The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-31
TRANSFER VERSUS SHIPMENT.
A SAVANNAH CASE FOR THE RAIL
ROAD COMMISSION.


c. III. Dixon Charges Determination
by the Central Railroad for the
Purpose of Compelling Him TO
Handle Coal Hauled Over Its Lines.
The Complaint Presented to the
Freight Bureau and to BE Heard
by the Commission April 2I-The
Company Holds That Mr.. Dixon is
Not Entitled TO the Transfer Rate,
as His COnsiEnments Are Original
shipments.
An order recently issued by the Cen
trail railroad, which goes into effect to-
morrow. is going to raise a very interest
ing point before the Georgia railroad COM
mission, at an early date.
The order affects the handling of cars
from the River street track of the Cen
trail. In effect it notifies shippers that
cars loaded for delivery in and around
the city will be charged for as original
shipments and will not be handled mere
ly for switching charges. Mr. c. II. Dixon
has filed a complaint with the Savannah
Freight Bureau as a result of this order,
charging discrimination on the part of the
Central and an attempt to coerce him to
use coal hauled by it's lines, instead OF
bringing coal here by vessels as he is
now doing. Capt. Purse. commissioner or
the freight bureau, has brought the mat
ter to the attention of the railroad com
mission, and the complaint has been set
for hearing with two other complaints
from Savannah, on April q.
on account of the importance of the
questions involved Capt. Purse has re-
quested the commission to hold its ses-
sion in Savannah on that date and the
request will in all likelihood be acceded
to. Mr.. Dixons letter to Capt.
Purse. making his complaint. gives
good idea of the case from his standpoint.
He says that heretofore the rate charg-
ed on coal, per car load, from his place on
River street to the s. p. Shotter Company's
factory, about quarter of mile from
the Centrars wharves and to the Savan-
nan crematory, about one and one-fourth
miles from the Wharves, has been 81 track
freight from the wharVes to either of the
places named, making a 81 charge from his
place to either of the points named.
Mr.. Dixon received a circular from Agent
Trezevant Feb. IS giving notice that these
rates would apply only when cars con-
tanned original loads received at SaVan-
nah, or when cars were loaded with freight
to be forwarded from Savannah and that
all other shipments would be subject to
Mr.. Dixon SAYS that he has received
verbal notice that the rate will be 35 cents
per ton. Of 1000 pounds in addition to the
usual charge of 81 trackage on River
street. which means that the charge for
transferring a car of coal containing TO-
600 pounds from his place to either Of the
points named, or to the water works,
would be $1225 for freight and 81 for track
age, making a total of SlS25, which is prac-
tically prohibitory.
1T has been intimated to me-" says Mr..
Dixon in his communication, that all
Goals coming from Alabama mines over
the Central of Georgia railway will be
moved at same rate as heretofore. The
most Of my coal comes from Pennsylva-
MIA mines by vessels and my customers
prefer that coal to the Alabama coal The
above change in rates is made solely to
try to force me to buy my coal in Alabama
| and transport it to Savannah over the
Central of Georgia lines. Bearing out this
the Central of Georgia Railway Company
invited me to his office to talk over the
| If could not arrange to buy my coal in
| Alabama and route them over his line
TO Savannah that / might escape this
charge OF 50 cents per ton above referred
] to.
The position of the Central in the matter
is that the handling of Mr.. Dixon's coal
/ cannot be considered under the head of
! switching transfers and that 1t is in fact
| an original shipment. and subject to the
| charge allowed by the railroad commission
| for shipments to the nearest station where
! the distance does not exceed five miles,
/ which is IS cents per ton, and that to al
| low him to handle cars at transfer charges
! in competition with coal brought over its
! own lines is an injustice to the road and
| to the shippers who patronize it.
| The Central officials will contend in this
as in other cases. that cars are handled
| on the River street track at a loss and
! that this is done simply for the accommo-
| dalton of the shippers and to save them
| from hauling goods to and from the yards
| of the company which they would have to
| do if the cars were not placed fer their
convenience on the River street track.
| That Mr.. Dixon has been allowed to take
| advantage OF the transfer arrangement,
| they say, is due to an oversight on some
| body's part, and simply amounts to the
| road furnishing him with cars free of
| charge and handling them at a loss to en-
/ able him to compete with the road itself
Capt. Purse will ask the commission for
| a new construction of rule % of the COM
| mission, regulating transfer charges, or
| the pronunciation of an entirely new rule
| governing transfers at terminal points as
| ii is evident that the present rule was new
| er intended to apply to Savannah Some
| other interesting points will be brought
| up for settlement at the meeting There
are two other complaints which were pre-
| scented to the commission by Capt. Purse
| last week. and which Will also be heard
| April 81. Mr.. D. b. Lester makes a COM
| plant against the Savannah, Florida and
| Western railway for excessive transfer
! charges and the Seemann Manufacturine
| Company makes a similar complaint
against the Florida Central and Peninsu-
| lar railroad. The transfer and switching
| charges at Savannah make knotty cues
| ton, which Capt Purse proposes to have
| the commission determine