The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-13
ALABAMA RATES
UNDER DISCUSSION
Important Conference at the
Commercial Club Rooms.
THE WHY'S AND WHEREFORES
Railroad Traffic Managers and Business
Men Talk Over Matters of Mutual
MISUNDERSTANDING Will
Be Looked Into

The alleged determinations against Bir-
mingham by the railroads are in a fair way
of being thoroughly Investigated, and any
wrongs found to exist corrected.
The traffic managers of the various rail-
roads in Alabama have promised to take
the matter up and to readjust any freight
rates inequitable or unjust to Birmingham.
This is what the Commercial club has been
contending for almost continuously since
its organization, and some tangible results
seem nearer now than ever before.
The conference between the traffic mana
gers and the transportation committee of
the Commercial club and citizens of Bir-
mingham yesterday afternoon developed a
spirit of fairness and desire to do what
was right and just on the part of both the
Birmingham people and the railroads. The
grievances were gone over quietly, dispas-
sionately and pleasantly.
There were present a 1.-THE meeting:
J. NJ. Culp, traffic manager of the South
ern and Alabama Great Southern.
A. w. Graham, traffic manager of the
Louisville and Nashville.
e. II. Hinton, traffic manager of the
Central of Georgia.
J. T. Poe, traffic manager of the Mobile
and Ohio.
E. T. Wilcox, contracting agent of the
Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham.
A. F. Whiting, chief clerk to the traffic
manager of the Western of Alabama.
F. C. Shepard, general freight agent of
the Louisville and Nashville at Montgom-
cry.
l.. Green, division freight agent of the
Southern.
l.. Sewer, general freight agent of the
Alabama Great Southern.
E. A. deFuniak, general agent of the
Louisville and Nashville.
Solon Jacobs, commercial agent of the
Central of Georgia.
G. w Jones, chief clerk in the law depart
ment of the Louisville and Nashville at
Montgomery.
The Conference
Chairman Kettig of the transportation
committee, in calling the meeting together,
thanked the railroad men present for COM
ing to Birmingham to meet with the Com
naercial club and to listen to the griev-
ances. He stated the causes that led up to
the meeting, setting out that sometime ago
the Commercial club passed a resolution
calling for the abolition of the Alabama
railroad commission, the subsequent re-
scinding of that action and finally the
filing of complaints with the Alabama rail-
road commission of alleged determinations
against Birmingham and Alabama by the
railroads in the state. These complaints ne
said had been Withdrawn from the rail-
road commission at the request of the rail-
road commission and the conference
thereupon arranged. He said the
railroads had been great factors in
the development of the Birmingham
district and of the state of Alabama. He
read the complaints filed with the railroad
commission, copies of which had been fur
nisgoed all railroads interested.
C. III. Ungerman of the Birmingham Pack
ing company had prepared a statement of
rates, which he read. They applied to live
stock, and were as follows:
From Pulaski, Tenn, to Louisville, 265
miles, $42; from Pulaski to Birmingham,
1923 miles, $40; from Lynnville, Tenn, to
louisville, 25O miles, $40; from Lynnville to
Birmingham, IA miles, $40; from Pleasant
Grove, Tenn, to Louisville, 241 miles, $40;
from Pleasant Grove to Birmingham, 1872
miles, $40; from Columbia, Tenn, ito Louis
vile, 232 miles, $40; from Columbia to Biz
mnSham, 162 miles, $40
MIR. Culp's Statement
j. NJ Culp, traffic manager of the Louis
vile and Nashville, was spokesman for the
railroads. He began by saying he was glad
to meet with the Commercial club and to dis
cuss the question of rates; that he was al
ways glad to consider any grievances or
complaints that might be made against his
road. The railroad commission had adj
vised him of the Commercial clubs COM
plants and the roads had asked for a sus-
pension of the matter until the traffic man
ager could meet the people of Birmingham
and see what could be done. He said it
would be a great mystery if in the vast
multitude of freight rates some discrepan-
cies should not exist.
Continuing, he said where determinations
or wrongs existed the railroads We're only
too glad to come before the Commercial
club and correct such discrimination or
wrong if possible, and if not possible to