The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-28

Two ear ago last May, the Inter-
State Commerce Commission met in
Wilmington and heard the complaint of
the Wilmington Tariff Association rs TO
discrimination against Wilmington as
fo the rates Of freight from western
points. The Hon. w. H. Day. of Wash
~ington. d. c., and Iredell Meares. ESD,
of the Wilmington bar. for the
jTarif Associations side of the con-
troversy. The Interstate Commerce
Commission has just rendered a decision
which gives Wilmington very little re-
lief.
The Messenger last night received the
following by Associated Press dispatch:
THE DECISION.
Washington. January 23.-The Inter-
state commission today de-
Icided that what constitutes just freight
rate relations from Cincinnati and
Louisville to Norfolk and Wilmington,
N C.. should be adopted as a fair basis
for relative rates from St. Louis and
Chicago. with the modification in favor
OF the carriers; that the readjustment
may be made on the basis of the East
s.. Louis rates and the established prac-
~ SAAo SiAS pAoSl4Sdhy lit SdlilC
I~ates from st. Louis and Chicago 10
Wilmington be continued.
The commission saws that substantial
compliance with this adjustment rule
would result in making the rates from
chicago. st. Louis and East ST. Louis
10 Wilmington 135 Der cent of the rates
in force from East St. Louis to Norfolk.
This is the decision in the case of the
Wilmington Tariff Association against
lEhn finainnntS Da-e-on,L ,- NJ
Iginia railroad company n other car
lriers. The relation of rates from mi
Icago. st. Louis. Cincinnati. Louisville
and other western points to Whining
ton as compared with rates from the
same points to Virginia cities was the
issue of the case.
! Rates from Cincinnati and Louisville
to Norfolk are much lower than those
from st. Louis and Chicago to Norfolk
and the en- oetitive conditions governing
the rates from Cincinnati and Louisville
lappear to be of the am general char
acter as those which apply to rates
is true of rates to Wilmington from
cincinnati. Louisville. Chicago and st.
Louis. No substantial difference APP
nears to exist in the really forceful con-
Editions governing rates from these
points Of supply. except that Of dista-ce.
which faVOrS CINCINNATI n LOulSVIlle.
Carriers north Of Cincinnati. Louisville
and other Ohio river points obtain in
most instances shares of the rates TO
: Wilmington which equal their local
charges. while they accept much less
r. an their local rates on traffic destined
TO Norfolk and other Virginia cities,
and the rates charged by carriers south
of Norfolk, Richmond or other Virginia
lgateways on Wilmington business are
upon a high basis.
The present adjustment of rates on
freight traffic from Chicago, st. Louis
and other related points of shipment TO
Wilmington. N. c., operates largely to
deprive that city in it's competition for
TRADE in COMMON territory with Norfolk,
Richmond and other Virginia cities of
the benefits of these primary markets
and tt limit Wilmington to such inter-
mediate points of supply as Cincinnati
and Louisville. from which points the
rate relations appear to be fair and rea-
sonable. and this subjects Wilmington
80 disadvantages which are in substan-
ltial degree undue and unreasonable and
for which the defendant carriers are tc
that extent responsible.