The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-20
l RAILROAD COMPANY ANSWERS
 kEALHOFER'S REGENT CHARGES,
Respondent Denies Freight Rates to Montgomery as Compared With
 Those to PensacOla are PreJu- dfcal to Montgomery,

washington. July 19.-tSpecial) )--A and Nashville Railroad Company. filed today with the Interstate Commerce commission an answer to the recent complaint of the Montgomery Freight Bureau by MT. H. s. Kealhofer, its manager.
 The company In It's reply. says that respondent denies each and every nlle- the complaint. and says that its rates on phosphate rock from Nit Pleasant, Tenn. and points made with relation sonabIe or unjust either as compared with rates to Pensacola, Mobile or New Orleans. or otherwise. and further that because of circumstances and con- ditions over which the respondent mas not control. the sections intermediate between Montgomery on the one hand and Pensacola. Mobile and New Orleans not possibly be served by such on sn equal basis.
 Respondent further says that its and from Pensacola. Mobile and New Orleans to said intermediate territory. are properly made the same for tho same distance In every case. and that because of the industrial advantages existing at Pensacola, Mobile and New Orleans which do not exist at Mont gomery in any degree. Montgomery to market fertilizers in said territory on an equal basis with Pensacola, Mo- bile and New Orleans.
 The Louisville and Nashville people admit that the rates on phosphate rock C. D. from Mt. Pleasant to Montgom- cry. Mobile. Pensacola and New Or leans as contained in Paragraph 5 of the freight bureaus petition are cor rect. but respondent ayers that the cor rect distances and rates per ton mile are as follows:
 Distances Rate per ton
 in miles. per mile. Montgomery ....270 .o0726 Poo,ae Pensaeo,, ''4tS9 tS9 .S0tss S0tss New Orleans 59l .0041l
 Respondent denies that the adjust ment of rates from Mt. Pleasant 10 Montgomery as compared with the Montgomtry. because the adjustment is based upon the natural laws of trade and commerce giving to Pensacola the benefits and advantages accruing from its geographical location.
 The rate on phosphate rock from Mt. Pleasant to Montgomery Is properly ad- justed with regard to rates to interior points similarly situated. while in mak- ing its rates to Pensacola the respon- dent claims 1t is compelled to and does recognize the competition of phos- phate rock from the Southern portions gulf steamers at exceedingly low rates of freight.
 Respondent says that the present rate to Pensacola Is unreasonably low, but that the competition with Florida rock renders 1t impossible to charge a higher rate and enable the phosphate rock miners in the Mt. Pleasant district to market any portion of their out put at Pensacola.
 Respondent also admits that Pensa- cola enjoys less rates on ammoniates from the West than are enjoyed at Montgomery, but says that this Is also the result of natural conditions over which the railroad company can exer- else no control. It's rates to Pensacola being fixed and limited by water trans portation on the ohio and Mississippi rivers and the gulf of Mexico which does not to an equal extent influence the making of rates to Montgomery.
 The respondent then says that its rates to Pensacola are also necessary for the purpose of encouraging a move- ment of such traffic from the West in competition with imported fertilizer materials brought into Pensacola on much lower rates than are available to Montgomery.
 The respondent denies that Pensacola fertilizer manufacturers have no rates to pay on their imported materials other than a nominal switching charge. but ayers mat he cost of ocean transportation must necessarily enter into consideration. over which the re- spondent has no control whatever.
 The Louisville and Nashville solici- tor concludes the answer as follows; And having fully answered respon. dent prays to be hence dismissed"