The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-10
CREDITORS FOR
 RUNNING PLANTS

LOOKING TO ASSISTANCE IN A0-
 JUSTMENT OF BIRMINGHAM
 COAL AND IRON co. AFFAIRS.
 The creditors of the Birmingham Coal and Iron company as the result of an important meeting, have organized for the protection of their interests. John E. Morris of the Tyler Grocery company was elected chairman of the meeting and nearly every creditor was represented. although it was deemed best not to give out the full amount of the company's in- debtedness.
 After taking over the financial condi- tons of the company resolutions were adopted indorsing the receivers appointed and favoring the continuance of the oper- ation of all the plants as long, as in the judgment of the receivers it will be profit able.
 The creditors organized for the purpose of working together in the interest of the unsecured creditors, to do away with ex pensive litigation, and to assist in keeping the company on it's feet.
 A committee to represent the creditors in all questions was appointed, consisting of John E. Norris chairman; c. B. Me Cormack of the Pratt Consolidated com pany: L. T. Beecher, treasurer of the Tennessee company; II. w Coffee, of the Moore and Handley Hardware company; E. Wilkerson, president of the Western Grain company, and M. P. Northington was elected secretary. This committee will hold rnaAfinpS and will keen pOgtad on all matters connected with the com pany.
 Former President H. M. Atkinson ap- peared before the meeting and expressed his hope that within a short time he could make final arrangements to settle the debts. He not only offered his co-oper- ation, but thanked the creditors for their policy He was of the opinion that the operation of the plants without any stop would be the most economical course.
 
 rates to and from Birmingham than is in effect to and from neighboring cities with which they compete. As an illustration, our wholesale grocery merchants cannot sell goods to the Cullman merchant in competition with Decatur because the latter point en- joys a much lower rate of freight, on many articles of common use than pre- yails here.
 Now when we consider that Gull man is only about 40 miles from Blr- mingham and that as commercial center Decatur Is not to be compared to our city, it is difficult to under stand the reason for this state of af- fairs. Yet the fact remains, the rates are lower and, as a jobbing point. De- catur, with only two railroads and less than one-tenth of our population, is a better wholesale distributing point as far as freight rates are concerned, than Birmingham. On the west our rates out of Birmingham are so lily adjusted that Memphis can come to our very doors with her goods and under sell us on numerous articles. We can not go south but @ very short dis tance before Mobile and Montgomery shut us off, the one with lower, and the other With equal rates. There was a time when our trade could reach out in the direction east of here and serve a pretty wide territory but through the efforts of the freight bur eau of Atlanta the railroads lowered the rates to that point about four years ago without in any way chang ing them to Birmingham except to ad- vance them from time to time. So it will be seen that our city is pretty well walled In by restrictive rates which handicap us as a jobbing center and which will always work to the in Jury of our trade expansion, unless some definite steps are taken to bring about a better state of affairs.
 I do not believe these conditions are the result of a conspiracy between the railroads against Birmingham, nor do I think these restrictive rates are made for the purpose of restraining our trade or wantonly circumscribing our trade territory; for it is the business of the railroads to haul all the freight they can get and to haul it as far as they can; but the rates which press upon us the hardest are generally those of which they know the least; that is to say, they have no means, other than a general knowledge of knowing the needs and requirements of our trade; they are not informed specifically of the conditions of competition our trade Is forced to meet. and if by reason of our natural advantages we are entitled to certain preferential rates there is no body of business men, no organization whose object and purpose 1t is to look after and assemble these facts, they can go to and get the information necessary to meet our requirements.
 What we need is a freight bureau com posed of business men, which should be charged with the duty of promoting har- mony between and advancing the mu- tual interest of both shipper and carrier; a medium through which the shipper could make known his difficulty and the railroad could find out, very often, just what they want to know, and need to know, in order to make and adjust certain rates and rules, so as to avoid working a hardship on our locality. We need a freight bureau to secure such rates of freight to and from our city as shall be equal in common territory and favor able within the territory contributory to Birmingham, and thereby prevent dis crmination against us; it should render service to all branches of trade in mat ters pertaining to transportation; it should invite the cooperation of all railroads reaching here it should assist in the adjustment and collection of claims against carriers; it should aim to effect the revision and classification of such items of freight as are considered to be improperly classified under existing laws; and finally, 1t should strive to encourage, and extend the trade territory of Bir- mingham. I am informed that such an organization is now in process of forma- tion It's promoters known to be among the most prominent wholesalers of this city.
 s"I am informed that their plan is to establish a freight bureau, and with it merge the present Birmingham Credit At-ft e.