Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-08-08
HEARING TOMORROW
OF THE PROTEST MADE BY SHIP
PERS AGAINST PINE BLUFF
AND WESTERN.
Aliege Determinations Are Made on
Freights Of First, Second and
Third and Fourth Classes
COPY OF PROTEST IN FULL

The following is a copy of the pro-
test filed by shippers with the Arkan-
sas railroad commission against the
Pine Bluff and Western and to be
given a hearing tomorrow by the cOna-
mission:
Cornerstone, Ark, July 13, 1904.
Hon. William F.. Floyd, secretary rail
road commission, Little Rock, Ark
Dear Strive, the shippers Oh the
line of the Pine Bluff, Arkansas River
railway at this point and all along
the line. hereby enter our protests
against the discrimination in freight
rates on this line on commodities OF
first, second. third and fourth class.
and seek an adjustment and equa'i-
aation of same at the hands Of the
railroad commission. and desire tnat
yo,l present this complaint TO Messrs
EiudGins Hampton and Phillips, that
they may, II in their wisdom they see
fit sct some day when we can be
heard before them along with the
railroad company. Without naming
all thc points whore rat s are charg-
cd in excess Of what justice demands
only one namely. Cornerstone. T. is,
a known fact that the Pine Bluff Ar.
kansas River railway in since the be-
ginning of the present year, q part OF
the Cotton Belt system. being owned
and controlled by said Cotton Belt
svstem and their men employed ON
the Pine Bluff Arkansas River rail
way being paid for their services out
ii the funds of the Cotton Belt. Cor
nerstOne is twenty miles from Pine
Bluff Sheriff. on the main line Of
the Cotton Belt system, or more spe-
officially the branch road Of the Cot
ton Belt, what is known as the Al
theimer branch, is also twenty miles
from Pine Bluff. Neither, therefore.
is on the main line. Cornerstone or
Sheriff.. Since neither Sheriff. nor
Cornerstone is on the main line of
the Cotton Belt we have hecn unable
to see why we should be charged
freight rates from Pine Bluff on COM
modities greater than that charged
to Sheriff. Such, however, Is the,
case, and the rates are as follows:
On first-class to Cornerstone, 32; to
Sheriff. 22-1Oc greater to Corner
stone.
On second-class to Cornerstone, 27:
to Sheriff. 19c--8c greater to Cor
nerstonc.
On third-class to Cornerstone. "a;
to Sheriff., 17c-7c greater to Cor
ncrstone.
On fourth-cIass to Cornerstone, 21;
10 Sheriff., 15c-Gc greater to Corner
stone.
On packing house goods to Corner
stone 17c to Sheriff., 11c--6c differ
ence.
Now Sheriff. is not on the main
line, neither is Cornerstone They
are both twenty miles distant from
Pine Bluff. yet from the figures ON
the four classes of rate given you
herein shows a discrimination against
the shippers at this place and along
this line too great for us to stand
idly by without having some remedy
heing applied by the railroad COM
mission. Knowing that the railroad
commission has the authority to
remedy such injustices. and believing
that they had cogniZance of such
rates heretofore, and thinking some
thing might be done whereby we
might be given an equal rate on
goods, we did not and have not ap-
pealed to you heretofore. But the
grave injustice in the difference of
rates on the same class of goods for
the same distance from Pine Bluff to
Sheriff. and Cornerstone could be
equalized by the commission. We
have other complaints TO make, but
to burden you with them at this time
we deem unnecessary. We can there
fore only ask that as shippers our