Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-12-23
FOR JUST FREIGHT RATES.

The matter of discrimination against
South Carolina by the railroads in this
State, as compared with North Carolina
and Vii ginia, is now before the Railroad
Commission for adjustment The COM
mercial bodies of the State have entered
vigorous protest against the unjust and
unreasonable rates charged in South
Carolina in order that North Carolina
and Virginia may be favored.
In the petition prepared for considera-
tion by the Railroad Commission the fol-
lowing facts are brought out:
l. That the Southern Railways freight
rates in this State are 32 39/1OO per cent
higher than the rates on the same classes
of articles and for the same distances in
the State of Virginia, and 10 82TOO per
cent in excess of the North Carolina
rates.
g. That the rates charged by the At
lantic Coast Line in this State are
16 26IOO per cent in excess of those on
the Richmond division and 20 57/1OO per
cent higher than on the Norfolk division,
in Virginia; and % S7/1O0 per cent
higher than the rates charged in North
Carolina.
3. That the Seaboard Air Lines rates
in this State are 3 91/1Oo per cent higher
than it's rates in Virginia, and 10 53/1OO
per cent higher than the rates charged in
North Carolina.
After comprehensive review of this
unjust discrimination against this State.
comparative tables are given, showing
freight tariffs in the three States on a
long list of articles. These excessive
rates are on articles of commerce in
which North Carolina, South Carolina
and Virginia are natural competitors for
trade, and by the excessive rates charged
for transportation this State is practi-
cally shut out of the market.
In closing their argument the repre-
sentatives of the commercial bodies of
this State have the following to say:
Your petitioners allege that the local
rates of freight transportation between
the ports of South Carolina and the inte-
rior cities of the State of South Carolina
are so excessive and prohibitive as to
destroy the advantage which should be
enjoyed by the cities of South Carolina
of cheap ocean freight through the
ports of South Carolina to and from the
markets of the North and East and for.
eiRn markets, and thereby to enable the
distant ports and cities of Virginia and
North Carolina to compete with and to
drive the cities of this State from com
petition in trade in their neighboring
local territories in South Carolina; all of
which your petitioners allege is dis
elimination in favor of the cities, ports
and people of North Carolina and Vir-
ginia against the cities, ports and people
of Ibis State; and operates to destroy
the trade and commerce of the State of
South Carolina.
Wherefore, your petitioners pray that
the existing schedule of rates in the
State of South Carolina be declared un-
reasonable and unjust, and that the same
may be amended by requiring the said
railroad companies to charge in South
Carolina no higher rate than the lowest
rate charged in either of the said States
of North Carolina and Virginia, and to
that end that the rates in force upon the
Washington and Richmond divisions of
the Southern Railway Company, in the
State of Virginia, be adopted and applied
to the transportation within the State of
South Carolina of the same articles by
all the railroads in South Carolina, and
for such other and further relief as the
facts shown may require, and to this
Honorable Commission may seem just
and proper in the premises.
The justice of this request is apparent
on the face of the showing made, and
it Is to be hoped that there will be no
halt in the movement to secure for this
State equitable rates for freight trans
portation. 1t is not favor asked; 1t is
simple justice. 1t is right and proper to
ask for justice, and if it is not forth
coming 1t is but just and reasonable to
demand 1t, and to see that the demand is
complied with.