The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-02-15
|. c. c. IS INFORMED
ROADS BILL FREIGHT
TO INCREASE COST
Shipments Formerly Split on
Way to Final Destination
Now Take Nearest
HEARING HELD AT FARGO
State Railroad Board Objects to
Oiscontinuance Of Old
Privilege
HEARING HELD AT FARGO

AISuNlCLllS aSd.llSo tUC pICpOSd vi
the railroads to discontinue the prac-
tice of stopping cars of fresi, fruit
and vegetables for partial unloading
at more than one place are contained
in a brief which was sent to the In
terstatc Commerce commission by
the state railroad board today.
Hearing on the matter recently was
held by the federal body at Fargo.
with a large number Of North Dako-
tans objecting to the proposed change.
Taking up the argument by the
railroads that the partial unloading
privilege no longer Is necessary since
jobbing houses now are established to
buy in carload lots, the brief con-
tends that the statement is inaCcur-
ate, since from IS to 40 cars arc hand
led annually on a split basis in west
crn North Dakota and South Dakota
on the Milwaukee line and there are
no jobbing houses west of Aberdeen.
Attention Is called to the fact that
E. E. Green. testifying for the Farm
crs Union. said that elimination of
the stopping In transit privilege would
result in reduced tonnage and higher
prices Of fruit to the consumer.
Stops Held Well Paid
Answering objections by the rail-
roads that the present system causes
difficulty in handling trains, the brief
contends that 1t would make no diff
ference II shipments were handled in
carload lots only and that the cost
OF $3.50 per a per stop reimburSeS
the railroads for their additional
trouble.
Emphasis is laid upon the fact that
a witness for the railroads said at the
hearing that they had consulted only
with Minneapolis jobbe-s and not
with those in the cities which would
be affected. The argument is adj
vanced that those in the cities affect
cd should have been consulted before
the proposal to change the present
system.
Taking stations along the Milwau-
kce railroad as typical. the brief O II
tends that the effect Of the proposed
change would be to raise freight rates
to the towns affected an average of 50
cents per 100 pounds or SO per cent
OF the existing rates.
The argument is made that ship
ments. under the proposed rule. would
be received at jobbing centers in car
load lots and distributed at express
rates. in which case the increase in |
cost would be wen greater.
Two Billings Now Made
At present a car destined for
Jamestown and taking the through
rate can be stopped at Bismarck for
partial unloading. The entire ship
mcnt would take the through rate to
Jamestown. Under the railroads |
proposal. however, such a car would
be billed to Bismarck and the remain
der. destined for Jamestown. would
take the local rate from Bismarck to
jamestown. thereby materially in
creasing the freight charges.
The brief contends that "a review
OF the evidence submitted by the re-
spondents in justification of their
proposal. indicates that they propose
to cancel this privilege wholly in the
that certain large jobbing
houses said they did not believe con-
ditions today warrant 6 continuation
Of the privilege. No evidence of any
kind was offered in support of the
proposed cancellation. The carriers
did not try to justify it on the ground
that the present charges arc too low
for the services performed.
'On the other hand. protcstants
have shown that the present practice
IS being used and has been used for
years and that the proposal would re-
suit IN very substantial increases.
The brief is signed by the state
railroad board. the Fargo chamber of
and the Aberdeen Fruit
company. which Joined in fighting the
proposal.