The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-09-18
PLIGHT OF n. D.
MILLS TOLD AT
Ice. HEARING
Present Status of Grain Rates
Blamed For Drop From
II to l8 Mills

Minneapolis, Minn., Sept. 16.--Five
important North Dakota communities
Friday assumed an active part in the
fight for grain and flour freight
rate reductions from -Niinneafolis 70
the east. presenting evidence ut the
Interstate Commerce Commission
hearing to show that the present rate
lineup has crippled flour milling in
North Dakota until only 1S mills are
operated today. compared with II five
years ago.
These North Dakota towns were
jamestown, Valley City, Mandan, Bis.
marck and Minot. V. p. Cadieux.
jamestown attorney, took the stand
toward the close Of Fridays session
as spokesman for their business and
civic organizations. He also tcs:i-
fled for the North Dakota Fair
Freight Rate association, which rep
rcsents various Dakota communities
in rate controversies. Tho state
Of North Dakota. through its board of
railroad commi ysiOncrs, appeared
early in the week in support Of the
rate adjustments proposed by the
Minneapolis & st. Louis and 500
Line roads.
"The flour mills Of the interior Of
North Dakota virtually have been an
initiated in the past four or five
years. Mr.. Cadieux told Commiss on
cr j. b. Campbell. presiding ut tho
rate hearing. "ln 1921 there were II
miles in operation in North Dakota.
Last year the number had dropped To
Is. and most, If not all of these,
were grinding only ut part capacity.
Right now, some Of these few re-
naming mills arc considering closing
down. This is serious matter for
our little cities. For example, clos
ing Of our mill at jamestown took
30 families out of town.
N. d. Milling Crippled
"The low cargo rate on wheat from
Duluth and down the Great Lakes for
milling at Buffalo has had a major
part in thus Gripping flour milling in
North Dakota. North Dakota has
not enough people to consume all the
flour its mills can produce, il opcrut-
ca anywhere near capacity, and is
forced to compete In other markets
for sales of flour. The present rate
structure has made it increasingly
difficult for North Dakota to do
this.
I'VE do not feel that the proposed
6-cent rate reductions would restore
al our milling operations in North
Dakota. but we are convinced that
they would preserve the few mills We
have left. Small mills in grain pro-
ducing districts help the farmers.
Premium prices Of - much as 5 cents
a bushel often are paid by local mills,
competing against other nearby mills
for grain which the farmers can mar
ket by truck or wagon"
Mr.. CalfeNx's statement was the on
~ evidence offered Friday afternoon
in support Of the rate revision. The
greater part Of the session was de-
voted to taking Of testimony from
markets and organizations opposed to
adjustments which are calculated to |
permit Minneapolis to compete more
effectively In eastern consuming dis |
tricts.
Eastern Roads 0ppose Cut
Opposition to the new deal in
freight rates was presented by
spOkesmen for eastern railroads, |
which not only refused to share in
the 6-eent reductions but are fighting |
Il. and for milling and grain inter-
ests Of Spokane, Indianapolis, De-
troit, Toledo, Louisville, Tacoma.
Portland and Seattle.
Duluth and Buffalo. the most ac-
live opponents Of the Minneapolis
md northwsst rate program, will
place . group of witnesses on che
ltand today, and the entire ssssion is
sxpected 70 be devoted to thsir d.
ract and cross-examination Kansas
City, alse strongly hostile to anyI
rate adjustment Tor the benefit of
and the northwest. pre-
'ented some evidence Tueuday but -
'cheduled to ~tags its big fight next
'Cont,nve6 % paye tAyee.) 4