The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-06-08
TRAFFIC MEN
OF STATE TO
FORM LEAGUE
New Organization to Work
Fer United Action in
Freight Shipping

The Agricultural, Traffic League of
North Dakota with the view to united
and uniform action in freight snip
ping will be formed by representa-
tives of various organizations and
traffic men, it was agreed at con-
ference held last Friday at Grand
Forks.
1t was the opinion Of the traffic
men present at the conference that
the shipping interests Of North Da-
kota should unite in a common or
ganization such as have been formed
in other states so that important
matters relative to shipping could
receive proper consideration and
united action.
Flax Seed Rates
One of the matters to be consider
ed by the new league is the proposal
of the carriers to increase all rates
on flax seed, the shippers request
for reductions in rates on potatoes
to the South and Southeast and the
rates on coal from the West.
The conference was attended by +.
M. Hendricks, traffic expert of the
board of railroad commissioners, T..
A. Durant, traffic commissioner of
the Grand Forks Commercial club,
Neal A. Williams, traffic commission
er of the Fargo Commercial club,
G. N. Springer and V. p. Cadieux,
respectively traffic managers for
Valley City and jamestown CONNER
cial bodies, Il representative from
the North Dakota Farm Bureau fed
Grafton and representatives of Il
number of other shipping interests
in the state.
The purpose of the conference was
the discussion of the handling OF
the general class freight rate case
recently filed with the Interstate
Commerce commission by the North
Dakota Board of Railroad Commits
soners in which the class freight
rates from the twin cities and Du-
luth and all points east to North
Dakota points are said to be unrea-
sonable to shippers in the state. This
complaint was amended to include
carload commodity rates on miscel-
laneous commodities such as agricul-
tural implements, binding Irvine, can
ned goods, sugar and cogee, meats,
clover seed, and other items to which
the class rates apply.
Discussion was also held of the in
vestgation the Interstate Commerce
commission is making the general
level of freight rates in compliance
with the Hoch-Smith Congressional
resolution. The investigation by
Ignite coal rates between points in
kota mines to interstate destinations
was also discussed.
The railroads Of the Northwest
have filed application with the Inter
state Commerce Commission asking
for an increase in all freight rates
in this territory and similar re-
quest will likely be filed with the
North Dakota and other state COM
missions in the near future. Consi-
deration was given the probable
handling of these matters.
Reduction in many commodity
rates will be asked i'm a supplemental
bin to be filed in the class rate case
which the state railroad commission
has instituted before the Interstate
Commerce commission, attacking the
level Of class rates from the Chi
cago territory, the twin cities and
Duluth.
A hearing will be held July in
the United States court rooms mere
before Examiner Jewell in the case
of the state railroad commission
against the Chicago, Milwaukee and
St. Paul Railway company involving
the class freight rates on the New
England branch line. The commls-
sion holds that rates on the line are
much higher than for similar dis
tances on the South Dakota branch
of the Milwaukee.
HEARING ON JULY
Another hearing will be held July
8 on the application by carriers for
increased rates on Ignite shipments
between points in North Dakota to
points in other states.
The first application for increased
rates was in December, 1928, when it
was proposed to increase Ignite
rates to $4,000 year. The state
railroad commission has heretofore
successfully opposed the claims of
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