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Show TO PROTEST AGAINST PROPOSED RAISE IN FREIGHT RATES SALT LAKE, Nov. 9 Through the traffic sorvlcc bureau of Utah tho jobbers job-bers and wholesalers of Salt Lake will enter protest against a proposed advance ad-vance in freight rates to points outsido of this city as contemplated under the zone system or tariffs as outlined by tho railroad administration It is probable that the matter will be taken tak-en up by the interstate commerce com- miSJfifin nf fl limn t.t trt Krt nnnnnnnA.l Evidence will be introduced by II. W. Prickctt, manager of tho tariff service bureau, to show why freight rates in tho Salt Lake territory should not be any higher than between points in Oregon and Washington and points in other proposed freight zones. The zone scales havo been sent out by the railroad commission with an Invitation for criticism and suggestions. sugges-tions. The advice of the interstate commerce commission Is also sought under the eighth section of the federal control act, and hearings will bo had by that body to the end that the widest wid-est possible investigation as to the propriety and reasonableness of the proposed scales may be made. "Contention of Shippers It is contended by tho Salt Lake shippers that the tonnago density in Utah is sufficient to warrant as low affreight rate as that given to other sections of the country with similar tonnage, and where the density of population pop-ulation is no greater than in 'Utah. Seventy-five per cent of the population popu-lation of Utah is within a radius of ' soventy-fivo miles of Salt Lake and Ogden, it is maintained, and the density den-sity of tonnage within this small area is greater in comparison than in sections sec-tions of the United States for which ' the 100 per cent rates are proposed. Under the zone system it is pro-, posed to place the territory included ; in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska. Ne-braska. Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri south of the Missouri river and tho commonpoint territory of Tex-1 as In the 300 per cent scale. In tho 75 I per cent scale, with rates 25 per cent I less than those in the 100 per centl territory, it Is proposed to place Iowa,' Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri I north of tho Missouri river. California,) Washington and Oregon will be placed 1 in the 100 per cent scale. Arizona, 1 New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyom- ! ing, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and the differential territory of Texas, it is proposed to place In tho 120 per cent scale, with a freight, rate 20 per cent higher than that of tho 100 per centl zone. i Comparative Figures ! Prior to the war advance of 25 per! cent in freight rates, the first-class rate from Salt Lake to Pocatello, a distance of 171 miles, was 55 cents per, 100 pounds under the scale proposed! the rate would bo increased to 9S cents ' per 100 pounds an increase of 78 per, cont over the pre-war rate, and. 42 per I cent over the present rate. 'Tho pre-war rate to "Green River, j Wyo., a distance of 212 miles, was S3 : cents per 100 pounds, which has been ( increased to 1.0-1. It Is proposed to' increase this rate 1.1-1, an advance of 37 per cent over tho pre-war rate and 10 per cent over the existing rate. From Ogden to Salt Lake, a distance i of thirty-six miles, the old rate was; 30 cents per 100 pounds. With tho war advance it was fixed at 37 1-2 cents. It is proposed to increaso this rate to 4G cents, or 53 per cent above the pre-war rate and 22 per cent above the present rate. The old rale to Provo, forty-five ; miles, was 30 cents per 100 pounds. I With tho war advance it is now 37 1-2 p cents. The proposed new rate will be n 18 cents, an advanco of CO per cent ' over the old rate and 28 per cent over the existing rate. . j : Final Conclusions "I think it will be admitted," said Mr. Prlckett yesterday, "that the den- j slty of traffic in Utah is as great, if , not greater, than that of almost any state west of the Missouri river, which , will bo used as one of tho most im- ( portant factprs on which to base an argument for low rates of freight transportation. The interstate com ( merce commission reports for 1915, which arc considered fair, show that the number of miles per 10,000 popu- lation was 50.11. for Nebraska 49.15. i for Kansas 51.11, for North Dakota t 74.03 and for South Dakota 63.37. With one exception, the population i per mile of railroad in Utah compares well with that of any state in the 100 per cent zone, and this factor also will bo considered inJiulcing for a more equitable rate." r In making an .argument for rates no higher than those proposqd for points in tho 100 per cent 7,oner It will be pointed out that the tonnage carried by the various railroads in, Utah will warrant tho contention During the calendar year. 1916, tho density qf tonnage ton-nage on the Oregon -Washington Railway Rail-way & Navigation ' railroad amounted to 5S6.4S1 rovonujc tons per mile of railroad. The Oregon Short Line, during dur-ing the samo period, carried a tonnago ton-nago of 1,226,960 gross tons, of which 1,094,265 was revenue tonnago. The Denver & Rio Grande lines in Utah carried 1,120,S03 tons per mile of road. Between IlGlpor and Ogden the Denvor fc Rio Grando carried a total of 2,-245,475 2,-245,475 rcvonue tons per mile of road. oo |