The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-02-27

Insruitful Appeals to the Railroads.,
Will, Even the North Carolina State |,
Corporation Alleged to be Not In
tcrestcd in the Subject. a Represen-
tatiyc OF the Interstate Commerce
commission Has Been Secured. and
He is Coming to High Point Soon
to Move Things.
Especial to News and Observer.)
High Point. Feb. 24-F'or many
years the Southern manufacturers,
especially those located in North Car
DINA, have been labOring under a
rate discrimination IN their manufac-
tured products to Middle West and
Pacific Coast points Of a 20 cent arbi-
trary. due, as the railroads contend,
t. the Virginia cities rate-makinS
basis.
Practically every other manufac-
turing point east of the Mississippi
River. including extreme eastern
points as we'll as a great many south
ern points. have the advantage of
North Carolina factories on western
point rates of 20 cents per 100
pounds, which is equal to a consider
able trade discount on the goods, and
which has worked as a serious OBJ
Stacle to The North Carolina factories
in their efforts to dispose Of at least
4 portion Of their output in territory
Wtlitu is DIS nlIcn lltlIS DIS tIat OIL
any other factories east Of the Miss
jssippi River.
one appeal after another has been
nrtd.. to the southern hallway and
other railroads Interested, all Of
which, however, ave been unfruit-
ful; and seeing 10 hope whatever for
relief in this direction, the Southern
Furniture Manufacturers Association,
which is composed OF practically
every manufacturer Of furniture and
kindred lines in North Carolina Gin
Guiding also q few Virginia factories).
through its Traffic aEg Transports
1ipn Committee, Fred n. Tate, High
Point, chairman, filed it's complaint "a
faw months ago with the Interstate
Commerce Commission shortly there
after asking the aid and financial sup
port Of the North Carolina Corpora
ton Commission. Competent attor-
neys have been employed and rate
experts have prepared data calculated
to convince any court Of the business
of the petition Of the furniture manu-
f3tturerS, and the Interstate Com
mcrre Commission has designated
one OF their lumber to come to High
Point at an early date and take evil
dence in order that the Ease may be
carefully laid before the entire com
mission at Washington.
The State Corporation Commission
i said to nave declined to len its
aid to the people Of North Carolina
III this, the best organization and mOS1
generally supported effort yet mads
far the adjustment OF freight-ratt
Determinations against Our State.
Tn Traffic and Transportation
Committee of the southern Manutac'
tIrers' Association visited the Cor
poration Commission at Raleigh som
weeks ago and made a special plet
1att the commission end its flnanCla
AID and the support and advice Of tn
Acknowledgement in this matter, ant
the commission was recommended u
90 50 by the Governor if the law dl'
not forbid. Upon Investigation, 1t wa
found that the commission had ampl
authority to spend the taxpayers
money in matters Of this sort, and tn
committee felt sure that the commits
slpn would not hesitate for a mOmen
Il take advantage of the very pes
opportunity as yet presented WhefeO
1t could show to the people of Mort
14roiina, who have been voting tn
members of this commission into of
ice for years, that they a the IN
terests of the citizens Of the State q
heart and expected to do their fu
only IN bringing the railroads to &C
count i'll matters. which have up t
this time so greatly retarded tn
growth and development, not onl
nom a manufacturing standpoint, bu
mat OF jObbing, merchandising an
other lines of business, all Of Whic
are necessary to the successful groWt
ol any commonwealth. After severe
weeks delay, the commission advise
the committee that it could not, 6
would not, participate or lend its SUI
port IN this contest, giving only on
iinsy excuse, simply that the commits
SION had not been consulted before tn
complaint Of the manufacturers ha
peen flied with the Interstate Con
llerCe Commission
ms has placed the manufactures
III a somewhat embarrassing position
80 i VIII require quite a sum Of none
- prosecute this suit to a successfl
.phc!uslon and they do not feel tn;
'neS should be called upo to bea til
,Htre ourde nOf expense. Nevertht
iess' they expect to carry on the il
ststSatiOn to its conclusion whethe
Win or without the aid of the Sta