The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-29
SMALL ROADS EXCEPTED
TIME FOR RATE TO GO INTO
EFFECT EXTENDED.
MINIMUM CARLOAD IS 10000 POUNDS
The Question Exclusively Argued Before the
Commission, For All the Primo pal
Roads of the State Were
AbIy Represented,
Ably Represented.

yesterday made in the new fertilizer
rate, ordered by the Commission at its
last meeting.
1t will be remembered that the order
made cut of<16 % per cent on all ship
ments of fertilizer in car load lots mini
mum 10000 pounds over all roads in the
State.
To this rate all the principal roads of
the State excepted. The exceptions were
argued before the Commission yesterday
morning by representatives of the line
interested, and late yesterday afternoon
the Commission rendered its decision ex
cepting the following roads from, the
operations of the new rate: Cape Fear
and Yadkin Valley, Carolina Central;
Wilmington, Newbern and Norfolk:
North Carolina Midland; Northwestern
North Carolina from Winston to Wilkes
boro; State University branch, States
vile and Western, Murphy branch, Yad-
kin Railroad, Warrenton Railroad, Her.
derson and Brevard, Egypt Railroad,
Northampton and Hartford, New Han
over Transit Company Norfolk and
Southern, East Tennessee and Western
North Carolina, Durham and Charlotte;
Danyille, MOcksville and Southwestern:
Carthage branch, Carolina and North
western Cashie and ChOwan, Whining
ton and Seacoast, Winston Railroad
Wellington and PoWellsville.
On all other roads of the State the
rate must go into effect unless the
take an appeal.
But instead of having to put it into
effect on February LIST, as directed in
the first order. they are now allowed un
til February 10th. This is done in order
to give the roads time to prepare ami
send out their schedules.
Another important modification of the
rate was the fixing Of the minimum car
load at 10000, instead of 10000 pounds
as first ordered This means that the
roads will get SO 1-3 per cent more fol-
hauling car load than was allowed
by the first order. When it is remember
ed that the railroad only has to trans
port the fertilizer, without loading or
unloading, it will be seen that this modi-
fication will almost make up for the re
ducti0n in rate.
Tfhe argument on this rate took up
most of the Commissions time yester-
day morning.
Mr.. III. w. B. Glover. traffic manager
of the Seaboard system, representa-
that road. He said that the new fer
tiIizer rate would reduce the annua
revenue of the Carolina Central from
$1,000 to $4,000 on local business; the
Raleigh and Castor would lose about
$1,000 on local business-most of thf
fertilizer business ON this latter road is
No Dale rrh >
Augusta would lose about $4,000. The
Seaboard and Roanoke and the Roanoke
and Tar River railroads would also be
slightly affected. But the division most
affected by the new schedule. he said,
would be the Carolina Central. OF tn,
10000 tons of fertilizer hauled by the
Seaboard in North Carolina, $4,000 ton;
go over the Carolina Central.
In round numbers the actual loss Il
the Seaboard system by this new SEIZED
ule would not be less than $4,000 ir
one way and another. The interstate
business would be greatly crippled.
o. Have manufacturers of fertilizers
already made contracts for the season.
A. II can't say about that. / think
many of them have. though their agents
are still in the field"
''Would it help the farmer?''
ut would not. 1t could only benefit
the manufacturer and hurt the railroad
A writer in the Atlanta Constitution
declares it will not help the consumer q
penny; and in that State the reduction
was made as early as January list. The
farmer usually buys from a middlemal
and gives his note for it. This goes tc
the manufactures"
Traffic Manager Emerson stated that
the fertilizer tonnage on the Whining
ton and Weldon Railroad, taking out of
consideration the timber hauled, com
prised ID per cent. of its total freight
business. The movement of fertilizer
over his roads last year, he said, was
very great: this year the movement had
not been 30 per cent. of what it was
a year ago.
lie argued that the Commission ought.
before making a reduction in any par
ticular rate, to take into consideration
the whole rate question. Rates are like
a pile OF brick, take out one and il
nndernines another, then another and
another.
There arc a great many commodities
that cost less to move than fertilizer.
Wood, for instance. can be hauled pro-
fitably at a much less rate than fertii-
'zers. Then all the fertilizer movement
comes at one time and in a rush, and
affects all other traffic just at that time.
The manufacturers in the State, Mr..
Emerson said were opposed to the rate
for two reasons, though they get any
benefit that may accrue from it, as they
sell their goods delivered and have al
ready made most of their contracts. The
objections urged by the manufacturers
are that it is made in the middle Of
the season, and has thereby brought
the fertilizer business TO standstill:
then they lose the diffcrential which
they have enjoyed against nmnufac-
turers outside Of the State. This re-
duction would be injurious to every fer
tilizcr factory in North Carolina.
General Traffic Manager w. Il. Kyle
appeared in behalf Of the Cape Fear
and Yadkin Valley Railroad. He
thought the reduction Of fertilizer rates
would mean Il complete loss to his road