The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-14
THEY MUST SHOW CAUSE ON
25th, Goth and 9th.
WHY REDUCTION SHOULD NOT BE MADE
The Fertilizer Rate Was Yesterday Cut Down
One Sixth The Cotton Rate on Ger
tain Roads Also Reduced
Depot at Raleigh.
Depot at Raleigh.


There was much clap-trap, gallery
play and fy-up-the-creek buncombe;
but there was also considerable solid
business done.
For instance, notice was served on all
the roads of the State to show cause
why the present passenger rates
on them should not be reduced. This
is to be done on the Doth, 26th and
9th.
1t was ON motion of Chairman Cald-
well that this was ordered, the following
resolution bein introduced by him
and voted for by the other Commits
Sioners:
Resolved, That notice be served
upon the Raleigh and CASTOR Railroad,
the Raleigh and Augusta Railroad, the
Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad, and
the Georgia, Carolina and Northern
Railroad, from Monroe, N. c., to the
South Carolina line, to show cause be-
fore the Railroad Commission, at its
office in Raleigh, n. c., on the 25th
day of January, 1898, why the fares for
the transportation of passengers over
said roads should not be reduced
Resolved, That notice be served upon
the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad,
and Carolina Railroad, the Wilson and
Fayetteville Railroad, the Tarboro
branch, to show cause before the Rail-
road Commission, at its office in Raj
eigh, North Carolina, on the 26th day
of January, 1898, why the fares for
the transportation of passengers over
said roads shall not be reduced.
s'Resolved, That notice be served upon
the Western North Carolina Railroad,
the Atlantic, Tennessee and Ohio Rail-
road, the North Carolina Railroad, the
Piedmont Railroad, the Atlantic and
Charlotte Air Line, the Charlotte, Co
lumbia and Augusta Railroad, the North
Western North Carolina Railroad, to
show cause before the Railroad Com
mission, at its office in Raleigh, n. c.,
on the 9th day of January, 1898, why
the fares for the transportation of pas
sengers over said roads should not be
reduced.
I'm the hearing, if not concluded upon
the day appointed, the same will be
continued from day to day until dis
posed of.
''Notice Of similar import. will be
served upon others at such time as the
Commission may designate"
MIR. Caldwell also introduced the fol-
lowing resolution reducing the rate on
fertilizers, when shipped in carload lots,
If it is loaded and unloaded by shipper
and consignee-the railroad only having
to transport the loaded car:
Resolved, That ON and after the Goth
day Of January, 1893, the freight rates
now in effect, and known as the fertili-
yer rates or tariff, be reduced sixteen
and tTo-thirds per cent. upon all rail
roads within the State. This to apply
only to car load lots"
Though this resolution was finally
passed unanimously, there was some dis
cussion of it before the vote was taken.
Dr. Abbott favored a 10 per cent. re-
duetion, saying he was convinced that
this would be reasonable and just, and
such a reduction yould put fertilizers in
class 20" of freights.
Mr.. Pearson, on the other hand,
thought is % per cent. the proper re-
ductioR; that this was the rate in
Georgia; that shipments were always
made in carload lots, and the railroads
had only to haul and not handle as in
other freights. Besides this such re-
ductisn would enable the fertilizer fac
tories in the State to compete with for
eign ones. A 16 2-3 per cent. reduction
being just ore-sixth, would be more
easily calculated by the clerks and ship
pers.
Then the entering wedge to breaking
ap the Uniform cotton rate established
recently by the old Commission was
driven in. This was done by restoring
the old rate on the Western North Caro-
lima. and the Atlantic, Tennessee and
Ohio railroads. The old rate is about %
per cent. lower than the uniform rate.
The people of Statesville, Morganton and
perhaps one or two other points asked its
restoration.
Also, on petition of the citizens of
Morganton, the Commission directs that
the Western Union Telegraph Company
be required to show cause why an up
town telegraph office should not be es-
tablished at Morganton. The present
office, at the railroad station, is very in
conveniently located. The receipts from
the Morganton office is 5000 per annum.
Tile complaint of the colored people
that the accommodations for them at
the Union depot were inadequate, were
also taken UP, and inquiry made as to
why nothing had been done. Mr.. +. ii.
Busbee, attorney for the Southern, ex-
planned that though the matter did
not come within the legal department
of the road, he happened to know some
thing of it, and that the cause of delay
was the fact that the depot being jointly
owned by the Southern railway, the
Seaboard Air Line and the North Caro-
lima railroad, when one of the roads was
ready to move in the matter, the others
were not. Also, there has been, he
said.n no exact agreement as to what
changes will be made.
The three roads interested We're mo-
tilted that by February LIST they were
expected to come to some agreement and
proceed to make such changes as are
right and proper.
The petition Of the lumber mills at
Carolina City, on the Atlantic and North
Carolina railroad, for side-track, was
granted on condition that the mill give