The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-02-27
Case To COME UP
EARLY next MONTH
Argument of the Commercial Club Is
lieved That Favorable Decision
Will Be Secured.

The Hattiesburg Commercial Club,
which has taken the Initiative in an
(ffort to secure equitable freight rates
the railroads entering the city, is
lifting ready for the final hearing be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion at Washington early in next
month.
1t will be remembered that a ses-
sion of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission was recently held in New Or
leans, when evidence was taken in
the case, and when it is believed that
: Hattiesburg convinced the members
Of that tribunal of the injustice of
granting to Meridian, Jackson. Gulf
port, Natchez and other cities lower
freight rates than are procured "a
Hattiesburg.
The style of the present case is the
Commercial Club of Hattiesburg VS..
The Alabama Great Southern Rail
road Company and local interests are
represented by theh law firms of Alex
ander & Alexander, of Jackson and
T. M. & T. r.. Miller, of New Orleans.
Following is the text of the brief
prepared by the Commercial Club of
iesburg, which will be read with
Nh interest:
yThe petition, in behalf of the City of
Hattiesburg, seeks relief against alleg-
led arbitrary and discriminatory
freight rates to Hattiesburg and asks
that the Commission fix just and reas-
enable rates over the defendant COM
panies, railroads to Hattiesburg, and
that it compel the defendants to de-
sist from charging higher rates on
grain and grain products and packing
house products than they charge for
transporting the same to Gulfport, or
at least to Jackson and Meridian, and
from charging higher class and COM
modify rates to Hattiesburg than they
charge for the same service to Merid-
ian, Mississippi.
Statement of Facts.
The salient facts established by the
testimony, and for the most part adj
mitted, are as follows:
~ Prior to 1894, Meridian had
been given by the railroads entering
into it lower freight rate from the
East the North and the West than was
enjoyed by any town in South Missis-
sippi not situated on the Mississippi
River These rates were voluntarily
given and were sought to be justified
by reason of Meridian's proximity to
the Mississippi River and consequent
influence of river competition, and as
to freight from the East by reason of
Merchants proximity to the Gulf
(2) At that time-viz., in 1894
and prior thereto Hattiesburg was
comparatively small town, having
only one line of railroad-yiz., the
New Orleans and Northeastern-and
no connection of any kind with the
Gulf or the Mississippi River, except
via the New Orleans and Northeast
ern.
(3) In 1894, according to the testi-
mony of Mr.. Hattendorf, the present
adjustment of freight rates in favor
of Meridian and Jackson, giving these
two cities equal rates, became effec-
tive through the voluntary action of
the interested railroads. AS Merid-
ian already enjoyed the low rate. this
change was, in fact, merely placing
Jackson into a so-called group with
Meridian. Thereafter, the rates, both
by rail to the Gulf, to Jackson and
Meridian, became and have remained
practically the same.
(4) Since these rates we're given
to Meridian and Jackson, Hattiesburg
has rapidly developed as a trade cen
Ter. Instead of one line of railroad
il now has four. The Gulf and Ship |
Island was built into Hattiesburg from
Gulfport, and. in 1900, extended to
jackson. Later the Mobile, Jackson
and Kansas City was built from Mo-
bile ito Middleton, Tennessee. The
Mississippi Central has been built
from Hattiesburg to Natchez on the
I