The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-07-02
SUMTER. S. c.. SATURDAY. JULY 2, 1910
FREIGHT Rates LOWERED.
COMMERCE COMMISSION FINDS
RATES TOO HIGH.
One Road Is Said to Have Made u Net
Increase Of $4,000 Per Mile of
Road Within Two Years.

Washington, June 29.-Declsions
were handed down today by the in
terstate commerce commission coun-
try-wide in Importance. They affect
freight rates-both class and commo-
dity-on all rans-continental lines
operating between the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans. Extensive reductions
were ordered.
The decisions are of what are pop-
ularly known as the Pacific coast
cases. The. cases were heard last au-
tumn by the commission on it's six
weeks trip to the Pacific coast and
inter-mountain territory and have
been under consideration ever since.
In every instance reductions in the
existing rates complained Of were
made, and in some instances they
amounted to nearly so per cent. The
commission found through its inquiry
remarkable rate situation existing
on the Pacific coast and even a more
remarkable one in the inter-moun.
tain territory. This is notably true
Of the rates to and from Spokane,
Wash, and Reno, New.
The Spokane rate case had been
before the commission in one form or
another for several years. The ship
pers of that city complained insistent-
ly OF the rates which they were
charged by the railroads on freight
classes and commodities from East
ern points Of origin.
All Of the reductions ordered by
the commission affected the rates
from Missouri river and Mississippi
river transfer points to Pacific coast
terminals and inter-mountain terri
torial points.
In the case of the city of Spokane
against the Northern Pacific and
Great Northern Railroad companies
and other carriers the commission
holds that the present rate charged
from Eastern points to Spokane
are unreasonable. The rates were
lowered approximately 20 per
cent. on both classes and commodi-
ties.
In the Nevada and Arizona cases a
heavy reduction in class rates is or
dered, some of the reductions being
as high as l33 1-3rd per cent. The
commission finds that the existing
rates are practically without prece-
dent or parallel throughout the Uni
ted States"
The average rate per ton per mile
on all 10 classes from Sacramento to
Reno is 90.16 cents, an unprecendent-
ed figure. The class rates between
Sacramento and Reno are reduced
approximately 80 per cent, the rate
on first class freight being lowered
from s1.2s per 100 pounds to S5c a
hundred pounds. Similar reductions
in the class rates are made from Sac
ramento to other points in Nevada
and Utah.
In the case of the railroad commits
sion of Nevada against the Southern
Pacific Company and other carriers,
the commission condemns the exist
ing westbound class rates from East
ern points to Nevada, declaring these
rates to be the highest main line
rates found in the United States"
Astonishing facts were developed
by the commission at it's hearings
concerning the earning capacity Of
the Pacific lines. The commission
shows that during the last two years
the revenues of the Southern Pacific
Companies Pacific system has in
creased sS.0OO,OOO while it's operating
expenses had decreased $5,O00,0O0,
thus producing an increased operat-
ing income Of over s12,OOOO,OOO or a.
net increase of about $4,000 per mile.