The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-08
A FREIGHT DECISION NEAR HOME.

A FREIGHT DECISION NEAR HONE.
North Carolina Is to be congratulated upon
the success Of the Corporation Commission IN
iis salt against the Norfolk and Western Rail
road, in which it asked OF the Interstate Com
anercc Commission a reduction of discriminatory
rates from the West to the North Carolina towns
OF Winston-Salem and Durham 10 the basis of
the rates applicable to the Virginia cities
rates which were originally based the tariffs to
baltimore and which were equaHzcd under the
long and short haul clause OF the interstate com
merce act.
So far as we can gather from the report Of
the decision. the result is somewhat more than
half adoption by the commission Of the North
Carolina contentious The two cities in whose
favor the action was brought are not given the
same rate from the Great Western centcrs as
that now enjoyed by the Virginia cities, but
reduction of the local RATS from Roanoke he
4 consequent reduction ON through rates from the
West is material one which will inurc to the
benefit OF both dealers and consumers in North
Carolina
As the matter stood, wholesale business IN
North Carolina has been conducted under
4 handicap SO great that to engage in il At all was
i a sacrifice Of business to State pride. With Roam
oke Lynchburg, and Norfolk all enjoying rate
so much lower than that accorded North Caro-
\ lima cities that these points could compete at
1 the very doors Of North Carolina wholesalers on
parity and within very small circle at an
advantage, the Tar Heel who attempted to do a
business outside the limits of his town was
forced to seriously cut the margin Of his legit-
mate profit. At the same time, consumers
bought at a price which was figured upon the
IL
z pins the LEGAL rates from these points to the
y North Carolina communities which they served
As result, it has been a regular practice Of
1 North Carolina wholesalers to maintain at large
expense Virginia warehouses 10 which they had
their products shipped and from which they
served North Carolina patrons On such com
lnercial commodities as coal, for instance, the
4 rate from Roanoke to Winston-SaIcm. a very
short distance, greater than that from the
4 mines to Roanoke Tor nearly as greaD, while in
B making the through rate from the West to such
\ points the rate to Roanoke was taken as a basis
4 and the local rate added. The establishment of
1 much reduced local rate will therefore have
very benefcent effect upon Carolina dealers and
consumers alike.
While the case in point affects only Roanoke
and Winstnn-SaleIn and Durham. its effect Of
course, Will DC lusllitnl OF All rates from
Virginia cities to North Carolina points to meet
\ the changed conditions demanded by the reduc-
ton of the Roanoke rate. The Virginia cities
still retain the advantages Justly accruing to
them BY reason of their location on the great
4 trunk lines, bat North Carolina cities gain in
measure that fair treatment in rates which all
the facts, far they descernible TO the lay
mind, have heretofore denied them.
We look for no diminution in Virginia business
Il by reason Of the decision An undue advantage
y makes for lethargv rather than progress. Hav
ing gained great portion of North Carolina
q Business, still able TO compete in the State upon
Reasonable terms. we confidently expect the whole
sale business between the States 10 increase and
cxpand in proportion competition is made keen
er and as North Carolina incentive To wholesale
and iobbing initiative is increased by bettered
y conditions By the same token, il is 10 be hoped
THAT there will be no appeal by the Norfolk and
q Western, which in increased business will mani
sSfestly prosper in the long run by the very re
4 dnctions which it has been fighting