The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1931-11-05
APPLE RATE
FOR EXPORT
NOT SETTLED
Puget Sound Ports HOller on
EquaIizing Rail Tariff with
Portland; Bus Lines En-
crOach

Seattle's determination to pre-
vent Portland from being placed
on an equality with Puget Sound
ports in the matter of railroad
freight rates on apples and pears
is preventing the producer of these
commodities from being benefited
by saving Of many thousand
dollars during the remainder Of
the export apple shipping season,
and a much larger amount during
the coming seasons when a full
crop will be harvested, according
to report made this noon by p.
A. Combelic, who attended the rate
hearing as a representative Of the
local chamber last week.
In considering the whole prob
lem, said Mr.. Combelic, one must
be acquainted with the tremend-
Gus increase of export apple ship
ments from Washington and Ore
gon. This business has grown from
few hundred carloads in 1920 to
$1,000 carloads in 1880. The rate
differential on this class Of ship
ments from the Kennewick district
represents approximately $4,000
annually in decreased returns to
apple and pear growers. Altho the
same differential does not apply
to all districts east Of Yakima and
shipments from these districts are
much heavier, and rates not much
lower, therefore the loss is cor
respondingly as large or larger.
The Yakima Traffic association,
the Central Washington Growers,
the Walla Walla and Kennewick
Chambers Of Commerce and Mil
ton reewater were represented at
the hearing conducted at Seattle,
the 18th. The UP. and MP. rail-
ways were also represented, and
these two interests, the Yakima
Valley and Walla Walla valley
shippers and the rail lines formed
the opposition to the Seattle and
Tacoma Chambers of Commerce
in their attempt to have the In
terstate Commerce Commission
disallow the proposed rate Of 22ah
cents per hundred pounds, which
was to have become effective No
vember a, on apples and pears to
both Portland and Puget Sound
ports from all points in the Yal1i-
ma and Walla Walla districts.
The principal contention Of both
shippers and the railroads was that
this rate was necessary in order
that the competition Of truck lines
operating from these districts to
Columbia river points could be
met. The possibility Of this COM
petition increasing is due to the
opening of the Status Pass high
way and the oiling Of the Una
tilla Cutoff. This new highway
factor brought about the publica-
ton Of a rate by the truck COM
panies which equals the proposed
blanket rail rate from all points
in the Yakima valley to Portland.
The Seattle and Tacoma Cham
bers Of Commerce, conferred their
defense about the lack of trucking
facilities to move any appreciable
amount Of export shipments to
Portland, also that trucks did not
represent the serious competition
to the rail lines that they were
attempting to show, and that the
whole mater was an attempt on
the part Of the Portland Chamber
to place Puget Sound ports on the
same (imagined) unfair rate ba-
sis relative to apple and pear ship
ments that now existed on wheat
rates from the Columbia basin
territory.
Repeated attempts were made to
use the wheat rate as an argu-
ment against the commission CIV
ing the proposed lower rate on the
fruit. Strenuous objection to the
reference of the grain rates were
entered by the rail lines and the
shippers, these objections always
being sustained by the Commits
sion examiner.
The one outstanding feature Of
the hearing was the spectacle Of
the railroads, shippers and grow
ers pleading with the I.C.C. for a
lower freight ratel How different
from most hearings where the
shippers and producers are asking
that the carriers be compelled to
lower their rates!
The one important factor in the
whole controversy is the producer.
Seattle in its struggle to become
the leading Pacific port, has lost
sight of him entirely and has cen
tered its interests on the squabble
with Portland over the grain bus
mess and the apple exports.
If the Puget Sound cities are