The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-25
COMMISSION HAS
 BEEN 4 BLESSING
LUTHER H. MAXWELL IN REPLY TO s. F. KELLER SUBMITS MANY INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS. SOME PUNeENT COMMENTS.
Tuscaloosa, Ala. August p. 1902.

Tuscaloosa, Ala. August 22 1902. Mir. S. F. Keller Manager for P. Ciaeo-
 pazzi Birmingham. Ala. i Dear sir-Your communication of the 18th instant to hand, reading as follows: Luther H. Maxwell. Tuscaloosa, Ala: Dear sir-I notice a communication in The Age-Herald of this date I have only read part of same but enough to write case that has just come to us in the freight line A car of pears. bulk from Cairo, Ga, just received; freight 44c per 100 pounds to Birmingham.
 I have been quoted rate of Slc to Memphis and Nashville from Cairo. Ga, to Cincinnati and 4Sc per 100 to cleYe- land. o.
 We do not want the earth, but only fair play.
 One of your merchants was here yes terday and we could not sell him on ae- count of this excessive freight and the local from here to Tuscaloosa.
 Very truly,
 (Signed) S. r. KELLER
 Manager for P. Ciacopazzi. Much as I dislike to reply to what you seem to think an unanswerable letter O. facts, still I deem 1t right to set you straight.
 am glad you state eandidly that you had not read one-half of my article be- l fore you wrote me- for had you done so YOU would have found that the very case you cite is not within the Jurisdiction Of | the Alabama commission, but Is inter state business over which they have no control.
 This is about a fair sample of com plaints that go up to our commission Tor adjustment.
 Your proper place to put this matter is l before the United State interstate com merce commission. Should you submit your case to them, let me surmise to you what the railroads would answer to your complaint.
 First, they would say that Memphis IS located upon the Father Of Waters, the great Mississippi river surrounded by the Mississippi and Yazoo valley fruit raising sections of Mississippi, also Ms souri and states adjoining
 If the rate of 31c per 100 was not grant ed Memphis, not a car would leave Geor- gia for that city.
 Secondly, Nashville, Tenn. is also on the Cumberland river and well fixed for the fruit sections of territory adja- cent.
 Cincinnati Is on the Ohio, while Cleve- land is on the great lakes where local | fruit farms of Ohio and adjacent states i can supply at extremely low figures. think MT. Judson C. Clements and as- sociates on that commission would justly say that competition considered that 1 the railroads were very kind to the farm CTS of Georgia in naming them rate that woul let them in those large mar lraAo x.~1.t tol 1,t,ff fAr toe ned no business could be done.
 Now, if the Warrior canal was running into Birmingham and the railroads were shown that they were losing business, then you would see how quick they would come to your assistance.
 You state one of our merchants called on you and you could not sell him on ac- count of these high rates.
 l have taken the trouble to inquire which of our merchants were in your city on the date mentioned, and the only one l found was one of our live mer- chants, who inquires around and never buys at first price quoted
 He did buy in your city, but from party who was satisfied with a little less profit than you.
 Besides the articles bought, new sweet potatoes and egg plants did not come from Georgia but from Florida and fur
 
 Alabama Great Southern railway did not stand in his way, for 1t came over that road in the express car, having been sent by the purchaser by at least 10 per cent higher rate than freight
 If you think that the railroads are go- Ing to work for one city to the detriment of others to put money in your pockets then you are sadly mistaken.
 Would it be right to put into effect to Birmingham. Ala, the Memphis water rate of 31 cents; then cut local tarifr down by half to this or any nearby point and open up the well-developed fruit-rais- ing sections of Georgia on the poor farm CT who vends fruit from door to door upon all our of streets.
 Not long ago had a car of 1000 water melons offered us by wire at s9O. which 1 is cents apiece.
 Would it have been right to have bought that car and moved it here under half rate and opened up on our local raisers of melons?
 Here is another letter of a sample re- ceived of friend in your city
 Birmingham. Ala. August 14. 1902. Dear Luther-You are way wrong, and you misunderstood the situation. We are good friends of the railroads, but they are not always good friends of ours Electing the good commissioners by the people won't hurt them Read Ase-Her- aid of today and yesterday and note what MT. Nesbitt and MT. London says Also read the editorials in the News and also the Ledger a few days ago
 Dear friend don't go wrong like that
 Your friend,
 If good" commissioners could be got