The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-22

Montgomery, March 21.-(Special.l--- More attention than ever is to be given to water haulage in Alabama, as a re- suit of the visit of John A. Fox, the rivers and harbors congress, and the trip of President Henderson and Secretary Kennedy of the railroad com mission over the Alabama and the Tombigbee rivers. MT. Fox has stirred up much enthusiasm by his speeches. The railroad commission will encour- age business on the water routes oy elimination of rate cutting.
 Will Maintain Rates.
 It is the intention of the railroad commission to see that a uniform sys- tenn of rates is kept up on the rivers. Boats will not be allowed, as has be en the case in the past, to drop in and cut the life out of rates in order to drive out competitors and then, when monopoly has been secured in this way. run the charges back to even higher than the original rates. In oth CT words, if a boat wants to cut a rate it will have to have permission of the commission, and then it may not be restored save on mighty good show ing by the company.
 For Regular Service.
 It is anticipated that with this kind of a plan regular boat services can be secured on the navigable streams of the state. The packet companies are to be al- lowed to make rates that will be re- munerative and will nave to maintain them. This will make it possible for them to look ahead and provlue for service all the time. It is also expected that
  boat men will build wharfs at leading landings and prepare to handle freight in safe and expeditions way, in this way building up not only the trade on the rivers, but the territory reached only Tn that way.
 Some Plans Discussed.
 A number of business men have dis eussed the idea of securing freight ship ments direct in a sense from New York to Selma and Montgomery on the Ala bama river. This contemplates shipment from New York to Mobile by sea-going ship, and from there by river boat It is an interesting fact that shipments will come that way as quickly as by the average freight train service. The aver age time from New York to Mobile is six days, and from Mobile up the river with stops only at Selma and Montgom- cry, two days, so that goods shipped in New York Monday could be in stores In these two towns by the following Mon day.
 Some Difficulties.
 An effort was made some time ago to get an agreement with one of the big liners to bring freight for delivery dl- rect to Selma and Montgomery in the way mentioned. This was met by the statement of the big companies that they could not in this way antagonize the railroads. as they had to look to them for business, both in and out of Mobile. Thus 1t is seen that after all, the ques- tion of rates harks back to the rail lines, which in the end seem to control all the avenues of traffic. This lends additional interest to the hearings set for April 29 in this city, at which time the interstate commerce commission will look into a. complaint that Montgomery and other Alabama towns are dscriminated against in the matter of rates from Ohio river territory.
 Montgomery Busy.
 Montgomery business men are moving to the development of the possibilities of the Alabama river. large wharf on the top of the bluff with power hoist. is figured on and number of local men