The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-18
FERTILIZER RATES AGAIN.
Railroads Complain That They Are Not
Just and Reasonable.

Railroads Complain That They Are Not
Just and Reasonable.
The first real business that yesterday
claimed the attention of the Commits
sion, was rehearing of the fertilizer
rate question. This was asked by the
SeabOard and Atlantic Coast Line. At
last meeting of the Commission it was
pointed out that the new rate was in
definite. and if literally construed would
work Il great hardship to the roads at
competitive points and especially where
there is water competition. Because of
this confusion the roads interested have
had difficulty in agreeing on a construc-
ton of the new order.
The trouble. Mr.. Emerson, traffic
manager of the Atlantic Coast Line. ex-
planned, was that no standard tariff for
fertilizers has ever been fixed for the
roads of North Carolina. Had this Been
done the recent order of the Commits
sion would have been easily interpreted
! He therefore urged that the matter be
now adjusted by the adoption of a
standard tariff, and a basis be fixed for
competitive rates.
Traffic Managers Culp. of the South
ern, and Glover, of the Seaboard, agreed
to adjust the difficulty would be to
adopt standard tariff for fertilizers.
Mr. Glover said he had used class X
as a basis, making up his fertilizer
tariff, and he thought this very fair
| basis for a standard tariff.
1.-The confusion came from the clause
in the order, the rates now in effect.
| took that to mean local rates. some of
the others, though, didn't so cOnstrue it.
This made clear, the situation will be
very much improved.
Maj. w. A. Guthrie appeared for the
| Norfolk and Western Railroad and ask
ed that his company be exempted from
| the operation of the new rates on fer
| tilizers. Our plea is poverty. and We
are prepared to prove accurately the
| truth of our plea"
| To this end the Major read a tabu-
| lated statement of the earnings and ex.
| penses. showing that the Norfolk and
| Western was not earning enough on its
! branches in North Carolina to pay in
| terest on their bonded indebtedness
| Last year the earnings per mile for the
year were $1,5946O, the expenses 81 ;,
4S3.49, leaving net earning S110.11.
! The Lynchburg and Durham branch
he said, was especially bad off. Tht
| promoters of it had only got back GC
per cent. of what they put in it, 1t was
first leased for 30 years to the Norfolk
and Western. Then that road went into
| the hands of a receiver Later the
| Lynchburg and Durham was sold to the
recognized Norfolk and Western com
pany.
Mr.. Chas. Il. Borden, president of the
| Navassa GuanO Company, also asked tc
be heard on the question. He urged the
| Importance of reduction of freight rates
| on fertilizers, for the reason that the
price of that commodity has been stcadi
| ly declining in the past ten years, while
freight rates have remained the same
whether they are upon high grade goods
or for the lowest priced fertiizing ma
| terial.
| Mr.. Borden suggested that a standard
tariff similar to that now in force il
South Carolina be adopted. This tariff
he said, was founded on common sense
and works injustice TO no one. ut i,
based upon minimum sum 10 bc charg
ed by the railroads for a haul of ter
! miles or less until the distance reache.