The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-25
LETTER OF ADVICE IS
 ISSUED TO SHIPPERS
The State Railroad Commission
 Urges Cooperation
JURY RESUMES WORK
Birmingham Man Is Bitten By Sup posed Mad Dog--East Lake Young Man in Trouble for Hamper
 ing With the Mails


 the Alabama railroad commission. an- ticipating a dearth of freight cars during the next 30 days, urges Alabama ship pers to "co-operate with the carriers in making railroad equipment do the great est possible amount of service" The ad- dress was written this afternoon as means of preventing a congested condi- ton later in the fall, when the move ment of produce and increased business is liable to be so heavy as to make the demand for cars exceed the supply. The commission lays stress upon load ing every car to capacity as a means of alleviating the condition. The address adds that it Is just that the profits should be mutual, inasmuch as both the shippers and the railroads can reap the benefits. The address is as follows:
 "Our laws require that common car riers must furnish sufficient equipment and reasonably adequate service in trans- porting the goods and persons of the pub lie which they undertake to serve. For this reason they are entitled to receive such reasonable rates as will pay the co st of economical administration, main tenance of their property to it's full stan dard and in addition reasonable return upon the investment
 of to move a given lot of tonnage, say cotton. wheat, pig iron, lumber or any other product the carrier has, on account of poor loading of the cars, to use more cars than are necessary, or the cars are delayed by consignee longer than Is necessary at the terminals. then upon the value of such increased amount of equip ment and for the additional time beyond that absolutely necessary which equip ment Is used the railroads are entitled to earn a fair return and to that extent their rates charged to the public can be and are maintained on higher basis than would otherwise be permitted. It is. therefore, directly to the interest of all shippers to at all times aid the car riers in getting full loads for cars and prompt loading and unloading.
 .The railroad equipment which will In ordinary times move with reasonable promptness the tonnage offered, fails to meet the requirements at certain times where tonnage suddenly rises above normal. At such times shippers should more than ever strive to get the best possible loads into the cars they forward and to unload promptly equip ment which they receive. For every day that a car is unnecessarily held standing on track by one shipper some other shippers business Is suffering just to that extent; and where tonnage Is for warded by shipper In 10 cars that might be put into nine, some other shipper is without service that might have been served with that tenth car.
 This year, 1910. the agricultural prod ucts for the United States will probably be the greatest in It's history. Business in a great many other lines Is expanding Alabama is sharing for It's full proportion in this prosperity. The need of cars to move the crops during the next ninety (90) days will likely be in excess of the supply, but their carrying efficiency can be increased fully 10 per cent by heavy loading and quick unloading. The rail- roads have in Alabama many rates of freight reduced from their former levels and passenger rates are on a basis of 21a cents, whereas, formerly they were three (3) cents
 "The commission urges that shippers in this state bear in mind these conditions and, as far as in their power lies, CO., operate with the carriers in making equipment do the greatest possible amount of service. In this way the serv-
 ice to all the public will be improved and the net earnings of the carriers materially increased, and they shown to be prospering and earning full revenues under the reduced freight and passenger schedules"
 No Decision Renched
 No decision was reached today by the state railroad commission regarding the ordering of impr0ved facilities at the Opelika railroad station. The commission was in session all day, but after again reviewing the situation on both sides. re- trained from making decision. People of Opelika are contending that both the passenger and freight facilities at the station should be improved. Plans for re- modelling the station were considered at the session.
 The question relating to the cotton ex- port bill of lading matter was given con- sderation but the decision in regard to this was also deferred. Newborn and other cotton towns are alleging that dis elimination Is being shown by some rail- roads, in that some of the common car- rers have designated certain places as validating agencies. Towns not designated as validating agencies claim that their banks are de- nied great deal of business Decision in both of these matters Is expected to be reached at the session of Monday week, when the commission holds it's November meeting. Only Commissioner J.. A. Lusk was absent at today's session, Commis- soncrs Henderson and Nesbtt being in attendance
 Visitors to Capitol
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