Birmingham state herald., 1896-11-07
THOSE FREIGHT RATES.
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT SHOR-
 TER ON THE SUBJECT.
What the Investigations of the Commis- sion Developed-Ross c. Smith on
 the Question of Differentials

The secretary of the Commercial club received yesterday morning the following statement of the investigation of the Alabama railroad commission relative to the discrimination against Birmingham in freight rates recently called up by the Commercial club of this city:
 Railroad Commission of the State of
 Alabama, Montgomery, Ala, Nov. 5,
 1896.
 MT. ". J. Boles, Secretary Commercial
 Club, Birmingham, Ala:
 Dear Sir:-At a regular meeting of the board of railroad commissioners, held today, we have made careful investiga- tion of the freight rates complained of heretofore by Messrs. B. B. Conner and B. F. Roden, in a meeting of the board of directors of the Commercial club in the city of Birmingham, as reported in the Birmingham State Herald Friday Oct. 8, 1896.
 It appears from the published report of the proceedings of that meeting, that B. F. Roden stated that goods can be shipped from Nashville, Tenn, to Gull man, Ala, cheaper than from Birming- ham to Cullman; also that Memphis can ship to Jasper cheaper than Birmingham can. He is also reported to have used the following language: T recently had occasion to ship car load of coal tar to Fruithurst. The freight from Bir- mingham to Fruithurst is $2 per barrel, while from Atlanta it is only 75 cents per barrel, and the result was I had to ship the car first to Atlanta and then back to Fruthurst to save the difference in the freight"
 As result of our examina ton we have discovered that none of these statements as made by MT. Roden are correct. It is not fact that Nashville can ship to Gull man cheaper than Birmingham can, as the following quoted rates will demon strate:
 From Nashville-1, 69 9, 60; 3, 52 4, A; 5, 39; 6, S4; A, 30; B, S2; c, 2i; D, 19; E, 37; H, 39; F, AT.
 19; E, 37; H, 39; F, AZ.
 From Birmingham-1. 39; 9, 34; 3. 30; 1, 26; 5, 25; 6, 23; A, 23 B. 23 c, 15; D, Il; E, 23; H, 23; r. 30
 The above quoted ates are the rates in force on the Louisville and Nashville railroad and they do not support MT Ro- den in his statementIn respect to the rats from Memphis to Jasper,we have upon in- vestigation found that the rates from Memphis to Jasper are from 80 to 120 pen cent. higher than from Birmingham to Jasper. For example, the first-cass rate is 75, 265, 9.54 536, 443 from Memphis to Jasper, as against rates from Birming ham to Jasper of first-class 40, 2.30, 3.27 4.22, 518. These rates, as we are advised and believe, are in every instance charged. It will appear from this that MT. Ro- den'S statement in this respect is not founded on fact.
 In respect to the alleged shipment of the carload of coal tar to FruithErst, we find on eXamina tion that the esta blished rate on coal tar from Birmingham to Fruithurst Is in carload lots 9 cents per 100 pounds. The rate from Birmingham to Atlanta is in'carload lots 91a cents per 100 pounds, and the rate from Atlanta to Fruithurst In carloads is cents per 100 pounds. From this exhibited rate it will be at once seen that the gentleman made a mistake in his statement in this re- spect, for it is manfestly clear that If he had shipped his carload of coal tar from Birmingham to Fruithurst direct the rate would have been cents per 100 pounds, while if he had shipped from Bir- mingham to Atlanta it would have cost him 9B cents per 100 pounds, and from Atlanta to Friuthurst cents additional, making a 171a cent rate, when, if he had been informed, he could have made his shipment at 9 cents.
 We feel impelled under a sense of duty to ourselves and to the public to set forth thus specifically these facts. If in any case 1t shall be brought to our attention that the railroad people are deviatng from the regular and approved rates it will be our pleasure to correct them.
 In respect to the complaint made by B. B. Conner against the corn rate being I'd land river, to Birmingham, while the rate from Sheffield, on the Tennessee river, to Birmingham is 16 cents it pre- sents proper subject of investigation and we are now engaged in looking into the matter, and will, no doubt, within a few days, be able to adjust this rate sat isfactory to MT. Conner and others.
 In future the commissioners would be glad to have called to their attention any disproportion, inequality, or unjust in freight rates, and will appreciate it as a kindness if you will give us such information when it comes to your knowledge Yours truly,
 H. R. SHORTER. President Alabama Railroad Commission
 DIFFERENTIALS.
 MT. Boles is also in receipt of the fol- lowing, along the same line: w. J. Boles, Secretary Commercial Club,
 Birmingham, Ala:
 Dear Sir:-I am informed by one of the wholesale grocery merchants of this city that the board of arbitration appointed by the Southern Freight association which association controls all rates in the south, other than those strictly local has recommended that a differential be made between car and less than car load lots. If this is made effective, which l believe it will be- 1t will no doubt be of great benefit to our local jobbing centers, as it will enable them to control business which has heretofore been addressed by the jobbers of adjoining states. Yours truly, ROSS c. SMITH, Member of the Railroad Commission of
 Alabama.