The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-24
Committees Formal Report

1 report of the railroads and trans
portaton committee was generally con-
ceded to be one of the most complete and
comprehensive statements of existing
freight rates from eastern port cities to
Birmingham, Ala, were completed. Ten
tables containing the number of miles
from eastern cities to Atlanta, Birming-
ham, Chattanooga, Knoxville. Nashville
and Memphis, giving class rates in cents
per 100 pounds, average rates in cents
and rate per ton per mile are shown and
| in almost every instance discrimination
against Birmingham is shown. The re-
port is as follows, tables omitted
Discriminatory results of present rail
and water rates from eastern port cities
to Birmingham, Ala:
| Table No. herewith shows present
rail and water class rates from Boston
New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore
to Atlanta, Birmingham, Chattanooga
Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis Tie
figures are compiled from tariffs now in
| effect. The mileage shown is based on
250 miles to the port of Savannah. plus
short line rail mileage to destination.
"Of the six representative commercial
centers compared. Birmingham shows the
highest rates and Nashville the lowest
Under this adjustment the Nashville job
Der sells his goods on all sides of Bir-
mingham al less rates than the Birmng-
ham jobber can. To Illustrate: The aver
age rate from New York to Nashville
is 56.33; average rate from Nashville to
Admission is 46--total, 1928: the average
rate from New York to Birmingham Is
80; average rate from Birmingham to
Admission is 1876; total 1135. So it will be
seen that Nashville has a rate advantage
over Birmingham of ILL cents per l0C
pounds on all articles covered by the
six numbered classes. This amounts 10
an advantage of $3.50 per car of 24,00t
pounds. Admission is SO miles from Bir-
mingham and 270 from Nashville
ITO Collnsvile, SO miles south OF
Nashville and Il miles north of Birming-
ham, Nashville has the following differ
entia under Birmingham: /. Is; 2, 90; g.
lis: L. 20; s. l6; g. 125.
'To Demopolis. 366 miles south of Nash
Vile. through Birmingham. and 15s miles
south of Birmingham. Nashville's rate
advantage is: l, "a; 2. 20; 8, 1s. 4, 49, 5, "A,
6. "A.
"ro Boligee 307 miles south of Nashville
and 100 miles south of Birmingham. Nash
| vile has the following differentia under
Birmingham: 3, 9.5: A. "A: 5. 81 6. ..
ITO Aliceville. 3l4 miles southeast oi
Nashville and 107 miles southeast of Bir-
mngham, Nashville has the. following
| rate advantage: 4, 10: 6, Z: 6. A.
| Numerous other instances could be
lcited, equally as illustrative of Nashville $
| great rate advantage. but these are suf-
ficient to demonstrate the bad adjust
ment and to show how impossible it IS
for Birmingham to fairly compete against
such odds.
liable No 2--This table shows the all
rail rates from eastern nort cities tn At
/ larta. Birmingham. Chattanooga. Knox
/ Vile Nashville and Memphis. Like the rail
and water rates. BIRMINGHAM takes higher
/ rates. all rail. than any of the other
| points. Comparing its rate with Memphis
we hnd the average to be $3.50. against
| Memphis average of 6o.s3. giving that
noint a rate advantage of 27.5 cents per
100 pounds or a lnwer charge ON CAR
load of 24.oNO pounds of $50.
This enables the Mcrnnhis iobher who
buys his goods as cheaplv as Birmng-
ham to cut into our territory, even al
Guin, 81 miles west of here, and 16f miles
east of there. with a rate advantage Of
Ii, IS; 2. Is: 8, 81: A. 20: g. %: 6, 20.
These are all rail rates involving a
haul from New York to Memphis of 116'