The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-03
RAILROADS ANSWER
/ COMPLAINTS ON THE
| birmingham RATES
Certain Reductions Are
Made and Others to
Be Made
BROADER QUESTION
is IMPRACTICABLE'
Long Arguments Entered Into Ex-
planning Certain Schedules-Some
Matters Now Before Inter-
state Commission

pra ct1cable to at this time make the re-
visions demanded" the traffic officials
of the various railroads operating through
Birmingham have replied to the recent
contentious of the Chamber of Commerce
railroads and transportations committee
that flagrant Determinations were being
made against Birmingham in railroad
rates.
The formal reply is addressed to Chair
man M p. Northngton of the chamber
railroads and transportation committee
and was compiled the week of August Is
during the conference at Hot Springs,
Va, of southern railroad representatives.
Since that time the letter has been sent
about over the country for the signatures
of the traffic officials of the nine rail
was received by Secretary w. c. Radcliffe
of the chamber yesterday and In view
of the Importance of the subject to every
merchant and business man in the Bir-
mingham district, it is here given in full.
Meeting to Be Held
Secretary Radcliffe stated yesterday
that a meeting of the chamber committee
in charge OF the freight rate matters
and the next step in the movement for
better freight rates would be decided
upon. The letter from the railroad Of
ficials is as follows
Hot Springs, Va, August 81 1918.
'Mr. NJ. p. Northingtpn, Chairman Rail-
roads and Transportation Committee,
Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham,
Ala.
Dear Sir:-In accordance with the
| mr. of ha tot .
the conference held in Birmingham, on
July %. the rate questions then submit
ted by your committee have been very
thoroughly and carefully discussed here
this week, with the following results each
OF the undersigned having severally and
individually reached the conclusions here
in expressed:
The important matters presented for
our consideration at that conference, and
In the memorandum distributed by your
committee shortly prior to that confer
ence, relative to the rate revisions de-
sired of us by your committee, may be,
on analysis, broadly classified as follows
Complaints Classified
Il. Alleged discrimination in rates OF
certain specific commodities from and tc
Birmingham as compared with rates from
and to certain other manufacturing and
distributing points, such, for instance, as
the outbound rates on stoves, etc.
"2. Alleged discrimination in the matter
of rates from New Orleans, and perhaps
other gulf ports, to Birmingham, CON-
pared with Nashville; and the demand
that such discrimination be removed by
complying with the long and short haul
rule of the fourth section of the act to
regulate commerce, as amended.
'3. Alleged discrimination In the matter
of the rates from the east to Birmingham
as compared with Nashville, and demand
that such discrimination be removed.
with respect to the first class of rates
mentioned, particularly to those specific
ally mentioned by the gentlemen who
spoke at the conference on the 23d, it is
proper to point out first that many of
the rates named by those gentlemen were
inaccurate, and in many instances the
Determinations complained of are shown
by reference to the tariffs not to actually
exist In other instances the rates men,
toned are local to some one line, and in
such cases each road will check over and
consider the adjustment complained OF,
and make such changes as consistent, ad-
vising. you And where the rates are COM
mon to two or more lines, those rates also
will be discussed and carefully consid-
cred, and you will be advised as promptly
as practicable whether or not those lines
can meet your wishes
RevisiOns Contemplated
I'm the meantime We take pleasure in
advising you that the following requested
rate revisions either already have been
or shortly will be made:
THE classification of wire mattresses
as per the southern classification Will
be adopted to apply between points in
Alabama on our respective lines.
1T has already been arranged to
establish revised ratings on sectional
metal culverts, and the interested Bir-
mingham shippers have been notified
accordingly
Regarding the alleged discrimina-
ton alleged to exist against Birming-
ham in favor of Atlanta in the matter
of rates on wrapping paper in Jumbo
rolls from both eastern and western
points; this question Is now having
consideration of Interested carriers
and further advice will be given you
as early as practicable.
'The rates generally from Virginia
cities to Birmingham are now the same
as to Montgomery, and it has been ar
ranged to establish the Montgomery
rates to Birmingham on such commodi-
ties on which the rates to Birmingham
are now higher than to Montgomery.
''The rates on stoves from Birming-
ham and competing manufacturins
points are to be carefully checked ovel
and properly adjusted.
These various changes Will we
trust, go very far towards meeting the
views and wishes Of the Chamber OF
Commerce. Most of them. you viii
note, are to be accomplished by re-
ductions in the rates and revenues OF
| the various railroads serving Birming.
ham.
with respect to the BROADER ques.
tions involved, however, the conclusion
| has been reached that it seems abso
lutely impracticable to at this time
make the revisions demande6 for the
reason, among others. that these mat.
| ters are already in the hands of the
Interstate commerce commission for de-
cision.
| In Hands of Commission
"Thus the question as to whether tn,
| long and short haul. of the amended
fourth section shall be observed in re
spect to the rates from New Orleans Il
Nashville, Tenn, as compared to tn,
rates to intermediate points on direc
lines, including Birmingham. Ala, hal
been submitted by the interested car
riers to the interstate commerce com
mission for decision, and whatever de
cision is rendered on that question vii
necessarily determine the status OF TIL
rates from New Orleans and other gul
ports to Birmingham, as compared Will
Nashville.
I'VE cannot voluntarily observe tn
/