The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-10
HIGH FREIGHT RATES PREVENT
SOUTHERN DEVELOPMENT.

The cotton mills of South Carolina
have filed a long petition with the Rail
road Commission asking them to order
lower rate to Charleston from the mills
SO that they can secure from Charleston
the advantage of cheaper water trans
portation. At present the Southern Rail-
way charges 1876 from Spartansburg to
Charleston, a distance of 223 miles, while
it charges only As cents to Primers Point
distance of 437 miles. Here Is one
statement in the petition that is of in
terest in North Carolina:
"They further call attention to the
fact that rates both on cotton into the
mills and on cotton goods out of the mills
have been increased within the last four
years, and that the railroads decline to
restore them to the former basis
A few years ago Mr.. Cone published
the figures showing the discrimination in
railroad rates against Greensboro and
other North Carolina towns. The High
Point furniture manufacturers complain
that the freight charges operate injuri-
ously against their business. Is there no
remedy? 49,.
At the recent session of Congress no
time could be found to consider the pro-
posed amendments to the Interstate
Commerce Commission law, which would
give the Commission power to prevent
arbitrary increase of rates and to put
an end to determinations. 1t is not prob
able that any time will be found in the
near future to consider these important
amendments. Too Many Congressmen'are
railroad attorneys and too many think
more of free passes on railroads than of
the welfare of their constituents and the
development of commece. Shey find time
to vote bonuses to the Southern and other
railways for the so-called fast mail SER
vice, but cannot lift their voice to Sc
cure the amendments needed to give fair
rates to cotton mills, furniture factories,
and other growing Industrial enterprises
in the South.
The candidates for the United States
Senate might make some declaration as
to what they will do il elected to secure
better freight rates. viii they, by their
silence, help the railroads to bury all
needed amendments to the Interstate
Commerce Commission law, or will they
fob fhn in al N
the wise amendments that have been
pigeon holed? This is OF vital i'm
portance to the cotton, furniture, lum-
Der, trucking, farming and other indus
ties in North Carolina. The eleventh
annual report of the Commission states
| this truth clearly:
"a very slight change of rates upon
any of the staple commodities amounts
to an enormous sum in the aggregate.
In most articles of daily use the trans
portation charge is a large, and often
| the larger, part of the cost to the con-
sumner. The freight rate may determine
whether the Kansas farmer shall burn
| his corn for fuel or send 1t to market.
The traffic manager may decree whether
| an industry shall exist or "a locality
| flourish"
The proper amendment of the Inter-
State Commission law and concerted ac-
| tion with the State Commission would
| be the greatest stimulus to manufac-
turing development and wholesale trade
| that could be secured The increase in
| freight rates of late years-without ex-
cuse or reason-has been in the way
Of greater manufa curing and trade ex-
pansion. Congress could remove that
would represent the people and their in
terests instead of the railroads.