The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-10-06
No Advance Made
Request for Increased Freight
Rates Refused.

110 tC5
1t has been de6oiteIy decided that
there will be no Increase of freight
rates on the railroads of this State in
the near future. Some time ago the
roads presented to the State railroad
commission request for an increase of
rates aud there was big bearing ever
the matter. Recently the Florida Gen.
trail and Peninsular system presented a
separate additional request for an To-
crease on their lines. The Georgia aud
North Carolina commissioners some
time ago we're asked for reductions by
certain parties, yesterday the entire
matter was taken up by the local CON-
mission and all requests we're refused.
Commissioner Thomas, however, advo-
eating very strongly reduction in
some instances.
When the commission met, Commis.
sioner Wilborn offered the resolution
below in reply to the application of the
railroads for r sc OF rates.
Resolve 2 {. the request Of the
railroad COT les for au increase on
the rates on certain commodities named
10 paper submitted to this board on
the 7th inst, be not granted, for the
reascn that local rates are OCT Of %.
portion to the interstate rates. as we'll
as for other reasons Which will be bere-
after more freely set forth
Commissioners Thomas offered the fol.
lowing as subatitute
Resolved, That the traffic managers
be invited to assist the board of com
missiouers 10 Immediately revising and
readjus.ing the whole schedule of rates
ia force in this State, and that cotton
and fertilizers. the principal commodi.
ties. be put on an equitable basis, doing
justice to both.
Commissioners Thomas made speech
advocating the reduction of rates on
cotton.
The board voted against Mr. Thomas
resolution.
In the matter of the application of
the Florida Central and Peninsular
road. the board voted against the appii-
cation. Commissioner Thomas spoke
for the application as follows
"Mr. Chairman The schedule Of
rates on the Florida Central and Peuin-
sular are practically che same as the
rates used by the South Carolina and
Georgia railway. The traffic manager
asks to be allowed to work the same
schedule as the Manchester aud Angus.
ia railroad.
1.-The rate on one railroad is no fair
criterion for another road. The law
recognizes that fact when it iostructs
this board to make just and reasonable
rates for each road doing business in
this State. Each road has its different
conditions, the amount of capital re-
quired to construct. the power neces-
fsary to haul freigbs over its grades ard
the volume of business. All these
various conditions must enter iato the
determination of fair and just rates.
I have prepared some tables to show
the conditions of these several roads
and the rate Of freight charges neces-
sary to fix to meet the several condi-
tiops ("
He quoted figures and continued:
''The percentage of expenses to TO-
come is for the South Carolina and
Georgia railroad 81 per cent, while for
the Florida Central and Peniosular it
is 105 per cent The Florida Central
and Peninsular cannot reduce it's ex-
penses TO a parity with the South Caro-
lima and Georgia railroad because the
timbcrs in the road bed and structures
have all at once reached the limit Of
their life and public safety demands a
far greater amount of renewals so that
the expenses for maintenance of way
aod structures on the Florida Central
and Pepinsuor is 1.019 per mile while
the South Carolina and Georgia have
only expended 483 per mile for the
same purpose The South Carolina
and Georgia is complete and finished in
all it's appurtenances. Its terminals,
its aidings, its stations. water tanks.
ditobes. etc 10 the one item Of bridg-
es aud trestles the South Carolina
aad Georgia have an average of l30
feet per mile. wbiie the Florida Cen.
tral aud Peninsular have an average of
800 feet per mile.
'.These statistics show conclusively
that the Florida Central and Peninsuar
cannot work the same rate as the South
Carolina and Georgia railroad
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