Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-17
GEORGIA LUMBERMEN TO
FIGHT RATE INCREASE
Dispatch Announces Roads
Intention to Increase Rate
| Cent Per 100 Pounds

Another big lumber hght-one that will
rival the famous war of several years ago
between the railroads coming into this
section and the Georgia lumbermen, led
by H. H. Tift-wiIl probably be started in
the near future, or just as soon as the
roads operating south Of the Ohio and
east of the Mississippi rivers put into ef-
feet the proposed increase in freight rate
charges OF per cent per hundredweight
on shipments of lumber.
It was runored Tuesday that the trans
portation lines operating both north and
south of the Ohio river crossings would
put this rate advance into effect on April
is and that tentative schedules had al
ready been arranged. This territory In
cludes the lumber section OF Georgia and
the Iumbermen will undoubtedly issue a
call to arms as soon as the advance is
announced ofacialIy. and begin prepare
lions to make fight against It.
Some Ave years ago the transportation
lines entering this section made an adj
vance Of cents, which was fought by
lumbermen throughout the state The
fight was led by H H. Tiff. of Tittons one
of the biggest lumber dealers in the
south, and was finally won by the lum-
bermen, who besides having the rate
placed back at the original figure secured
over 100000 as return for overcharge
in rates while the case was being argued.
This case was only settled the first of
last year and the news that the trans
portation lines intend increasing their
rates so soon after losing the recent big
fight comes as a surprise.
The fight recently waged against the
transportation companies by the lumber
men was first won by the lumber dealers
before the Interstate commerce commits
SION, and then the decision was upheld by
the United States supreme court.
The present lumber rate from this
section is from 10 to "a cents per 100
pounds, which was recently held in the
case of Tiff VS.. the transportation lines
as high enough by the interstate COM
merce commission and the supreme
court. The proposed advance Of 1 cent
per hundredweight would mean an In
crease OF per cent. which totals very
high in large shipments such as are sent
from this state.
Having heard nothing officially from
the transportation lines as 70 the propos-
ed increase tho OeoTSid uSdicLS nave EOs
yet begun their fight but will do so as
soon as the rates go into effect Mem
phis dealers have already started efforts
to prevent the roads from putting the
new rates into effect.
The dispatch announcing tho contem-
plated increase follows:
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Feb. 16.-An adj
vance in freight rate charges of cent
per hundredweight on shipments OF lum-
Der is contemplated by transportation
lines both north and south of Ohio river
crossings, according to an informal an
nouncement made here today. Then
tative schedules have Been arranged, It is
stated, to become effective April 10. Be
tween points south of the Ohio river
line gum and cotton wood lumber will
probably be exempt from the increased
rates, but north of the river II is propos-
ed that the advanced rates apply to all
lumber shipments.
Concerted efforts to prevent the rail-
roads putting the higher rates into ef-
feet is planned by local shippers. 1t Is
estimated that the advance would in
crease the cost Of transportation from
80 to AZ cents per 1000 feet.