The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-14
Southern Iron Committee Sets
 Rumors at Rest
TON FIXED AT 224O LBS,
Committee Decides Not to Give Re- bate for Iron Not Shipped Last Year on Account of Car
 Shortage.

There will be no advance in iron freight rates in the southern territory In the near future
 The southern iron committee, composed of freight officials of railroads traVersihs the iron producing section, met at the Hillman yesterday, and in addition to the consideration of routine business the iol- lowing matters were discussed ana ais- posed of-the request of iron manutac- turers for new billing order which would have the effect of relieving them or the 5O cents advance which became effective January 1 on such stocks as they carried on their yards last fall but which were not shipped because the railroads could not supply the cars; the number ol mounds to a ton of pig iron, and the rate on iron.
 The committee does not take vote on any proposition. Members simply discuss iron freight rates, and when they all aeree. but not until them, the proposi- tion Ia regarded carried or rejected, as the case may be.
 It was the sense of the meeting that the committee could not comply with the request of those shippers who asked to be relieved of the 50 cents advance on last falls make unshipped for want of cars
 Ton Changed.
 The iron ton was changed from 226S pounds to 224O pounds to conform to the standard in all sections north of the Ohio river This change has long been regarded as desirable in order that there might be uniformity throughout the country and no objection was raised In any quar- ter.
 There had been much talk in railroad circles recently about another advance in iron rates It was believed that some favored an advance of 50 cents, effective next March, while others were supposed to be in favor of 25 cent advance. But in the meeting yesterday 1t was thought that the rate now in effect should re- main unchanged for the present. It was formerly $2.50 a ton on the Louisville basis, and the advance announced last September, and which is now effective brought it up to $3, Louisville basis l The committee was in session from about 10 o'clock In the'morning until near ly 6 in the evening, with an intermission for lunch.
 Those Present.
 The members in attendance were: w.. O. Moody, chairman; D. M Goodwin, general freight agent of the Louisville and Nashville; Lee McClung, assistant l traffic manager of the Southern; E. A. Mel, general freight agent of the Souah- ern; F. o. Becker, general agent of the Frisco system; E. K. Voorhees,, assistant general freight agent of the Fhisco sSs- tenn w. E. Estes, general freight agent ! of the Central of Georgia railroad; l.. Sevier, general freight agent of the Ala bama Great Southern; G. R. Knox, gen eral freight agent of the Nashville, Chat tanooga and St. Louis; w. H. McGuffy, chief rate clerk of the Queen and Cres- cent. and E. Schryver, assistant general freight agent of the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific.
 Several local and visiting officials, not members of the committee were pres l ent by courtesy.
 Shortly after II o'clock the following representatives of iron companies appear ed before the committee by invitation to discuss rates: J. w. Mcqueen of the sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron company, c. S. Tyler of the Tennessee Coal, Iron i and Railroad company; R. s. Mcknight of the Republic, G. B. Mccormack of the Woodward. President T. G. Bush of the Alabama Consolidated and G. Rice of the Chattanooga Furnace company.
 Colonel Bush and others addressed the | committee.
 1 majority of the railroad men left for their homes last night, while others | remained over for the night.