The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-23
LOWEST IN THE UNION
UNIFORM ON ALL THE ROADS
IN THE STATE.
IT DOES NOT AFFECT RALEIGH
But il Will Be of Great Benefit to Interior
Townsville Meherrin Steamboat
Dispute May Now be Com
promised.

The Railroad Commission yesterday
made a very material change in the
freight rates on cotton.
The new rates go into effect October
1, and North Carolina will then have the
lowest rates on cotton of any State in
the Union.
The reduction was made at the re-
quest of the cotton manufacturers of the
State, represented by Mr.. r. G. Stanard,
manager of the North Carolina Freight
Association, and Mr.. J. S. Ragsdale, n
cotton manufacturer at jamestown, n. @.
The Commission heard the matter pref
ty fully Tuesday, but no decision was
reached, and yesterday morning Mr.
Stanard was allowed to present some ad-
ditional facts. After investigating the ar
gument on both sides the Commission
gave out the following as it's decision in
the matter.
1.-THE Railroad Commission having
carefully examined the cotton rates now
in force in the cotton States, find that
our present rates are per cent lower
than the average rates in the different
States interested, and is lower than for
any single State, with the exception of
Georgia, which seems to have the same
rate with North Carolina. The rate, how
ever does not seem uniform on the diff
ferent systems, and to modify this it is
hereby ordered that the following tariff
shall be put into effect on October LIST.
on the Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard
Air Line. Southern Railway, Cape Fear
and Yadkin Valley Railroad, per 100
pounds:
Five miles. 8 cents; 10 miles, 9 cents;
Is miles. II cents; 20 miles, 13 cents; p
miles. II cents: 30 miles, Is cents; 80
miles, Is cents; 40 miles, II cents; -
miles, 1S cents; so miles, 10 cents; 60
miles. II cents; 20 miles, % cents; 80
miles, 23 cents; 80 miles, "a cents; 100
miles, - cents: 100 miles, ~ cents; 1870
miles, % cents; $50 miles, 80 cents; 100
miles. 81 cents; 200 miles, 80 cents
These rates are considerably lower
than the old ones and apply to all branch
roads as well as main lines. The Com
mission took the lowest rate in the State
as a basis for making the new rates
The branch roads, as a rule, have here
tofore been charging much more than
trunk lines
The new rates do not affect Raleigh to
any appreciate extent, as this city had n
very low rate; but to other towns, espe-
cially in the interior, the action of the
Commission is of very great Importance.
North Carolina will now have the low
est rates of any State in the Union on
cotton. Texas, for instance, has n rate
nearly twice as high, and Alabama 80
per cent higher
The complaint of the Meherrin Steam
boat Company against the Atlantic Coast
Line was not decided, as it is probable
that the dispute will be compromised by
consolidation of the Meherrin Steam
boat Company and the Albemarle Steam
Navigation Company, with the under
standing that steamer be run from all
points on the line daily.
The regular docket of cases was also
gone over. There were some fifteen or
twenty of these, but none of them were
of public Importance. They were all COM
plants of over-charges and discrimina-
ton and most of them have already been
settled by the parties interested.
MR. HARDING'S FUNERAL.-rh
funeral of the late Mr. Il. r. Harding
will be held from the First Presbyterian
church this morning at II O'clock