The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-21
SAVED MILLIONS
 FOR BIRMINGHAM
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE RE- PORTS ON WORK IN SECURING BACK HAUL IN COTTON OVER A., B. sS 4

| of unusual interest in that it reviewed the
 manner in which the committee saved
 Birmingham S5,00o, GOO in trade by securu- ing the paek-haul on cotton over the At
 lenta, Birmingham and Atlantic railroad.
 The report also contains an interesting
 letter from President II. M. Atkinson of the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic
 railroad, in which he tells something of
 what the road has done for Birmingham.
 MT. Coffins report reads
 MT. President: Your transportation
 committee finds a peculiar pleasure in
 making a report at this time of jubila-
 tion over big things accomplished.
 Satisfactory results have followed our
 efforts in so many directions that we
 cannot only thrill with pride over what
 the census has done for us, but also add
 the qualification that the railroads too,
 are holding out promises of great encour- | 9 agement.
 Your committee has undertaken many l matters of vital moment to the growth
 of Birmnghams s commerce; and the en- | encouragement met with so far strengthens
 the belief that trade expansion can and
 will keep step with that of population. | With view of holding on to what we | have. and going after what we need and want, and must get we have brought to | the attention of the railroads that a new adjustment of freight rates, on a basis | of locaton, facilities and business con
 ditions, is necessary to the full develop
 ment of our wholesale trade; we have | held conferences with the officials of the
 railroads and discussed with them, in a | business way the many problems that be- | set an equitable adjustment of rates; | they have shown a willingness to CO., | operate with us, realizing that greater | Aa far | tonnage and revenue for their lines. | Some time ago your committee conceived | the idea that campaign for cotton con- centration at Birmingham offered fair | field for increased trade. Consequently | the matter was taken up, first with the l Illinois Central railroad, with view of influencing the cotton which originates west of here between Haleyvile, Ala, and Corinth Miss, and moves to east ern mills, to be brought to Birmingham for compression rather than back-hauled through Mississippi compress, thence to eastern points through New Orleans. It was found that about 5000 bales from this territory could be bought by our cot ton buyers if certain rules and rate ar engagements were instituted by the road. The rightful claim of Birmingham to this trade was pointed out to the railroad of ficials; the economy of handling was dwelt upon the return tonnage created InereDy was netQ out, ana every ddfdn- tage we possess bearing on the subject was put forth. Last week we were in- formed, unofficially. that our request would more than likely be granted at an early date, and the tariffs were being worked out at the present time. As trade follows cotton, this new arrangement, when put into effect, will add about half a million dollars to Birninghams trade.
 Tn the early part of September your committee received information from the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic rail- road that on or about the 17th of the month 1t would withdraw the arrange ments for concentrating cotton here which originates on It's line between Tal- ladega and Roanoke, Ala. This is about the richest cotton producing territory tributary to Birmingham, and to loose it meant the surrender to Atlanta, or some other cotton concentrating point, about 55,o00 bales annually, or approx ilnately s, ,000o 900 In trade. Our cotton buy CTS could not handle 1t from here if con centrated at some other point, because 10 do so would involve the added cost of the local freight charges over and above the through rate; the freight tariffs mak- ing this change had been completed and were in the hands of the printer. The loss of this attractive business seemed ai- most certain, but conference was ar ranged with President Atkinson, and
 
 the retention of this privilege were pre- sented and thoroughly discussed. The re suit of that conference was the with drawaI of that new freight tariff and the restoration to Birmingham of all that vast trade which is just now in it's infancy.
 "In this connection your committee wishes to testify to the liberal and en- terprising spirit shown by President At kinson toward our city. In the course Of his final answer he said:
 The Atlanta, Birmingham and Allan tic railroad was built to serve Birming- ham. and we do not intend to injure its trade. On the contrary, we want to use cur entire energy in building 1t up, and you may rely on us to do so.
 "The beneficial effects of this generous act by the Atlanta, Birmingham and At lantic railroad can hardly be estimated It set the pace for other roads with whom your committee has similar propositions pending, and lends color to the belief that the cotton campaign is pretty sure to measure up to the high mark set by the census percentage.
 Much encouragement has been given to other propositions laid before the traf- fio officials of the various roads enter
 ing here. conference with officials of the lines has been arranged for the early part of next month. An adjustment of freight rates on a parity with other near by commercial centers will be discussed with a view of making Birmingham what 1t eventually must become, the greatest wholesale market in the south. Respect fully submitted.
 Fl. w. COFFIN, Chairman"
 MT H. w. Coffin. Chairman Trans portation Committee, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham, Ala.
 Dear Slr-Referring to the meeting this morning at the Chamber of Conl- merce with the cotton committee ana the discussion, I would like to brief N emphasize what I said.
 "The Atlanta. Birmingham and At lantic railroad is now practically com | pleted as planned and I believe the road | is the best in this territory. We have | spared no expense in it's construction. | We have inaugurated first-class ser 1 vice between Birmingham and Bruns- wick, having two fast through freights. as well as local and special freight service in each direction. I am leav- ing Birmingham this afternoon to go | to Brunswick to meet the first boat
 of the new Clyde Line service which