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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Detailed Description of Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

box-folder

Minutes of IRA meetings 1921-1930  13 items.

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Correspondence 1918-1939  43 items.

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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.

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