED
Expert Witnesses Go Into
Comparison of Rates With
Those in Other States

11AOSS OtAtV1 CloICS
The scope Of the freight rate case
being heard here jointly by w. H.
Wagner examiner for the Interstate
Commerce Commission and the North
Dakota Railroad Commission, involv-
ing the carriers proposal for mark
ed increase in Ignite coal rates from
North Dakota mines, today broadened
to include an examination of COM
parative coal rates and operating con-
ditions throughout the entire north
west.
the North Dakota Lignite Coal Oper-
ators Association, opposing the in
crease, continued detailed cross ex-
mination Of J. G. Morrison, assistant
general freight agent Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, during which his
range of questions brought forth in
formation concerning coal rates from
lake docks to northwest points, Mon
tana, Wyoming and Washington rates
on Ignite and other Goals.
Lgnite, it was developed through
the cross-examination of Mr.. Houck,
is the chief product moved interstate
in North Dakota. He elected the
information in seeking to establish
as valueless Mr.. Morrisons direct
testimony to the effect that Ignite
freight rates in North Dakota were
on Il lower basis than other. COM
modify rates.
Lignite Greatest
While grain, grain products and
livestock are the chief tonnage pro-
duced in North Dakota, Mr.. Morrison
said, the bulk of it moves interstate,
md Ignite is the greatest single
actor in shipments moving from
roints to points WHOLLY within the
tate. The movement of brick, stone,
lay, sand, gravel and similar pro-
tucts which Mr.. Morrison had shown
ear a higher rate in North Oak ota
IAN Ignite are neglible as compared
} the coal movement, he said. Mr..
louck's crosseXamination of Mr..
Morrison, which lasted most of yes
erday afternoon, continued almost
ne entire morning. Before the wit
hat representatives of Montana and
Wyoming coal interests and the
Duluth lake docks coal interests will
eek to draw from Him information
n support of their contention, which
) the same as that of the railroads
that Ignite freight rates are
over than the rates on other Goals
and should be equalized by an in
crease. The factors of competition,
climatic and Typographical conditions,
nd density of traffic and population
Hthich the attorneys hold are to be
onsidered in rate-making, were to be
covered in the range Of examination.
The entire cross-examination was
fevoted to the eliciting of answers
on facts with but few conclusions
ffecting collateral subjects in rate
making sought.
Reviews Emergency Plea
B. A. Pratt, of Minneapolis, rep
resenting the Northern States Power
company, operating utilities in North
Dakota, endeavored to show by ques-
tioning Mr.. Morrison that Ignite
"oal had lower heat value than
bituminous Goals and therefore
hould not be classed with them for
rate-making purposes, but Examiner
Wagner ruled out his questions as
argumentative.
Henry Blakely, freight traffic
manager of the Northern Pacific,
and for time during the war chair
man Of the st. Paul district COM
nittee of the U. S. railroad admin
stration, the next witness, told the |
commissioners and the examiner that |
The Ignite rates were established
in 1918 as a result of an unfounded |
ear that the Northwest would suffer
q coal shortage.
He said that negotiations for low
"r Ignite coal rates, in order to |
speed production in the Ignite fields |
Of North Dakota, were begun in the
5pring of 1918 and in the fall low
scale of rates were imposed.
The main reason for the substi-
tuition of the so-called Texas scale
was what proved to be an, unwar-
ranted anxiety in this territory over
the fuel supply" he said.
Judge MCGEE, then fuel admins
traitor of Minnesota, wrote to H. A.
Garfield, nationals fuel administra-
tion, about securing half million to
million tons of Ignite for the peo-
pie of Minnesota and South Dakota,
and other pressure was brought to
bear which resulted in lower scale
of rates, he said.
Were the rates recognized in the
railroad administration as emergency
rates and lower than reas asonable
rates?' he was asked, and replied in
the affirmative. Similar rates, he
said, were not put into effect for
shipment of Ignite from the only r
South Dakota Ignite coal shipping
points.
1t is understood that North Da-
kota operators, in combating the
plea for a rate increase, will main
tain that the lower scale of rates
has SO greatly INCREASED the produc-
tion. of Ignite, that the railroads are
The gamers, apd that they, as we'll as
the people, will lose bv the destruc