The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-04


 exercised in favor of the Tennessee River Transportation Company and a subsidiary lire. that no other boat company had even been able to main- tain facilities
 Without competition. therefore. the shippers and recipients of freight at Lambs Ferry. and some other points on the Tennessee River were unable to enjoy any other service than such as the capeice or the selfishness Of the monopolistic company afforded
 It was following this statement that President Charles Henderson said that he believed that unsatis.actory condi- tions existed on practically all the navigable rivers in Alabama and that the Commission should immediately in- vestigate facilities afforded to patrons of the river lines and that the Com mission should ascertain what. if any, legislation was necessary to amelior- ate river service. He expressed the opinion that the Commission. while 1t had no authority to control river transportation facilities, might proper ly prevent irregularities and abuses by the railroads acting In conjunction with the river boat companies to restrain trade.
 Mir. Weaver had the close attention of the members of the Commission dur- ing his statement of the appeal he made. Lambs Landing. he explained, was about twenty miles from the near est railway station, the connecting highways were in wretched condition and he and his fellow citizens were therefore dependent altogether upon transportation facilities afforded by the boats on the Tennessee River.
 The place shined about 5000 bales of cotton a year. he said, and he be- lieved that as rule the rates on this cotton from Lambs Landing to the railway stations was rebated by the railway companies to buyers of cot ton. The line of boats having the mo- nopoly, he stated. gave what were practically through bills of lading to Pensacola and other ports and even to ports of final destinatfcn like Liver pool and Bremen, the railways taking care of the cotton after 1t reached their stations
 From Lambs Ferry. he explained. there was generally. on account oe the Muscle Shoals on each side of the landing. only light draft boat in op- eration. and this boat he believed, was operated in connection with. if not un- der the direction of, the Tennessee Riv- CT Transportation Company.
 Mir. Weaver concluded by describing what appeared to be an unfortunate state of affairs for himself and other patrons of the boats, ne alleging more than once that the single boat in op- eration carried what freight and at what times its captair's caprice or in- terest dictated.
 Better Rates on cotton.
 Hon. w D. Nesbitt, Associate Com- missioner, presented for the consider ation of the Commission inquiries he had received as to what rates the rail- way companies might be expected to afford on cotton compressed at the gins. He said that the handling of cotton pressed at the gins would en- able the railway companies to expedite the movement of the crop. uot only by avoiding too frequent handling at points of centralization,- but by mak- ing possible the shipment of far greater number of bales to each car, thus virtually increasing the equip ment.
 For these reasons, and because that increased tonnage to each car would make larger revenues to each car, the shippers of cotton compressed at gins ought to expect reasonably lower rates.
 If these rates could be obtained, MT. Nesbit said. numerous ginners would place congresses at their ginneries. { A letter read to the Commission by