The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-02-12
Rail Road Freight Rates.

The Commercial Club held another
meeting last Tuesday night to dis
cuss rail road freight rates. 1t was
the best attended, most business like
in its action, and altogether the mos
satisfactory meeting yet held.
The last committee consisted of q.
w. Hayes, Esq, and Messrs. South
all q Smiser, and the meeting was
called to hear the report of the COM
mittee. At the request of the com
mittee Mai. Il. A. Rogers, who is
in Columbia with freight rates, as
sisted the committee in preparing
their report.
The committee had been appointed
to investigate the law and the facts,
and report their conclusion. Be it
said to their credit, the report shows
they have given their time to a full
investigation of the law and the
facts" and made report exhaustive
Of the subject and most creditable to
themselves. Owing to the crowded
state OF our columns this week we
cannot give the report, it being drawn
up in the form of a petition TO the
Interstate Commerce Commission
and setting forth the complaints OF
the citizens of this town and county
Ill VI INSTANCES Allh III NSbtsl1 -
In our next issue, if the committee
will furnish us with the report,we will
give it in full to the public.
The report sets forth the railroad
rates on all manner of freight coming
in and going out of Columbia, and
compares these rates with other
cities and towns, and shOws-ln the
language of the repOrt-"that whether
the freight comes from or goes to the
North, East, South or West, Column
bia is unjustly, unlawfully and un'
fairly Disseminated against" 1t II
shown that OH nearly all clasfeS an0
kinds and qualities of freight, the
ii ate from Nashville to Columbia IL
more than the rate to Nashville from
Louisville, Cincinnati, Evansville OF
| st. Louis, though these cities are
from four to SIX times as FAR from
| Nashville as Columbia is.
The argument was made in behalf
of the railroad that this was because
all the above named places, eXcep
Columbia, were "river" towns, ant
the rate was fixed by river Transports
ton. On the other side those Wh'
had examined the Law, answered, ant
read the law to sustain their pOsitio IN
that the Cumberland river at Nash
vile, was not a direct or "cOntrOll-
ing'' competition to these Ohio rive
cities, and that this would be no de
Tense under the law.
But waving that point, the repor
showed that it cost more to hau
! freight from Nashville to Columbia
than to carry it on by Columbia t.
Huntsville, Ala, and that Huntsville
was not a river town.
1t showed that the rate was highe
| from Nashville to Columbia, thar
| from Nashville to Birmingham
though Birmingham is 1G3 miles
| further and has no river facilitie
whatever.
1t showed that to bring a car lOaC
of oranges from Florida to Colunbi;
costs more than to carry them on t.
Nashville, though the distance Wa
further and no water competition IL
it. And the same was shown OF gran
and all other products, shipped int
or outside of the state, in any direc
ton whatsoever.
The report was discussed at som
length. Finally the following resO
luton was offered and uuanimOusl
adopted: "That the report OF til
committee be received and adopted
That the committee be Instructed t.
add to their number five business
men of Columbia, representing d:ff r
ent lines of business, and invite Nh
w. J. Wood, 3rd Vice President O
the l.. q n. Rail Road, to meet then
in Columbia any day within the mex
ten days suiting his convenience, t
adjust the freight rates fairly an
equitably between the railroad am
the people. That in case of failur
on refusal upon the part of the rail
road to meet the committee in tn
time specified; or in case they d
meet and then fail to agree upon
general freight rate for all freiGh
going out or coming into Columbia
then the Committee shall appoin
two of their number to go to Wash
ington and present the complaints o
the people to the Interstate Com
mission; and that the Secretary O
the Commercial Club collect from
the members, and other citizens of Tia
city and county, such funds rs ma
be necessary to defray the expense
of the committee"
The Club then adjourned, subjec
to the call of the President.