The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-03-28
VALUE Of TRAFFIC BUREAUS
ADDRESS J. LINCOLN, COMMISSIONER TRAFFIC BUREAU
MERCHANTS EXCHANGE OF ST. LOUIS, MO, DELIVERED BE
BOARD TRADE 1909

: lesser degree, and notwithstandin
, this tax upon commerce, upon IN
whole too little attention is paid b
tho average shipper or receiver
freight to the transportation featuI
of his business. a.
Individual Shippers.
4 You porbably have in your owl
bcommunity- We have them in al
communities manufacturers ant
shippers doing al extensive business
employing every ingenuity in conn c
| tion with their business proper IL
determining cost and profit. But
while transportation enters as me-
terial factor In cost and profit little
attention is paid to tlfat branch OF
the service beyond the mere know
ledge as to what is Tie rate fixed b.
the carrier. without reference TO the
thereof and whether other cOmmuni-
ties enjoy advantages. 1t will he sur
prising the lack of information pcs
s6ssed by the average business man
concerning freight problems no
doubt fcstered to some extent by the
fact that they do net consider their
individual account is of Sufficient NC.
ment 10 be pressing desire to in.
press upon manufacturer and larg'
shippers in particular the specialize
ing of transportation matters. A
moro thorough knowledge of the
cost of marketing their goods aud
the relation that the transportation
charge bears thereupon. This, in my
is a responsibility that at
tachos to and should be assumed hy
large shippers. and thus the better
eluip themselves with necessary
knowledge to understand the great
railroad problems, as rpCn the rise
or fall of our railroad commerce III
SO much dependent.
Traffic Bureaus.
Having taken cur first step in the
line of progress, by individual manu-.
factnrers CT shippers pecializiny ehe
problems attaching to their particu
ar lines OF business we thus fern
he nucleus upon which TO create an
"a traffic bureau -
the medium Of which the
,ntire community can be represented
he small shipper receiving protec
icn advice and information gath
red through the minds Of the differ
nj individuals dealing with these
problems.
Traffic bureaus should have a
broad gagged weltinformed man IN
barge as the directing head or the
ne,lium through which dlrccti-n
given by board may be conce1l
rated ana the interest of the city as
whole may be conserved Ry such
ion of action results can
e accomplished which 50 often 50
o narght when sought by the indi
'idual Through tho medium of a
raffic bureau. it's traffic man ger
,aeked by the bureau. acting as a
body. stands upon
7ettcr foundation fer hegot .atiOns
nd conferences with carriers than
yhcn the end sought is through AZ
effort too often p rsonll
n character aud the result predicated
Upon the within or caprice CT tie traf-
lie officer,
No Individual or firm has the time,
Except by neglect Of business in which /
even though it may have
he inclination. TO search out. ana |
we and determine whether rates a~e
'nicstSa unreasonable by cCmpad- |
sen, uulpss they have employed "A |
specially equipped traffic man for |
hat purpC SO, aud then only IS 10
heir particular lines of bUsine S. !
Upon a traffic bureau devoted cNclu
iivcly to s"ch purpose dcyoiYCs these
lutics and your traffic manager be-
comes a commissioner using bis DIP
powers so far as possible
In bringing about changes in rat
1djrgtments which should he rcecg
niyed nnd accorded
Too much dependence Is placed
uTcn officers of carriers tn tae'r