Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Guide to the Intermediate Rate
Association, Spokane Records
1918-1938
Cage
248
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
- Creator
- Intermediate Rate Association
- Title
- Intermediate Rate Association, Spokane Records
- ID
- Cage 248
- Date [inclusive]
- 1918-1938
- Extent
- 2 containers., 1 linear feet of shelf space., 200 items.
- Language
- Collection materials are in 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
[Item Description]. Cage 248, Guide to the Intermediate Rate Association, Spokane Records. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Biography/History
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.
Scope and Content
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.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections © 2012
http://www.libraries.wsu.edu/masc/
Terrell Library
P.O. Box 645610
Pullman, WA, 99164-5610 USA
509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research use.
Names and Subjects
Corporate Name(s)
Creator(s) :
- Intermediate Rate Association --Archives
Subject(s) :
- United States. Interstate Commerce Commission
Personal Name(s)
Subject(s) :
- Gooding, Frank R. (Frank Robert), 1859-1928
Subject(s)
- Railroads -- Washington (State)--Rates
- Business, Labor, and Industry
- Transportation
Detailed Description of Collection
box-folder | ||||
Minutes of IRA meetings 1921-1930 13 items. |
1 / 1 | |||
Correspondence 1918-1939 43 items. |
1 / 2 | |||
Financial statements 1924-1929 6 items. |
1 / 3 | |||
Speeches and addresses 1919-1930 12 items. |
1 / 4 | |||
IRA publications 40 items. |
1 / 5 | |||
Transportation rate statistics 29 items. |
2 / 6 | |||
Extracts from railroad files 1909-1924 4 items. |
2 / 7 | |||
Published legal briefs, non-IRA publications and clippings 62 items. |
2 / 8 | |||