The Cairo bulletin., 1909-09-29

south OF Cairo, Hence. Cairo lumber
men were able to get "empties' for
shipments north when cities south of
here could not.
J 1T is only a question of time" con.
tinued Mr.. Carey, when furniture
factories, wagon factories. etc, of TIE
north, will have to come further
south, because the supply of raw ma
teTial which formerly could be had
from this section of the country must
now be procured from the souta,
Where these manufactures formerly
had to pay only the freight from
| Cairo on their raw material they
must now pay the freight from the
timber lands to Cairo from Cairo
10 their factories in the northern
, cities. What adds greatly to the
urgency of a change of base is the
rapid development of the southern
section of the country, which brings
with It steadily growing demand for
the manufactured goods with the re-
suit that manufacturers pay heavily
first to bring raw material from the
south to their mills and then pay
heavily again to send it back to
where 1t came from. in the form of
mill products. An in both move.
ments, going and coming, a great
volume of the traffic passes through
CAIRO. | believe that northern wood
manufacturers are beginning to get
their eyes opened AMI that the move
ment in this direction will grow
rapidly"
MI Magee reyetred to the matter
OF freight rates when he regarded as
OF the greatest Importance in its in.
nuence upon manufacturers and ship |
pers generally, who sought new loca.
tions. The need of a traffic bureau
IN Cairo was manifested almost daily. |
In any readjustment of rates railroad
officials generally gave respectful con.
slderation to representations made in |
behalf of cities where traffic bureaus |
were maintained; and generally when
changes We're made to the injury of |
other points it was because these |
points did not assert themselves and |
present their interests. In the case |
of st. Louis where shippers were
paying a $4,000 a year salary to
the secretary Of the traffic bureau.
railroad officials We very careful
about making changes In rates that
"onld hurt the city, because they
we're sure to receive vigorous pro
est the moment any srch change
vas proposed. And many concessions
n the interest of st. Louis shippers
nave been made. Only recently a
lat rate On grain had been made to
81. Louis shippers which gave them
decided advantage over connecting
Joints, and it was effective although
was an evasion If the interstate
ommerce law. This was the ex.
erlence OF shippers in all cities
where traffic bureaus were main.
aimed: and nothing would do more
0 gain for Cairo the respect of rail.
Dad traffic officials. and attract in.
ustrlal establishments to Cairo.
han the establishment and mainten.
nee of such bureau with thor
ughly competent man at its head.
others spoke strongly in favor of a
ureau, 1t was shown that not only
l the matter of adjusting tariffs, but
iso overcharges in receiving and in
hlpplng freight, shippers would be
ived much more than it would cost
maintain the bureau. This had
cen the experience of shippers in
Il cities that had such service. 1t
as developed that the committee
ppolnted some time ago to solicit .
ontributons for the bureau had about
5000 Subscribed mostly by grain
holesale dry goods and grocery
rms, and the feeling prevailed that
Tther subscriptions could be Sc.
lred to bring the amount up to overl
1000 annually which, in Mr.. Magee's
pinion, would be required to main
lin the bureau.
On motion of ID. S. Lansden il was
oted that the matter be taken upI
the Board for further action and
lat the committee report at the next
)ecial or regular meeting.
The Board then adjourned to par
Ike of luncheon and cigars.