The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-10-24
RAISING RATE
On TURPENTINE
RAILROADS NOW WANT TO MAKE
THE WEIGHT OF CASKS 44o
POUNDS INSTEAD OF 42o
POUNDS.

The naval stores interests in Savan-
nah have been greatly concerned over
the notice sent out by the various
railroads entering that port of their
intention to raise the weight on tur-
pentine from 42O to 40 pounds per
barrel on freight charges. This would
prove a serious disadvantage to Sa-
vannah as it would cause considera-
BILE OF her naval stores 10 be diverted
TO nearer ports.
The Savannah Morning News says:
One Of the most interesting conten-
lions so far as the branch Of COM
MERGE which has to with the handling
OF naval stores is concerned, that has
yet been brought before the Georgia
state railroad commission, was heard
before that body in Atlanta on We'd
nesday, when the hearing OF the case
involving the Atlantic Coast Line and
the Savannah Board OF Trade was
given a hearing.
It is well known that Savannah IS
the largest naval stores port IN the
world, and that more turpentlne Is
shipped on vessels leaving her
wharves than by the ships sailing from
any other city. The number of bar
reIs of turpentine which are shipped
I into this city for export annually
reaches far into the hundreds OF
thousands. Naturally, all this bust
+, ness comes into the city by means
OF the railroads, which have always
received what the men who are most
interested have considered a fair and
just compensation.
A20 Pounds the Standard.
For some reasons best known 20
themselves, the memberse OF the in
terstate commerce commission have
ruled that tUFpentine should be billed
at actual weight, and through this
very clause in their ratings the pres
ent issue has arisen" said a member
OF the trade Tuesday. Tt appears
that for more than thirty years the
railroads have been in the habit OF
estimating the weight OF turpeutine III
barrels or packages at 420 pounds,
and charging freight therefor on that
basis.
Just how long this rule has been
in effect cannot at this time be learn
ed. but it is safe to say that if there
had been any reasonable ground for
kick, some Of the railroads handling
the turpentine would have made one
within the last quarter of q century
at least This however, has not been
done, and the carriers have earned
many hundreds of thousands OF dol
| lars in the rattle.
Recently, however, the Atlantic
| Coast Line decided that IL was not
getting enough money out OF the tur-
pentine hauling business, and arbi-
trarily announced that beginning with
the publication of a circular they is
sued, the weight upon packages OF
turpentine would be 440, an increase
Of 90 pounds per barrel
when this fact became known to
the handlers of naval stores in Sa-
vannah. it caused a furry Of indigna-
ton The action of the Coast Line
was taken without notice being given
to the railroad commission. according
TO the naval stores dealers here, and
also without previous notice to any
one else interested in the handling or
tUTpeutine. The Coast Line is tue
only road that has made this advance
in wei ghts. and il is this act that has
pTecipitated the controversy before
the stale railroad commission"
II is with no little satisfaction that
the naval stores dealers Of Savannah
learn Of the result of the fight made
by the Board OF Trade against the ac-
ton of the Atlantic Coast Line with
reference to increasing the estimated
weight on tuTpentine from 42O 10 40
pounds TO the barrel
Upon the return 20 the city Thurs
day Of Secretary Purse, who conduct
ed the fight against the increase in the
hearing before the railroad commits
sion. announcement was made that an
agreement had been reached whereby
the barrels would be billed at the estt
mated weight of 42O pounds until the