The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-11-21
North Dakota Board Estimates
New Rates Will Save
-
State 5000, 900

Denial Of the western trunk line
railroads petition for reopening Of
the class rate case is asked in a brief
forwarded Saturday to the Interstate
Commerce Commission by the North
Dakota board of railroad commission
ers.
The new class rates are to become
effective Dec. 3, unless the I. c. C..
reopenS the case. The state COM
mission estimates that, under the new
tariffs, North Dakota will save ap-
proximately SIS, 0O0, 900 on shipments
to and from the state of commodi-
ties affected by the new rates.
The western trunk lines seek a
reopening, %rehearing and modifica-
ton of the report and order of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
IF the class rates are to be REIN
vestigated," the North Dakota COM
missions brief says, then the grain,
livestock, petroleum and other rates
will have to be reinvestigated.
Report Is Cited
The carriers make quite a point
Of the age of the record and allege
changes in conditions. particularly in
the carriers financial condition. An
adequate answer to the carriers plea
of general insufficiency of revenue
is the commissions report in the Is
per cent increase case. Certainly,
general lack of revenue cannot be
urged as grounds for continuing un-
reasonable class rates to and from
North Dakota.
THE carriers do not allege any
change whatsoever in the relatively
of conditions as between North Da-
kota and other states in western
trunk line territory, for the reason
that there is none, so that the record
is absolutely up to date SO far as
this feature Is concerned.
The carriers statement that they
are merely asking that the commits
sion restore the revenue which its or
der takes from them is not accu-
rate. If the commission restores the
present adjustment after Dec. 3, 1881,
assuming that the new rates will
become effective on that day. it will
restore an adjustment against which
we have fought for years, and that
is unreasonable and unlawfully dis
criminatory rates to and from North
Dakota"
Deny Reduction Argument
The brief recites that while the
new rates make some substantial re-
auctions to and from North Dakota
this is not due to the low character
of the new rates, but is due to the
fact that the states rates are nov
on high combination bases.
The state commission stressed tina
there are material increases in the
western trunk line territory as g
whole, and that there are substantial
increases in certain rates to and from
North Dakota.
Between Fargo and the Twin Cit
les, the brief says, first class is In
creased 8 cents per cWt., second class
8 cents, third class 6 cents. fourth
and fifth classes S cents, and cameo
goods, carloads, 7 cents per cwt. SINH
lar increases are made between tht
Twin Cities and Wahpeton, Crane
Forks >apd Valley City. E.
Even between the Twin Cities ant
Bismarck" the brief continues
there are increases, such as thre;
cents on first class and seven cent
on third and fourth classes. There
also are a number of increases be-
tween Chicago and eastern NORTH
Dakota, such as 10 cents, first class
9 cents, second; 7 cents, third ans
fifth, and S cents fourth. To Wah
peton the increase is IL cents OF
!. fourth class, 4 cents on agriculture
implements and AZ cents on cannes
goods.
Potato Rate Increased
"On such an important agriculture
commodity as potatoes, serious in
creaseS are made, for example, g.
cents from Arnegard to Sioux City
and 81 cents to st. Paul. Arnegar,
Is in the center of al important pc
tato-growing territory. Additions
instances of increases would only b
redundant"
The state commission contend
that the relatively of rates prescribe
by the /. C. G.. as between Mort
Dakota and other western trun.
line states gives us some relief t
which we are entitled. and we siren
uously object to anything that wi
deny us our rights.
I'VE have already paid rates fo
over a year, which the commissio
has condemned as unreasonable, an
we deplore the carriers efforts t
continue or restore this situation"