The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-17
y one BEAUTIFUL SAPPHIRE COUNTRY


! there are other states in which higher
rates obtain 1t Is not possible that the
railroad rates can be the same every
where, nor that all the roads in one state
| shall charge the same rates for the same
service The rate which the law con-
! templates is such rate IS will yield
proper return upon the legitimate value
| Of the Investment in every case. While
no railroad may discriminate against the
! people of any state, ii is not necessarily
! bound to give the same rates to the people
of all the states as the kind, and amount,
and cost of business and value of equip
ment vary in the several states In this
/ connection the court said in the Nebraska
case above mentioned:
The question is asked, Ire not the peo
pie of Nebraska entitled 10 as cheap
rates as the people of Iowa? OF course
relatively they are That is. the roads
may not discriminate against the people
of any one state, (but they are not neces-
sarily bound to give absolutely the same
rates to the people of all the states), for
the kind and amount of business, and the
cost thereof, are factors which determine
largely the question of rates. and these
vary in the several states The volume
of business in one state may be greater
per mile while the cost of construction
and of maintenance is less. Hence. to
enforce the same rates in both states
might result in one great injustice, while
in the other 1t would only be reasonable
and fair. Comparisons therefore, between
the rates of two states are of little value,
unless all of the elements tina. enter into
the problem are presented. II may be true,
as testified by some of the witnesses,
that the existing local rates in Nebraska
are 40 per cent higher than similar rates
in the state of Iowa But it is also true
1 hot 10 Hen. .4.,.. l., lou
greater than In Nebraska. In Iowa there
are 230 people to each mile of railroad,
while in Nebraska mere are but 1907 and,
as a general rule the more people there
are the more business there IS Hence,
a mere difference between the rates in two
states Is of comparatively little signi1-
cance." See also Chi M e St r. r. r.
Co VS. Tomplins. 176 IT, S. 167.
The testimony upon this hearing dis
closed that the very points of dssimiar-
ity mentioned by the court as existing
between Iowa and Nebraska. viz, greater
earnings per mile. and increased popu
lation per mile in Iowa, exist between
the states of Georgia and Alabama, the
former showing greater earnings than up
on the Alabam lines. and on the whole
more population per mile of road.
Some Comparisons.
While Alabama conditions are alone con-
trolling, ii may not be Improbable briefly
To notice some of the evidence as to COM
parative rates between this and other
states.
In the case of Mississippi. while fertil-
izer rates in that state are considerably
lower than in Alabama, yet the evidence
discloses that on comparisons from five
TO seventy miles the average of rates on
all lines in Alabama on all commodities
as compared with the rates on all lines in
on al n
per cent lower in Alabama.
In Georgia local rates generally are
lower than local ates in Alabama. Yet
there is large number of commodities
i'm general use, and which move freely
upon which actual rates in Alabama are
lower than in Georgia.
To comprehend the Georgia situation.
the Georgia classification of roads must
first be understood Roads in that state
are classed according to their earnings.
| There is a standard class or Glass A, and
roads occupying a lower Gloss are permit
ted to charge a percentage over the rates
prescribed for Class A. There are 6229.3
miles of railroad In Georgia. of which
5S0.73 miles or 93 constitute ClassA
67S.s5 miles or 1913 constitute Class B.
344703 miles or 553 constitute Glass c.
1922 20 miles or 24.o constitute Class ID.
Rates in Glass b are 20 per cent higher
than In A.
Rates in Glass C are ., per cent higher
| than ina
Rates in Glass d are 50 per cent higher
tLan in A.
The average of all rates charged over
the total mileage Of Georgia is PAS per
cent greater than the standard class: and
Eliminating the mileage over which the
standard rates apply )5S0.75), the average
of the rates in Georgia are higher than
! the standard class by 2T1 per cent
IL cbntNO ~ hn
+ that the average of all rates in Glasses A
/ to f and to for distances from to 300
! miles applicable over all lines In the state
of Georgia as compared with the average
of all rates applicable over all lines in
] the state of Alabama is greater in Ala
/ hama by 4S9 per cent.
! More Favorable Interstate Rates.
+ Another feature of interest is the more
favorable inters,a ate rates from Ohio and
! Mississippi river crossings to Alabama
distributing centers than to similarly
situated distributing points in Georgia. 1t
is not cai.ned that the railroad commits
! sion of Alabama is to be credited with
/ this or has anything to do with 1t what
ever that being purely interstate. but the
facts nevertheless exist, and are to be
taken account of in any consideration of
the relative advantages of the two states
as to transportation rates.
The following table shows rates from
Louisville on classes mentioned:
Table No. 5, From Louisville.
j To Montgomery and Birmingham: B.
/ 81: c. "a; d. 20; F, 40
! TO Atlanta B. .3S; C. 70. D, .22 F. "A
, The following table shows rates from
. ST. Louis on classes mentioned:
Table No. From ST. Louis.
To Birmingham: l. 1.27; ?. 90; 3 rs; l.
! 81; ), 80; 6. 40.
. To Atlanta: /, 1876 2. ITO; 3, sS: 4, n;
| s. ga: 8. 81.
Table No. From ST. Louis.
To Birmingham: A, .S5; B. SO; c. 81;