Guide to the Intermediate Rate Association, Spokane Records 1918-1938
Cage 248

Summary Information

Repository
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries
Creator
Intermediate Rate Association
Title
Intermediate Rate Association, Spokane Records
ID
Cage 248
Date [inclusive]
1918-1938
Extent
200.0 items.
General Physical Description note
1 linear feet of shelf space.
Language
English
Abstract
Minutes, correspondence, publications, speeches and addresses, extracts and legal briefs, rate information and other papers of a western businessmen's association responsible for legislative lobbying, governmental hearings and other opposition to railroad rate discrimination in the inter-mountain area. Many items concern the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Gooding Bill.

Preferred Citation note

[Item Description]. Cage 248, Guide to the Intermediate Rate Association, Spokane Records. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Biographical/Historical note

The Intermediate Rate Association (IRA) was formally organized at a convention of western businessmen on June 13, 1921 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The organization took its name from the then current railroad practice of illegally charging a greater rate on freight for east or westbound transcontinental traffic dropped at "intermediate" points than was charged to more distant points of destination. Thus, a businessman was charged more to ship goods by rail from Chicago to Spokane, Washington, than if he shipped them all the way to Portland, Oregon.

Included in the functions of the IRA was the maintenance of legal counsel in order to prosecute cases against the railroads before appropriate governmental agencies, especially the Interstate Commerce Commission, lobbying for lower rates, and promoting member's viewpoints through speakers and pamphlets. General offices of the IRA were located in Spokane, Washington, and several businessmen prominent in the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, such as J. A. Ford and C. O. Bergen, were leaders in the national organization. However, membership and activities were widespread throughout the inter-mountain region. The IRA played an active part during several transportation rate controversies of the 1920's and 1930's, particularly the Gooding Bill and the Pettengill Bill.

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Scope and Contents note

The records of the Intermediate Rate Association include minutes, correspondence, extracts from western railroads for presentation before the Interstate Commerce Commission, addresses and speeches, publications and information concerning rate controversies.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries © 1974

http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/masc
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu

Conditions Governing Access note

This collection is open for research use.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Intermediate Rate Association --Archives
  • United States. Interstate Commerce Commission

Personal Name(s)

  • Gooding, Frank R. (Frank Robert), 1859-1928

Subject(s)

  • Business, Labor, and Industry
  • Railroads -- Washington (State)--Rates
  • Transportation

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Collection Inventory

Box-folder

Minutes of IRA meetings 1921-1930   13.0 items.

 1 / 1

Correspondence 1918-1939   43.0 items.

 1 / 2

Financial statements 1924-1929   6.0 items.

 1 / 3

Speeches and addresses 1919-1930   12.0 items.

 1 / 4

IRA publications   40.0 items.

 1 / 5

Transportation rate statistics   29.0 items.

 2 / 6

Extracts from railroad files 1909-1924   4.0 items.

 2 / 7

Published legal briefs, non-IRA publications and clippings   62.0 items.

 2 / 8