The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-05

y II 1t is possible for the Corporation
Commission to afford the shippers OF
Virginia relief from the slow handling
OF freight, they will get 1t, for tie
body is moving almost constantly In.
that direction Complaints are being
frequently heard. and usually they arc
followed by orders requiring better
service.
In an opinion handed down yester-
day in the case of certain wood and
lumber dealers against the Tidewateri
md Western, the Southern and At.
laptic Coast Line Railroads, concern
ing the slow movement OF freight into
Richmond, the two larger companies
are scored forEdiserIlninnting against
the smaller. and sweeping orders are
issued for the future.
Duty in Future.
After reviewing the case at length
nnd summarizing the evidence, which
revealed a condition of things which
did not at all please the commission.
the opinion proceeds to rap tho Coast
Line and Southern for not furnishing
cars to the Underwater and Western
respectively. at Chester and A1oselcy,
their junction points, and specifically
road In tho future.
Tho Southern must hereafter fur.
1lish the Tidewater and Western at
Moge1cy not less than one hundred and
fifty cars month, and must promptly
move all freight rendered by the latter
road.
Ss4 Tho Coast Line must furnish two
+ hundred cars n month at Chester and
must transfer and move the freight
promptly. @
Tho Tldcwater and Western is re-
CURED by the order to deliver to the
& two roads ut the junction points named
enough narrow gauge cars to load
those specified above for each month.
This will be in striking contrast will:
the conditions heretofore existing as
shippers testified that sometimes they
could not get as much as carload
OF wood a month.
What the Opinion Says.
The opinion of the commission, in.
Guiding tho orders. reads as followa'
''rhe evidence in the case shows
IA conclusively to the commission that
there Is md has been strong dspo-
sltion on the part Of these two broad
against this narrow-gauge connec-
tion and In favor Of shipments orlgi-
mating on their own lines. 1t was
admitted BY the general superin
tendent of tho Southern Railway that 9
It was the policy.sof the managemnt
of that company to discriminate In
favor OF It's own shippers as against
this and other similar connections.
There seems to be no doubt of the
fact that this practice On the part of
the Southern Railway and Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad has. brought
about the conditions complained Of
= = n "a lax, ,,,I
# Western Railroad. and that con-
aitinuance of such practice OH the part
Of thes two broad-guage lines mist
eventually make mo 9, all kinds Of busi
IA ness along the line OF the TideWater
and Western Railroad not only un-
certain ana Improbable. but finally
wcllnigh impossible.
u, Could Destroy Industry.
''ro admit that carriers could
practice in any degree such dis
their power to destroy the smaller
and less important local lines. ana
8i8S on such lines. 1t is therefore, the (
opinion OF the commission that It
IS the duty. Of ne, Southern ga Ball
prompt relief OF the hardships AZ
@ ready traceablc TO their past dis
eenheetons With It uanTki tha Tiaewwater wan sali and
NVestorrl Railrond and that having
q Furnished the necessary facilities
ous 4e rsey a1oa such hsrashps 6 hsy
by adopting a policy of fairness
the Il IN matter % OF e. ear 4 supply foT tho
water and Western Railroad to
their lines respectively.
.."ro thls end It is ordered that
ter, his date shall furnish to tho 3
IldeWater and Western RAILROAD A.
at AloseleyI q not less than one hun.
according to requistions for cars
as made by the TldeWater and
Western Railroad from tmo7 to
6eg y inc: no car orders to remaiT 1un-f2
fllledS for 4 period exceeding four
s DAYS. And they, tho Southcrn +