The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-26

practice it is rarely applied to merehan- disc, although ordinarily applied to the transportation of passengers,
 The general tariff, while lower than or
 equal to the maximum tariff is applic- able to all passengers or shippers, but without other conditions than those set forth in the concession or contract. The special or conditional tariff Is necessarily lower than the general tariff, and is ap- piled under conditions which tend to equalize the reductions of prices agreed to by the concessionaire. An example
 of the application of the three classes of tariffs follows: A ton (22O4.6 pounds) of wheat shipped from Marseille to Lyon, distance of 2lS. 10 miles, Is payable under the maximum tariff at the rate of s9.29 under the general tariff, at s6.l7i and un- der the special tariff at s3.2S, if the ship
 ment Is no less than one full ton, O. at $2.70 if it is five tons or above. The
 tariffs commonly called international
 tariffs are really special tariffs applied to international commerce.
 In addition to the authorized rates the company is entitled to collect, under the head of slow-freight shipments, supple mentary taxes as follows For each ton
 bill of lading, a fixed tax of cents; for handling the merchandise, 29 cents per ton; for merchandise shipped without condition of tonnage, 19.3 cents per ton for goods shipped in lots of four tons and above in carloads, whatever be the tariff applied, unless contrary stipulation Is made in the special tariff which has received approval These taxes include the cost of loading at the station of de- parture, the cost of unloading at the sta ton of arrival, and station costs at the points of arrival and departure When merchandise is shipped in lots of four tons or more or in carload lots, and when the loading and unloading of such mer- chandise is left under the tariff to the shipper or receiver the foregoing tax is reduced 5S cents per ton for loading and an equal amount for unloading. Station costs are due in every case Shipments, the weight of which does not exceed SS IS pounds. are exempt from all taxes for
 loading, unloading and station costs
 The Netherlands.
 Consul General Soren Listote of Rot terdam states that the transportation of freight in the Netherlands is divided into express traffic and parcels traffic, and thus outlines the classifcations:
 Express traffic consists in the forward ing of parcels and similar articles up to 330 pounds per shipment, the forwarding of which is permitted on the greater num- Der of passenger trains. These parcels are delivered to the addressee at once upon arrival at all stations where de- livery service exists. Parcels traffic in- cludes money, valuables, poultry and small live animals. Thes are shipped on passenger trains, and upon arrival deliv- cred the same as express traffic.
 For the transportation of larger ship fnents there are rates for fast and slow freight Fast freight is given preference and the tariff is double that foP slow freight The lowest weight charged for Is 110 pounds, all shipments of less weight being charged at that weight and ex cess calculated for every 22 pounds or less. The minimum amount charged for fast freight is 12 cents per shipment in- cluding shipping and diseharging ex- penses. The slow freight tariff is divid- ed into four classes, and the minimum charge per shipment is cents. Under special traiffs the freight calculation is made for twice the actual weight for slow as we'll as for fast freight. Liquids of all kinds in tank cars are charged for the net weight, with maximum of 10 tons per car, according to the freight rate of the article contained. Empty tank cars are returned without charge. There are also 5S special tariffs on slow freights which have been established for various reasons at different times. These, however are not applicable during De- N1~~- year.
 Loading and discharging is not includ- ed in the freight rate. Whenever the railway company undertakes such work the specific charges therefor. since No- vember |, 1907 are as follows: For all shipments, thus including those to and from foreign countries, o.s cents per no pounds, with a maximum charge of 20 cents for piece goods and 20 cents per car for carload lots Raw materials, in carload shipments are charged 10 cents per ear.
 Government Supervision. The authority which the Meth erlands government exercises over private rail- roads, especially so far as the rates are ] concerned Is shown by the following re- sume of the royal decree governing the same:
 The tariffs for the transportation of passengers and freight require the ap- proval of the minister of commerce and