Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-02
RATES ON EXPRESS
FROM EAST CAUSE
BILL OF COMPLAINT
Freight Bureau viii Ask That
Atlanta Be Put on Basis
With Chicago in Shipment
IRON New York. :


For the purpose OF having express rates
to Atlanta from New York and other
eastern points reduced the Atlanta
Freight bureau has retained Attorney
w. A. Wimbish to file a complaint with
the interstate commerce commission
against the Southern and the Adams
Express companies.
This complaint will show. both that
Atlanta is the victim of discrimination
schedule of rates in effect here is UNI
justly high, without comparison with
the rates in other cities.
In addition, the complaint viii set
forth the fact that express rates af-
fecting Atlanta have not been revised
or reduced for rs years. While freight
rates have undergone continual change
for the benefit of the shipper, express
rates have remained stationary, de-
manding the same fee from merchant
and manufacturer that they required 25
years ago.
The following figures show the dis
elimination under which Atlanta labors
in express rates from New York: From
New York to st. louis, a distance of
LOGS miles SO is charged for 100-pound
shipments; from New York to Chicago. a
distance of 912 miles, $3.50 is charged:
from New York to Louisville, a dis
from New York to Atlanta. distance
OF but $40 miles, s4 is charged.
Though st. Louis is 1S9 miles farther
from New York than Atlanta is, express
to st. Louis requires 81 less for 100
pound shipments than express to At
lanta.
The demand will be made to the inter-
state commerce commission that the
rate from New York to Atlanta shall
be rendered no more than the rate from
New York to Chicago. The Chicago
rate is $3.50 and the Atlanta rate is 81.
Such a reduction would mean that To-
cal merchants and manufacturers
would save $3.50 on every 100 pounds
of freight expressed from New York.
A similar reduction will also be asked
in express rates from all eastern cities
Principally a reduction is desired from
New York; but, in addition. an equal
reduction is needed from all eastern
cities.
An obsolete schedule of rates that
was just 25 years ago has outworn the
patience If merchants and manufac-
turers and determined the freight bu-
reau to use every effort to secure fair
adjustment of express rates.
A reduction such as is desired. viii
save thousands of dollars yearly to At
lanta. The express bill of large mer-
chants ana manufacturers VIII amount
annually to from $1,000 to $4,000, ana
added to this are the fees the express
companies receive from individuals.
Under a schedule such as obtains from
New York to Chicago. $3.50 would be
saved on every 100-pound shipment, ana
the express bills would be cut almost
in half.
Attorney Wimbish has begun prepa-
ration Of his complaint and will file il
within a short time with the inter-
state commerce commission.
AT recent meeting of directors of the
Atlanta freight bureau it was decided
that ne should be retained and the COM
plant made to the commission. Every
effort has been made to bring about an
agreement between the express compa-
MES and local shippers. but these en-
deavors have been fruitless As a final
effort. the freight bureau win carry its
contentious, before the interstate COM
merce commission.