Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-06
TRAFFIC OF BALTIMORE
RAILROAD RATES DISCUSSED BE.
FORE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION.
Causes for Diferentials Considered
Various Conditions Determine
the Charges Made.

Mr.. B. H. Griswold. general freight and
passenger agent of the Western Maryland
railroad, and chairman of the Baltimore
freight bureau, was yesterday before the
industrial commission and testified con-
corning transportation matters relating to
Baltimore.
There were present Messrs John NJ Far
| quhar, Andrew L. Harris, John l.. Ken
nedy, Albert Clarke and Chas. II. Litch-
man, members of the commission and Prof.
VIM. z. Ripley, expert on transportation of
the commission.
Mr.. Griswold said the Baltimore freight
bureau was formed January 1, 1895, and
was brought about by some of the repre-
sentatiyes, of the larger railroads suggest
ing that it would be well for transportation
lines interested in Baltimore business to
have an association whereby they could
get closer together, secure uniformity of
practice and rates and consult generally on
matters concerning transportation matters
In which they are all interested. ~
Differences in Rates.
Speaking of the differences in rates from
Chicago to eastern cities, Mr.. Griswold said
that such differences did not always con-
troll the movement of freight. For instance,
1t frequently happens that vessel In port
Will be ready to sail, but has no cargo.
Then the ship owners will frequently offer
an extremely low rate to get freight in
preference to sailing without freight. That
| rate would be SO low to overcome diff
ferential against the port from which the
vessel was to sail. The differentials In
rates had originally been based on the
length of the roads carrying the traffic, but
now there is variety of reasons for such
differentials, and the shorter routes do not
necessarily give lower rates. From Balti-
more to Hagerstown, he said. on the West
ern Maryland the distance is eighty-seven
miles, on the Baltimore and Ohio 104 miles
and on the Pennsylvania 15S miles. yet the
freight rates between those cities are the
same on all these roads. He said his road,
the western Maryland, would be glad to
aid any manufacturing or other concern
handling traffic to locate on its line They
would not give such concerns any special
rates, but they would aid them by Offering
to build sidings for them or to help them
with other facilities
In reply to a question by Mr. Kennedy
the witness said while there was an in
crease in rates by means of an increase in
classification in the south the roads allow
ed a reduction of 10 per cent on this adj
vanced classification, SO that he did not
think there had actually been much ad-
| vance. He had not noticed any changes in
| rates that would affect smaller shippers
| rather than the larger concerns.
Coal From Cumberland.
MIR. GriSWOld said the rate for coal from
the Cumberland coal fields is the same to
| both Baltimore and Philadelphia. The
| newspapers Of Baltimore had complained
about this. but he thought they had been
| convinced that a higher rate to Philadel-
| phia would injure Baltimore, because such
| a higher rate would result in Philadelphia
getting her coal from Pennsylvania coal
| fields If Philadelphia should get coal from
| the Pennsylvania fields the Pennsylvania
| railroad would haul 1t, whereas the Balti-
| more and Ohio now hauls coal from Cum
berland to Philadelphia.
The rates by water from Baltimore to
| southern ports are lower, the witness said,
| than by rail, and he was satisfied that
| those who control the railroads do not con-
| troll the boats, because If they did the DIFF
| ferentials now maintained would not exist.
| The boats, he said, make the trips in
| about the same time as by rail, and insure
| their cargoes, while shippers by rail have
| to insure their goods, which fact gave the
| boats an advantage.
Even in cases in which there is only one
| railroad to supply a community the wit
| ness said there is an element affecting their
| rates just competition would affect
| them That element is the demand and
| necessity of the markets.