The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-27
RATES TO BRUNSWICK.
The Commissions Ruling in Favor OF
That City.

That City.
ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 26.-The official
order of the state railroad commission pro.
mulgated to-day in the case Of the rates on
the Brunswick and Western road to Bruins
wick and Savannah is the most important
ruling the board has made IN some time
This order reduces the rates to Brunswick
giving that city an advantage over Ssvsn-
nah. This advantage Bruins wick formally
enjoyed but it was lest last December when
the rates to both ports were made the sans
This was done on the application of the
hoard of trade of Savannah and tba
Savannah, Florida and Western Railway
Company. The application was made at
the November meeting of the commission
Considering the Importance of the question
involved, the commission, as appears from
the order granted at tbs December session.
caused representatives Of the towns and
cities Interested to be notified Of the meeting
and having no response, presumed that the
modification asked for was agreeable to the
parties. Subsequently upon the promulga-
tion Of ire rates under this order, the board
of trade Of Brunswick and representatives
Of Other cities made application for the re-
vocation OF the order aud the January meet
ing was named as the time for the hearing
OF the application.
EFFECT OF THE RATES.
All the parties interested being present
and represented, the case was duly heard
when it appeared that the operation of the
December order largely increased the rates
on the lumber, naval stores and other
articles over rates hitherto allowed to land
from Brunswick, to the great injury Of
parties engaged in business at the places
affected, many of whom had gone into
the business under the old rates, relying
upon rule l as their security agrinst
lnGFpAQR IL arnd khnk
as to lumber and naval stores and ties this
change threatened serious embarrassment
10 the parties who had made contracts under
the old rates, and this increase of rates to
and from Brunswick affected large num-
Der Of people and seemed an unjust Increase
In the rates allowed. 1t appeared that
brunswick was considerably nearer than
Savannah TO the points affected, and it was
represented that an equality of rates oper-
ated as disc limitation against Brunswick
by denying her the legitimate advantages
OF her geographical situation.
THE RULING.
In their ruling the commissioners say:
After carefully considering the facts pre-
sented and the arguments submitted, we
conclude that the order heretofore granted
at the december session allowing an equality
of rates to Savannah and Brunswick from
points west of Waycross should be revoked
and that rule should be put in operation
without modification or suspension"
10 was contended by the Savannah, Flori-
do and Western and the Brunswick and
Western Railway Companies that to rescind
the order would materially reduce their
revenues and that the Bruins wick and West
ern railway was operated at an annual loss
and this increase was necessary to enable
them to operate the Brunswick and Western
railroad without loss, and that in this res
spect rule was Injurious and damaging to
them.
at appears that if the Brunswick and
western railroad were an independent line,
enen the Joint rate from points west of
Waycross would be greater than the rate to
Savannah. 1t also appeared that In 1887,
long after rule l was established and
enforced, the Savannah, Florida and
Western Railway Company acquired the
control Of the Brunswick and Western rail
road.
THE POINT THROWN OUT.
ut is fair to presume" says the commisS
sion, that consideration Of the operation
of this rule was had by the Savannsh,
Florida and Western Railway Company
prior to the acquiring of the Brunswick and
western road, so that they cannot justly
complain of the operation of the rule which
was in full force at the time of the acqui-
qusition Of this property The people of
Brunswick insisted upon the nat
ural advantages which belong to
them by reason of the location
of their excellent harbor and cheap port
charges, and urged that the order passed at
the December session practically destroys
these advantages as to the territory in
question. The evidence justifies their COM
plant and we do not think that it is lust to
them that they should be denied the nat
ural advantages of the position, the looa-
ton and harbor which they possess" The
interstate commerce commission in late
case of the chamber of commerce Of Minne-
appolis against the Great Northern Rail-
way Company ct al. recognized substan-
TALLY this principle as follows:
"A milling town possessing
great natural, acquired aud improved adj
vantages for the carrying on of that in
dustry, and favorably situated in point of
distance to a large grain producing region,
Is entitled to the benefits arising from its
location, and carriers of grain to that point
and to competing town considerably more
remote from points Of production and other
particulars less advantageously situated,
are not justified in making rates on grain
TO the competing towns which destroy the
advantage the former is entitled to enioy.n
n