The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-08
THE COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
WORK OF THE FREIGHT BUREAU
FOR THE YEAR REVIEWED.


merce-Nfuch Work Done During
the Year-sOme Important cues
lions Now Before the Commissions.
The committee of subscribers to the
freight bureau. to which was submitted
the annual report of Commissioner D. G.
Purse, returned the report to Capt. Purse
with Is approval yesterday.
The report gives full statement Of the
work undertaken and accomplished by the
freight bureau during the year. Follow
ing the last annual meeting, says the re-
port, the first important complaint the bu-
reau was called upon to investigate ques-
toned the justice Of a tariff on fish promul-
gated suddenly by the rail lines from
Florida Gulf points TO Savannah. The
tariff was issued Oct. 2s and made effec-
tive Nov. 6, 1895, and doubled rates on fish
in carload lots The effect of this action
on the part of the railroads was to destroy
the fish industry at the points named. The
matter was taken up by the bureau and
vigorous protest made with the result that
| the former rates were restored.
The efforts of the bureau to secure win
ter tourist rates for Savannah are recited
and the statement made that the efforts Of
! the commissioner TO this end would con-
tinue undated.
On the subject of railroad transfers and
the opening of River street, Capt. Purse
says:
THE present distance, all rail, by which
| a loaded car is transferred from the Sa-
vannah, Florida and Western railway
wharves to those of the Central of Geor-
gia Railway or Ocean Steamship Com
pany used by it, is quite 1194 miles. This
| distance can be reduced 10 miles, and the
transfer made 134 miles between the two
| terminal properties, by opening River
street through the Savannah rice mill
wharf lot. and requiring the building of
| quarter of a mile track to connect River
street track operated by the Central of
Georgia railway and the St. Julian street
track operated by the Savannah Florida
and Western railway. This shorter dis
| lance would be basis for transfer charges
when completed. Investigation unmistak-
ably indicates that the legal status of the
River and St. Julian street tracks is
such that the city authorities are in posi-
ton to require and control the continual
ton of River street track under such reg
ulations, as they may prescribe, to accom-
plish connection with st. Julian street
track and the board of directors OF the
| bureau, after a careful consideration of
| this whole subject did, at regular meeting
held May 5, ult., request President Rosen-
| helm. Vice Presidents Gordon and Carson,
| and Directors Williamson and Huger, as
a committee, to urge the mayor and al
| dermen to take such action as would bring
= a r~1f
| the River street track. The committee
appeared before the committee of the
whole of council on the afternoon of May
| %, 1895, presented a memorial upon the
| subject, and reported their action to the
| meeting of the board of directors on June
! 2 following. Previously, the wharf own
| ers and others interested had petitioned
council to the same end. Council took the
| matter under advisement, and has since
| appointed a committee, which has in
| charge the matter and who are now seek
| ing to obtain the right of way through the
| several properties to be crossed In order
| to open River street to the east"
| The abatement of the 10 per cent. al
| lowed to be added to the standard tariff
| on naval stores upon the petition of the
| commission, is mentioned. This repre-
sents quite a saving to the producers in
| marketing their output.
The efforts of the Travellers Protective
| Association to secure the issue of 2-cent
| mileage books by the railroads are mem
| toned and strongly Endorsed. Invesu-
| CATION has shown that Savannah enjoys
| equal short distance Communication rates
with Atlanta, Macon and Augusta to near
| by contiguous points and that the per
mile rate charged in making these com
mutations is as low as could be expected,
in many instances being only half a cent
per mile. Complaint had been made that
Savannah was being Disseminated against
in these rates, but investigation showed
that such was notith case.
Several determinations against Savan-
| nah shippers, which were removed by Tho
railroads when brought to their atten-
| ton by the bureau, were mentioned.
Several matters now under considera-
ton by the bureau are mentioned among
| them the discrimination of the express
company in charging higher rates on
north bound freight than on south bound.
| Under the head of unfinished work of the
bureau the complaint pending before the
interstate commerce commission, against
| the Louisville and Nashville railroad, for
its arbitrary rates, which bar Savannah
merchants from traffic on the Pensacola
| and Atlantic railroad; the complaint be-
| fore the same body against the Charles
| ton and Savannah railroad for discrim-
| mating passenger rates between Savan-
nah and Charleston, and the complaint
before the same body of extensive dis
railroads in the matter of fertilizer rates
are mentioned.
On the subject of the complaints before
| the state railroad commission, Of secret
cutting OF cotton rates, the report says:
These complaints are based upon posi-
tive evidence that the practice is now
| carried on and has been successfully en-
poyed in previous years to divert cotton
to Charleston and Norfolk that should
l'come to Savannah No railroad defends
the practice. though il will be shown
upon investigation that secret arrange
ments between railroads. in defiance of
published tariffs, unawfuny control the
routing Of cotton shipments. How to sup
| press and make secret rate cutting less
frequent, therefore is the question to be
determined, as its existence VIII be
proven and all admit that 1t Is a danger
Gus and disreputable mode Of warfare In
competitive strifes to change the course
of traffic"
4 complaint on discriminatory fertilizer
rates has also been presented to the state