The age-herald., 1899-08-06
MIDSUMMER DULLNESS BROOD|NC
 OVER BERuN... EVERYBODY IS AWAY

above from Ohio river points; third, the rate from Chicago to Virginia common points, governed by either the official or southern classification, whichever is the lower, plus the rate from Virginia com- mon points to Savannah or Jacksonville governed by southern classification, plus the rate from Savannah or Jacksonville to destination governed by exception sheets to southern classifcation or plus ths rate from Virginia common points to commits sloner points governed by soutnern olassi- hcation, 6nd the local rate comm ssioner points to destination, with the exception sheets applying; fourth, to points in Ten nessee, as the Norfolk and Western rail- way have a line to Columbus, O., in the Central Freight association, you can apply the rate from Chicago to Virginia common points governed by official classification, plus a differential of to 12 cents inclusive on the classes six to first respectively to Bristol, Tenn.-Va., plus the local rates from Bristol to destination governed by local exception sheet.
 The basis for making rates in the Central
 Freight association is more simple than any other territory, as they have minimum
 basing sheets from each and every point
 that is reached by two or more roads, and
 theso besing sheets show rates to all
 functions within the territory and as the railroads observe the long and short haul clause, as provided for by the interstate commerce law, with the exception of where road is circuitous route, which is optional with that carrier. It is very easy to secure rates to local points as the first junction point beyond applies as maxima to intermediate stations and only one classification applies, that is the official, except on traffic within the state of Illinois. which is governed by the Illinois state railroad and warehouse commissioners classification.
 The basis for making rates in the Joint Traffic association territory is regarded as the best system applying between long haul points. All rates are based on the Chicago New York rate with specified differentials to other eastern cities, such as Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Virginia common points, and interior New York Points. When the Joint Traffic association makes rate from Chicago to New York, you do not have to wait for the tariff to be printed to ascertain what the rate will be from East St. Louis, H., to Virginia common points, as East St. Louis takes 116 per cent. of the rate made less the differential to Virginia common points of cents on all classes governed by official classification.
 Each and every junction point west of the western termini of the trunk lines take certain percentage of the Chicago-New York rates and the only exception to this rule is on proportional business passing through the upper Mississippi river gate ways, north of St. Louis to East Dubuque inclusive, which takes 116 per cent of the Chicago-New York rate to equalize the rates through St. Louis; but on business from those stations proper they take 122 per cent. plus bridge toll. This basis ap- plies to both east and westbound.
 It is owing to the great importance of this freight rate business, of its complex character and it's vital relation to mercan- tile interests that shippers in many of the wide awake cities have organized freight bureaus and put them in charge of expert traffic men. The wholesale merchants of Birmingham, finding that such an organiza- tion was absolutely necessary here if they were to hold their own against rival cities, have instituted and equipped one of the most business-like freight bureaus in the south. The officers of this bureau-the Bir- mingham Freight and Transportation Bu- reau-are prominent in commercial circles. They are: J. R. P. Durham, president; H. H. Snnige, vice-president; H. NJ. Beck sec retary, and s. W. Lee, treasurer. And in the position of freight commissioner the bureau has installed H. c. Orem, a live, shrewd and experienced railroad man. The organization Is under the auspices of the board of trade, and the Wholesale Grocers' association and 1t is believed by those most interested that it will accomplish big re- sults If the railroads have discriminated against Birmingham merchants in the past they will respond to this organized effort and give them reasonable concessions so as to put them on footing with other jobbing cities.
 The office of the freight bureau is in the Steiner building. Commissioner Orem is hard at work from morning until night on tariff files and his extensive correspon- dence; and that his work will tell hardly admits of doubt.
 MT. Orem began the railroad business in Indianapolis. After one years service there he accepted the position of inspec- tor for the Central Traffic association, which position he resigned to accept po- sition with the c. R. l. and P. railway at Chicago, under George H. Crosby. He was with MT. Crosby four and half years and then resigned to accept the po- sition of chief rate clerk with the Big Four" in the freight traffic department at Chicago, under E. F. Cost, now freight traffic manager. After a service of five years with the Big Four" he left Chicago on account of i'll health and went with the Queen and Crescent at Cincinnati as rate clerk in the general freight agents office. After a short service there he resigned to take a place with the L., M. and L. s. company, and from that po- sition he accepted an offer to become gen. eral westbound travelling agent for the line, in charge of all traffic west of Buffalo. When this position was abolished MT Orem accepted the position of chief clerk in the traffic department of the Baltimore and Ohio at Cumberland, Md. He resigned that place to go with the Canada and Atlantic company, at Chicago. l With the latter he remained until last Oc- |