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Transportation and the Farmer 



O. W. BAXTER 



jROVIDING transportation and 

 utility service for Illinois farmers 

 has been one of the important 

 jobs of the Illinois Agricultural Asso- 

 ciation since 1920. 



The fact that the 

 State of Illinois lies 

 between Western 

 Freight Association 

 territory otx the 

 west and Central 

 Freight Association 

 territory on the 

 east, has provided a 

 peculiar opportuni- 

 ty to the Illinois 

 Agricultural Asso- 

 ciation to be of 

 service to Illinois 

 fanners. E^ch territory has a different 

 basis of rates. The rates on traffic 

 wholly within the state have always 

 been as low or lower than rates in 

 either of the adjoining territories. But 

 on interstate traffic it is different. So 

 quite naturally when railroads in either 

 of these adjoining territories desired an 

 increase in rates to improve their in- 

 come they sought to include Illinois. 

 Thus Illinois has become known as a 

 "buffer state." 



How have the I. A. A. and the Coun- 

 ty Farm Bureaus in Illinois been able 

 to serve members in transportation 

 problems during these years? Let's 

 look at the record. 



1. In 1922 the carriers proposed an 

 increase in livestock rates which 

 was vigorously opposed by the 

 Illinois Agricultural Association. 



,' The result was a saving of $5.00 



to $15.00 per car. 



2. In 1923 the minimum weight per 

 car on hogs was reduced from 

 17,000 pounds to 16,500 pounds 

 but Illinois was not included in 

 this reduction when a complaint 

 was filed by the I. A. A. At the 

 same time a small rate cut meant 



1 an additional saving of about 



$1.25 per car. 



3. The mixed livestock rule was 

 amended at the request of the 

 I. A. A. saving from $10.00 to 



'■ $14.00 per car. 



4. A complaint was filed with the 

 Illinois Commerce Commission 

 in 1932 which resulted in reduc- 

 ing the rates on livestock in the 

 Southeastern district of Illinois 

 with an estimated saving to Illi- 

 nois shippers of about $75,000 

 per year. 



5. The Illinois Agricultural Asso- 

 ciation pioneered in establishing 



By G.W. Baxter 



low mileage rates on agricultural 

 limestone, resulting in a large 

 volume of tonnage and a saving 

 in transportation costs to farm- 

 ers. Efforts were later made by 

 the railroads to cancel out these 

 rates but our action caused them 

 to abandon this effort. 



6. Early in 1924 in proceedings be- 

 fore the Interstate Commerce 

 Commission a proposed increase 

 in fruit and vegetable rates was 

 opposed by the Illinois Agricul- 

 tural Association. Result — a sav- 

 ing to our growers of $22.00 to 

 $30.00 per car on peaches and 

 strawberries, and from $7.00 to 

 $9.50 per car on other fruits and 

 vegetables. 



7. Again, in 1928 an adjustment in 

 rates was secured from Illinois 

 points to points in Southeastern 

 territory, averaging a saving of 

 $70.00 per car on peaches. 



8. Further study of fruit and veg- 

 etable rates brought a request to 

 the railroads for a reduction in 

 p>each rates to Eastern markets. 

 This was granted, effecting a 

 saving of $35.00 to $99.00 per car 

 in 1932 on shipments moving 

 Eastward. 



9. In 1931, 1. A. A. joined with other 

 farm organizations in opposing 

 the 15 percent general freight in- 



"; crease proposed by the railroads. 

 Organized agriculture scored an- 

 other victory. Rates on farm 

 products were not disturbed 

 with a few minor exceptions. 

 - ^ This meant a saving of approxi- 

 • mately $750,000 annually on Illi- 

 nois farm products. Soybeans 



:■ were one of the few agricultural 



commodities in this case on 



which the Interstate Commerce 



Commission ordered a rate in- 



^ crease — one cent per hundred. 



,, The Illinois Agricultural Asso- 

 ciation got busy protesting to the 

 carriers and the Interstate Com- 

 merce Commission with the re- 



: suit that this increase was re- 

 moved. The saving on Illinois 

 shipments alone amounted to 

 more than $13,000. 

 10. The petition of the railroads for 

 a general increase in freight 

 rates in 1934 was opposed by all 

 farm organizations including the 



, American Farm Bureau and the 

 Illinois Agricultural Association. 

 The decision of the Commission 

 exempted practically all farm 

 products. This would have been 



■ an : added burden of several 

 thousand dollars annually to 

 Illinois farmers. 

 The I. A. A. has intervened 

 , frequently at the request of 

 members to secure or maintain 

 (Continued on page 18) 



JODAVIESS COUNTY'S NEW FARM BUREAU HEADgUARTERS 

 NeaHy 1.000 perjonj thronged ftie high school auditorium at Elizabeth recently for the for- 



mal dedication and opening of the new JoDav ess County Farm Bureau building in Eliiabeth. 



President Homer Curtis o* Stockton dedicated the newly acquired structure which has been 



remodeled. Larry Williams delivered the principal address. 



A feature of the event was the rural talent discovery program in which 2S different numbers 



were provided by JoOaviess county people. 



JULY, 1935 



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