The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-24
DEMAND STOP OVER PR|VELEGESFOR
 THE MAGIC CITY Chamber of Commerce Con- mittee Charges Unjust
 Discrimination
CITES LETTER FROM
 A TOLEDO CITIZEN
Petition Drawn Up by Committee and Forwarded to Southeastern Pas senger Association Asking
 for Square Deal

The railroads and transportation committee of the Chamber of Com merce has inaugurated vigorous campaign against the discrimination of the railroad in regard to stop over privileges on one way tickets, which they claim are denied to Birmingham but enjoyed by Chattanooga and New Orleans.
 Under the ruling of the interstate commerce commission the stop over privilege is allowed at all points when a double or return ticket is pur- chased by the passenger. This ruling does not apply to the one way ticket, but according to the contentious of the committee certain cities are being favored by the railroads by the grant of stop over privileges on single tickets.
 Birmingham Is not one of these favored cities, so the railroads and transportation committee has prepared a memorial which has been forwarded to the Southeastern Passenger associa- ger agent of the city protesting g against this unjust discrimination. and asking for square deal.
 Want Fair Treatment
 H. W. Coffin, chairman of the com mittee, states that the time has come when Birmingham must be treated fairly by the railroads, and contends that Birmingham stands pre- eminent in industrial and commercial develop ment and would attract hundreds of visitors if treated with the same con- sideration as other cities of less note.
 The memorial Is as follows:
 Memorial from the Chamber of Com
 merce at Birmingham, Ala, to the
 Southeastern Passenger Association.
 For seven years at various times we have been petitioning your body for recognition of the rights of Bir- mingham to stop over privileges on one way tickets. You have repeatedly denied this request, notwithstanding the fact that New Orleans and Chatta- nooga both receive these favors. We have been told that New Orleans, on account of being a playground, and Chattanooga, on account of Chicka- mauga park, with it's historical remi- niscences, are in a different class to the other communities of the south. 3I Favored Cities
 Toledo. O., and Wheeling, w. Va, not in your association, are granted these privileges by the railroads mak ing these points, and there are doubt less number of other communities in the United States which. like these two, are neither playgrounds nor places of historical interest
 What sound reason is there in mak- ing a distinction in favor of play grounds and points of historical inter est? In this age there is a keener de- sire on the part of the average trav- eler to see evidences of material de- velopment than to view the scenes of ancient happenings or indulge in play full revels.
 Birmingham increased it's popula- tion 245.4 per cent in 10 years, from 1909 to 1910. It Is the center of the most remarkable mineral region in the world. It is pre-eminent among the wonders of American municipal devel- opment. People want to see Birming- ham, and would see it In larger num- bers if the railroads would treat us as they treat Chattanooga and New or leans. The discrimination in favor of these places is unfair and irritating. Treat us all alike. Deny stop overs to all or grant them to all that come within certain reasonable classifica- tion, as for instance, cities of 1000 population, All we want is a square deal.
 Letter From Toledo