The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1932-12-23

JU5&% large OIL dfs
heavy shippers owe all parts o.
the Great Northern system. II ths
, railroad willingly reduces the rates
In question It offendg these bic
shippers. If IL offends these ship
pers they will divert much Of their
tonnage 10 other roads. Therefore
in order 10 save tonnage on other
parts Of their system, the railroad
company considers IL advisable 10
defend the protective freight tar
if wall about northeastern Mon
tana TO th bnefit Of it's big ship
Ders. The Great Northern has a
choice Of appearing in behalf Of
either the great oil companies or
Of the residents Of northeastern
Montana. ! quote from their brief
10 show that they have chosen
their course deliberately. They say
1T is very obvious, from the com
plaintat's evidence, that the real
purpose of this complaint is not SO
much to obtain a reduction in the
freight rates from the Mid CONT
nent field TO northeastern Mon
tana as freight rates, but rather TO
obtain a reduction in the price
paid to Wyoming and Montana re-
timers for petroleum purchased
from such sources" (%unquote)
oh, no. The Great Northern will
not stand to see the Wyoming and
Montana refiners abused. But what
attitude did the Great Northern
take toward the farmers of north
eastern Montana when we intro
duced evidence at the hearing at
Wolf Point to show that due to
modern farming methods petroleum
is a necessity to the farmer OF nor
theastern Montana, and that the
price he pays for it has a definite
bearing on his prosperity and the
future of agriculture in this sec
ton? Why the Great Northern
said, (qoute)
I'VE believe that complainant is
seeking merely to capitalize on the
natural sympathy that the Com
mission has, and that the country
generally has, for the agricultural
industry; but It's efforts to link
petroleum traffic up with agricul-
ture we think are very far fetched
and should be given no considers
ton whatever" Wnquote)
Having lived in this country for
many years / thing that | can safe
ly say that there are at least TO-,
900 people in northeastern Montana
who will emphatically deny that
it ia far fetched to say that the
paid for petroleum products
has definite bearing upon the pros
perity of agriculture, AS a resident
of northeastern Montana Tor the
greater part of the past 20 years
have witnessed the building and
of branch lines of rail-
roads into your territory. | fully
appreciate the vast expenditures
that the railroads have made and
developing your territory. | fully
the convenience and the
value of the railroads to is all.
'~ealize, too, that our railroads are
in need or more revenue at
his time. but have they been the
Victims of drouth, low prices of
arm products, and depression TO
he extent that you have been?
Realizing that they have not, |
nave no qualms of conscience in
them 20 give You the same
consideration On rates and service
hat your neighbors across the
line receive, Who is the
more important to the Great Nor
hern Railroad, anyhow These
.reat refining companies, or the
who pay the freight on the
.aaoline that the %refiners ship in,
Tho produce the products that con
outgoing freight and buy
he products that constitute incom- !
freight Are the railroads call
d upon 10 render more devoted |
eryice to oil companies who sat |
{ the counsel table with them !
~ a few brief hours az the hear
g than to You farmers and bust
eas men who have built your bus
iesaes and homes along the tracks
nd have STAYED by the railroads
N these past many years. | con
that l canaet fellow the line
reasoning advanced by the Great
orthern whom they urge the re
iaal OF a rate adjustment on the
that such adjustment
ould mean lowering gasoline
'iees to their patrons in north
Montana. In its brief the
geat Northern also says, /
petroleum. products can afford
pay the present rates, There 81
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4
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