The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1913-03-10
LOWER FREIGHT RATES
FOR LOCAL DISTRICT
Sought by the CIarksburg
Board of Trade and
Other Concerns
MOVEMENT I'm HAND
And There isAssurance Of the
Aid of a Permanent
Agency.


AS is very generally known, tho
Clarksburg Board Of Trade has been
working for several months upon
freight tariff matter OF vital interest
to the clarksburg district. In the
endeayor to place this district upon
a Pittsourg basis, taking a Pittsburg
rate east and west on both IN and
out shipments, the various communi-
ties included within a zone of forty
miles of Clarksburg have been sollc-
lifted to join with that organization
and bear a proportion OF the cost TO
secure the services OF an expert
traffic company. This is necessary In
order that the presentation Of our de-
mands to the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, and, If necessary, to the in
terstate commerce commission may
be made in technical way that Will
receive proper consideration upon
their receipt.
The communities interested outside
of Clarksburg, viz; Fairmont, Graf
ton, Salem, Weston, and Buckhan-
non, have shown marked interest in
cooperating for mutual benefit, and
it is expected, within the near future
to have the traffic company, with
(which negotiations are already under
way, to go ahead with the desired
work.
Tn order that the shippers generally
will have a more intimate knowledge
of existing conditions. and what 1t IS
possible to secure with the rate situ-
iation properly adjusted, the follows
ling is presented for the benefit Of the
same, and which 1t is hoped will be
!carefully digested:
4 In presenting the situation as view
4 ed in its relation to the transporta-
ton problems that confront this dis
Itrict, 1t is first recognized that lack
of competition has proved an
important factor in the construction
of rates to and from central West
Virginia territory. The Baltimore
and Ohio railroad seems to have dis
played a general policy that tended
to dwarf rather than develop this
district which nature has abundantly
endowed. The rate structure as found
today betrays primitive methods, and
has not kept pace with the develop
ment such as has been accorded other
territory, whose natural advantages
were similar. That public spirit
prompted by inquiry as to why this
district, fertile in possibilities, has
not enjoyed the establishment of many
more large industries, is being caught
up by the farseeing business men
who have either long suffered under
the existing basis of rates or VINO
have recently invested capital, appre-
Iciating the position which this dis
trist holds in its relation to the at
tractive markets Of our country. No
systematic effort seems to have been
previously put forth to correct the
status Of the freight rates. which have
been somewhat arbitrarily established
by the Baltimore and Ohio In conse-
quence of which the burden Of ortiz
cism falls on the public, as well as the
traffic officials, under whose idrisdic-
ton the rates were made, 1t is not
enough that an Individual interest
shall be recognized and an equitable
rate made for him. The public at
large being entitled to reasonable
rates, must complain to get relief.
The old system Of railroad operation
brought the public into an attitude Of
supplication, but the Interstate COM
merce law severed the bonds and pro-
vided the channel for the correction
of exorbitant charges when they were
assessed by the carriers, and the COM
mission. through the exercise of its
preogative, has not only corrected
conditions of discrimination, as be-
tween individuals and shipping CEN
tiers, but has and is welding an in-
auence on the rate fabric of this coun-
try that is bringing about justice and
equity.
i That the central West Virginia dis
trict, because OF its almost inexhaus-
tible fuel supply should contribute ia
the Baltimore and Ohio this adyan-
tage by paying higher rates than OBJ
tains from other districts where
transportation is handled under sim.
liar conditions, win not be viewed by
the commission favora6ly. They have
repeatedly ruled that me natural ad.
vantages of community, which tend
to lower cost of production, can not
be equalized by the assessment Of
higher than reasonable rates for SER
Ivlce rendered. Furthermore. a tocaf-