The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-01
INCREASED RATES
HURT ALL DEALERS
Grocers Association Make
Strong Protest.
THE TRADE UNITED
North Carolina Merchants do Not De
sire Increase, Will Urge Commits
Sioner to Revoke Order and Will
Then Join Wholesalers in
Their Petition.
BY w. III. BAGLEY.

BY w. III. BAGLEY.
The Retail Grocers' and Merchants
Associations all over North Carolina
are taking action appealing to w. n.
Fitzgerald, Commissioner of the Asso-
ciated Railways, to annul the recent
order advancing the freight rate on
provisions and lard, grain and grain
products in less than car load lots
from almost all points outside this
State to points in Carolina territory.
In some sections if the order is put
into operation the cost of practically
all provisions will be advanced, in
other sections the merchants Will be
subjected to an additional freight tax
and in every section of both North
and South Carolina merchants who
buy in less than car load lots VIII be
deprived of the advantage of buying
in the most economical markets.
1t was the contention of the rail-
road companies that the advance was
demanded by the people OF North and
South Carolina. South Carolina mer-
chants have stamped their disapproV-
al on that statement and every one OF
the forty-six merchants associations
in North Carolina will adopt resolu-
tions opposing the increase. 1t is De-
lieved that every retail grocer in the
State opposes the advance and that
over ninety-five per cent OF the Jop-
bers and wholesalers are opposed to
it. The five per cent who might be
temporarily benefited, it is believed,
are not in favor of the advance be-
cause of the disastrous effect it will
have on hundreds OF the trade. me
jobbers will continue their fight for
a reduction in car load rates to North
Carolina points and will have the full
cooperation of the retail merchants
in their efforts to secure this lower
rate.
Resolutions opposing the advance
have already been adopted by num-
her of the associations in North Caro-
lima. The first was UNANIMOUSLY
adopted by the Raleigh association.
Merchants all over the State are wax
ing to the situation and those VINO are
at isolated points or are located IN
towns where no organization has yet
been perfected are writing personal
letters to Secretary w. A. Avant, Of
the State Association at Charlotte; H.
r. Goodridge, secretary OF the Whole
sale GrocerS Association at NorfolK,
Va. asking that their names be added
to the protest to be made at the f1nal
hearing, and some are writing direct
to W. H. Fitzgerald, Commissioner OF
"A
Va, asking that the advance not be
made. However, the action taken,
every merchant in this State is affect
ed and should lend his aid and make
known the sentiment of the State
1t is not the desire of any merchant
that an increase in freight rates on
food or food products be increased II
the transportation companies can see
the advantages to be derived from de-
food
between North Carolina points it will
be good news to all interested.
1t is a well known fact that on ac-
count of the peculiar geographical po-
stions of Norfolk and Richmond
they act largely as distributing CEN
tres for large interior territory. Or
dinarily an interior merchant desires
to go to headquarters for the pur-
chase of his goods-that is the man
that manufactures them, and unless
there is some specific reason for do
ing otherwise this can usually be de-
pended upon as the course followed
TO make it possible for North and
South Carolina merchants to get the
advantage Of such conditions as are
equally as good. the cheapest possible
freight rates, whether rail or water,
are taken advantage of and manufac-
tured products of every description
are brought to distributing centres at
Norfolk and Richmond, where they
are held subject to the convenience
and ordering of the interior merchant
at prices not above the manufacturers.
The best authorities prove that over
ninety per cent of the entire movement
of freight from these distributing 2
centres to Carolina points, aggregating q
about 200 cars from Norfolk and 500
from Richmond per month, is in less
than car load quantities. Thus il is
seen that the proposed readjustment
of freight rates. as suggested by the
railroads. cannot operate other than
as a very great hardship to d very
large majority of the merchants of
our State.
The idea. which prevailed at one
time that the jobbers would be bene-
fitted has been proved mistake. If
the jobber is forced to buy sugar in
one hundred barrel lots, his meat in
car load lots. meal and hay and grain
and lard each in car load lots, and
all other products practically in pro-
portion. it is admitted that every
North Carolina jobber, as we'll as re-
taller, would be disseminated against
This proposed advanced rate is not to
apply from Virginia points alone, but
from all points outside the States OF
North Carolina and South Carolina
with few exceptions.
To find a North Carolina merchant
favoring an advance in freight rates
is somewhat difficult. Experience
teaches that railroads all over the
country follow one advance by an