The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1907-05-16
FREIGHT RATES.

FREIGHT RATES.
We have from time to time amin
adverted upon the freight rate situa-
tion in this city and the great injus-
| tice done our shippers in the discrim-
mating rates imposed upon the mer-
camille interest of Columbus. 1t is
doubtful if these protests have been
prolific of any Tangible results or
any great good. But not discouraged
The Dispatch has few words this
morning, few suggestions which
may yield immeasurable returns TO
| the business interests of this city if
| they are acted upon.
| striking instance of the rail-
roads discriminating against this city
was brought to our attention the past
week in recent classification adopt
ed on tropical fruits from New Or
/ leans to this city. A merchant, who
has been handling wholesale fruits
from this port, had occasion to place
sixty cases of fruits in this city re-
Gently, and based his prices on a for
mer freight rate of forty cents a hum
dred from New Orleans. When he
went to pay the bill he found an ad
vance in the rates on the shipment of
$500, or more than his profit on the
deal. Thinking the matter was an
error he appealed to the road for re-
lief and was informed that the freight
rates had been advanced from forty
cents hundred to sixty-eight cents
on this class of shipments. When
asked for an explanation he was in
formed that a new classification had
been adopted and tropical fruits were
now second class instead of fourth
class merchandise, as formerly. In
justification for the advance the rail-
roads agent stated that while trop-
icaI fruits had been advanced some
items in the new classification had
been reduced, thus giving the public
the benefit of the reductions as well
the increases.
This is but an instance of how the
railroads are throttling the efforts
of enterprising business men in this
city to build up a wholesale and job |
bing trade here. They are powerless
to develop this business as long as
the city is Disseminated against in !
such rates, and unless some relief is |
assured Columbus will never be re- ,
garded as a good jobbing point.
The solution of the whole subject
would seem to be in the mercantile
interests of this city uniting and en-
ploying an experienced and practical
rate man to take charge of the rates
vote all of his time and energies to
this one subject The Progressive
Union is all right in its way, but its
scope is so large that it cannot han
die this matter like it ought to be
handled, and it would be a fine in
vestment for the merchants of this
city to place in charge of their freight
rate business man who would watch
the rates, take charge of their over
charges, make all reclamation on the
roalroads, and press them to adjust
ment and settlement, and demand of
he roads readjustment of the
whole rate situation as it involves
his city and press the matter before
he railroad commission and in the
courts for solution. As long as we
make sporadic and spasmodic at
empts to get relief from such dis
our efforts will necessar-
ly fail, and now that. this city is
growing and developing and a fine
ield is being offered for the jobbers
nd wholesalers this matter should
'e settled, and settled for all time
o come. 1t will cost some years of
york, some thousands of dollars to
% it, but the people would be saved a
en- fold in the end. The suggestion A
5 respectfully referred to those men l.
nd merchants most interested. h