The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-23
RAILWAY CONTROL
OVER WATERWAYS
Continued From First PageD

, been restricted by railroad control oil
water lines. this fact must be taker
account Of The Interstate Commerce
! Commission has by recent LEGISLATION
, secured a considers BILE increase N juris-
diction over Joint rail and water traf-
fc particularly with respect TO the
establishment OF joint rail and water
rates and the equitable division OF
such rates between the co-carriers.
This is a matter OF vital Importance.
II there is TO be any SUCCESSFUL at
tempt TO increase competition IN do
nestle water traffic, IL seems certain
that such joint rate arrangements
should be far more generally estab-
lished than at present Since Joint
through. rates are almost invariably
less than the sum of the local rates.
steamship line deprived OF the advan-
tage of a Joint rate arrangement with
railroads on an equitable basis 10
practically unable 10 compete with a
rival enjoying it,"
The report says that twenty rail-
roads of the country control steam
vessels and barges OF $1,000 GROSS
tonnage, engaged exclusively in domes-
tic trade. and continues;
New Haven system Greatest.
The tonnage of the New Haven
system is the largest. aggregatng
little over 100000 gross tons Next IN
Importance is the Union Paclnc-
Southern Pacific. with q grand total
Excluding tonnage engaged IN tor-
eign trade) of over $50, 600 gross tons
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
water lines have $500 gross tons IN
steamers and $500 tons in barges; the
New York Central. over 10000 gross
tons; the Central Of Georgia Railway
over 10000 gross tons.
The total capitalization OF water
lines CONTROLLED by these railroads (thls
not covering holding companies anu
several very important unincorporateo
services aggregates S5S.SS9.o'5 IN
stock and SCI .263.Ss7 in bonded DEBT
OF the stock. s40.22S,s 0o and or the
bonds, sl92I113 are owned by eighteen
railroads or their subsidiaries. III
most instances railroads own practi-
cally all the stock OF the separately
Incorporated water lines which they
control"
OF the traffic not dominated by
railroads along the Eastern Seaboard,
the great bulk. adds the report. is con-
trolled by two important steamship
consultations. the Atlantic, Gulf and
West Indies steamship Lines and the
Eastern Steamship Corporation. with
a few exceptions the constituent com
panies of these consultations were
formerly subsidiaries OF the Consoli-
dated Steamship Lines, organized by
Charles W. Morse and which collapsed
in 1907.
Directors In Common.
While there appears TO he no In
ter-ownership of stock between these
two steamship consultations, Mr.. Co.
nant adds, they have several directors
in common, indicating a considerable
community of interest.
On the Great Lakes ell the important
through passenger and package-freight
lines. il is declared. are owned by rail-
roads. In the local package freight
traffic there are a large number OF
Independent water carriers Several OK
the principal Lake fleets handling ore.
coal and lumber il is said, are under
the control Of important industrial
concerns, the largest being the Pitts
burgh Steamship Company controied
by the United States Steel Corpora
ton.
On the Pacific Coast. the commits
sioner found Independent steamshiD
lines forming an important factor In
the coastwise trade. but said severa!
water lines were under railroad con-
troll instancing the interest of the
Union Pacinc-Southern Pacific IN the
Pacific Mail and the san Francisco &.
Portland steamship Company. TINT
Southern Pacigc also controls fleet
Of oil vessels, belonging to the Assn
ciated OH Co. he ADDS.
Steamboat lines on the MisSs-eopi
River. Mr.. Conant says. have largely
srccuubed 10 Railroad competition cr
natural difficulties. The great bulk OF
bitum;nous coal. The principal item or
traffic to-day on the Ohio and hisSis-
sippi Rivers. is handled. ne adds. by a
single Industrial line-the Monongahela
River Consolidated Goa and Coke Co
controlled by the Pittsburgh Coal Com
pany.
Railroads now control. continues MI
Couant. about 20 per cent OF the mile
aye OF the few private canals stfll IN
operation.
On the Erie Canal. the most 'ln..
portant artificial waterway in the
country" says the commissioner. the
west-oound business has virtually
passed under the control OF railroads.
while eastbound trarlc has been large
IL diverted from the canal by the re-
peated reductions IN rail rates. rate
arrangemenN and railroad control OF
terminal facilities These reductions N
rail rates are. however. 20 be con-
siderable extent attributable To canal
competition"
The report deals chiefly with reg
uiar through passenger and freight
steamship lines. and takes no account
% tramp steamers 1t is the fourth
instaIlment as the result Of the Blu
reau OF Corporations extensive inves-
;sgatIon Of water traffic. the three pre-
vious reports relating TO water routes.
volume Of trafic and the control OF
terminals