The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-19

consideration of the freight rates OH
fertilizers, and as a consequence "a new
standard tariff was promulgated, salts
factory to both the railroads and the
manufacturers, and no doubt it Will be
equally so to the consumer,as 1t Is even
better than the recent IL 2-3 per cent re-
duction recently made in the rate by
the Commission. 1t is nearer 70 per
cent, reduction and practically the same
as the rates now i'll force i'll South Caro-
lima.
1t will be remembered that on Thurs
day, after the fertilizer rate had been
thoroughly discussed, the Commission
requested Traffic Managers Emerson, of
the Atlantic Coast Line; Glover, of the
Seabdard Air Line, and CUP, of the
Southern, to prepare a standard tariff
for fertilizers on North Carolina rail-
roads, in accordance with the South
Carolina rate, and submit it to the Com
mission for its approval. This report
was presented to the Commission hy
Mr.. Glover, who explained that the
proposed rate was not exactly the same
as the South Carolina standard tariff;
that after it gets above 30 miles it runs
about 10 cents higher than the South
Carolina rate. and a little lower than
the North Carolina standard class *
tariff.
The report was discussed ut length
by the gentlemen, submitting it, by the
members of the Commission and by
Mr.. Chas. f. Borden. president of the
Navassa GuanO Company, and by other
fertilizer manufacturers present. The
proposed tariff was compared with the
South Carolina rate to various points
and the difference in it and the 16 2-3
per cent reduction ordered by the Com
mission at a previous meeting was point
ed out
Everybody had a hand in this dis
cussion of freight rates except the
farmer, the man who pays them. But
nobody thought that necessary. as the
manufacturer and the railroad men
were simply quarrelling about who
should get the lions share of the freight
he pays. At least that is the way it
struck one man who was present. and he
put his thoughts down in these words:
The factory men and railroad men
May figure on the rate;
But high or low the rate may be.
The farmer pays the freight.
Protective tariff is scheme
That's fraught with many ills,
And turn it. twist it, as you please,
Consumers foot the bills.
A request was made by Mr.. J. Il.
Chamberlain, of the Caraleigh Phos-
pate Company, that the fixing of fer
tilizer rates be postponed in order to
trix- n ssia n uD "A n N
whether or not the proposed rates would
hurt him. He intimated that the rail
road men had refused TO give him the
information in their possession. This
they denied and the Commission told
HIM the matter had been very thorough
ly discussed and the time had come for
its decision; that it was due alike TO the
manufacturer, the railroads and espe-
cially 20 dealers and consumers.
just before the close of the evening
session of the Commission IL rate was
agreed upon and the following order
was made:
From and after Feb. 1, 1898, the
maximum freight rate on fertilizers,
car load lots, ID ton minimum. will be
as follows: II miles and over, per ton,
81. 20, under II miles S1.10;and increasing
ten cents for each 10 miles up to $50
then increasing cents per ton per each
10 miles. On less than car load lots
shipments, rates may be made 20 per
cent higher than above.
The above applies to all the roads of
the Atlantic Coast Line with the follow
ing exceptions: Cheraw and Darlington,
Wilmington, Columbia and Augusta 30
per cent advance) Wilmington, Newbern
and Norfolk.
"To the miscellaneous roads save the
Aberdeen and West End. Atlantic and
North Carolina and Carthage railways.
''To the roads of the Seaboard Air
Line system with the following eXcep-
tions Carolina Central made same as
Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley; Dur
ham and Northern; Raleigh and Angus
Ia rs per cent advance)
1T is further ordered that the joint
rate on two or more roads not under the
same management or control shall be
made basis of the locals of each road.
less 20 per cent