The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-06-25
RATES UNFAIR
TO BISMARCK
AND MANDAN
Ruling Made to Aid Fargo
Works as Disadvantage
to Slope Cities

Bismarck and Mandan have re
ecivcd pronounced disadvantage in
the Interstate Commerce decision
lust published affecting Fargo, Grand
Forks, Valley City and jamestown,
according to V =. Cadieux, rate cX-
pert of jamestown, who is here in
consultation with Secretary Bradley
of the Association of Commerce rel
ativc to having Bismarck combine
with Valley City, jamestown, Devils
Lake. Minot and Mandan in an effort
to receive more equalities in freight
rates to these points.
"Previous to 1906" said Mr.. Ca
dieuy speaking before the kiwanis
club. when the railroads were making
their own rates. the breaking point
of rates was the Missouri river as
at points below here. 1t was the ann
of the railroads to favor the newly
developing territory of North DAKOTA
bv placing it upon the same plane as
Minnesota for rate making purposes,
"But as a result of determined
campaign by Twin City wholesalers,
the state of Minnesota in 1913 Sc
cured "A lowering Of rates to points
within the state, thereby creating
distinct hump in the progression OF
increase according to distance.
an December, 1923, Fargo, Grand
Forks, Valley City and Jane stown be
gan an action to have this hump re
moved and in March, 1924, their case
was submitted to the interstate com
merce commission, which body rem
dercd favorable decision on the End
of the present month.
"-'- Naturally the decision as given
affects only the cities entering the
complaint but forms good basis tor
other cities to present claims, ana
Bismarck and Mandan are entitled to
the same consideration, believes Mr.
CadieuX.
. jamestown is estimated to have
benefited between 100000 and $780,
coo annually by the recent decision
and Mr.. Cadeux believes Bismarck
and Mandan should benefit similarly.
I'VE are not making fight on the
railroad" says Mr.. Cadicux. The
rates arc the result Of the action OF
the people themselves. When the
railroads made the rates they were
uniform in this territory and the
changes were brought about by gov
crnmental agencies.
"The country is divided into sec
lions for rate making purposes says
:. Mr.. Cadieux. This means that IN
|the territory the revenues reach some
average level"
The speaker then compared the ter
ritory to IA filled balloon representing
the aggregate revenues. If reduced
rate is granted some point within the
TERRITORY it affects the territory as an
indcntation made in the balloon-thc
weakest part shows the bulge.
North Dakota, for instance, has
appropriated $4,000 to the railroad
commission to protect the state
against unfair determinations - an
amount entirely inadequate. There
has been little organized opposition
. to rate discrimination within the
state and surrounding states accord
. ngly benefit by our weakness
The recent rate case is said to have
cost Fargo $4,000 and the other
cities of the action various proper
/. tionate amounts, but has been money
, we'll spent.
!: The sources of evidence have been
= many and far reaching, bringing into
question rates all over the country.
!: An extension of the benefits is be-
( lievcd to be relatively smaller mat
1 ter.
/. Under the new adjustment Fargo
y dealers can combine a smaller long
: haul rate and longer short haul rate
and place goods in distribution points
at lower cost than can Bismarck with
longer longhaul and shorter
short-haul, placing this city at so
:. much disadvantage.
Mr.. CadieuX contends that one of
the great factors in building up a
P; community is its favorable transport
tation rates and points to all sections
!. of the country and important distrib-
= uting cities as illustrations. And
with the freight hump" moved a
hundred miles nearer Bismarck we
are more vitality concerned than ever
. in having it placed at its logical point
!. the Missouri river.
Effect of the jamestown scale APP
:. {died to Bismarck:
Classes Present Proposed Diff
40