The Detroit times., 1913-11-29
With Favorable Ruling on
Switching Rates, Will 20 After
Pennsylvania, Il. & o. and
Norfolk 4 Western
CAN GAIN ENTRANCE
OVER TRACKS OF d. T. Il l.
Decision on Terminal Charges Is
Great Boost for City's Com
mercial Interests

More momentous for Detroit than
appears on the surface, Is the de-
cision OF the interstate commerce
commission in the terminal switching
charges case. handed down. Wednes'
day.
1t Means" says Arthur T. Water.
fall traffic commissioner Of the Board
VI Commerce, that the Transports
lion committee OF the board will pro-
ceed with its negotiations to bring In
the Pennsylvania, the Baltimore q
Ohio. the Norfolk Western, and
any other railroads that can possibly
want any OF Detroits traffic and are
In any sort OF position to get II"
1T means" says Hal II. Smith. who
argued the case in. behalf OF the
Board OF Commerce. before the inter
state commerce commission, that.
logically, zone system OF charges
ought to be instituted on the outer
belt line, that will cause factories to
locate at that point on the outskirts
of the city that is nearest the line
which brings them their largest traf-
fc. II should mean the removal OF
factories from the heart OF the city
TO the outskirts. provided they can
secure the proper car service for their
men,"
The interstate commerce commits.
sion paid special attention to the
Detroit case because Pittsburgh.
Louisville. Kansas City, Memphis and
~ Al. {,,. ind 10 N
he decision. The Pennsylvania rail-
road has controlled the Pittsburg !
terminals absolutely, and has made
stringent and oppressive rules gov
vrning their use. The Detroit de-
rision. which virtually says that a
terminal railroad must be open on
naual terms TO all railroads, Is sore
blow TO the Pennsylvania in the Pitts
burgh district, but II gives the road
big advantage in getting into De
lroit.
The decision makes the Detroit, To
edo a Ironton railroad Of the utmost
importance to those lines which wish
o enter Detroit The D., r. & |. was
recently sold to a bondholders' syndi-
,ate for $3,500,O00--a sale which
wiped out about $45,000,0 900 In paper
kecurities. This syndicate now stnnds
good chance of making Dig proht
bn its purchase.
There are two ways by which tho
Pennsylvania may enter Detroit IL
nav buy the D., T. & l. tracks from
dundee to Delray. and build line
bn the right of way which II has re-
,entlv purchased from Dundee TO
Butler. Ind, to connect with the Van
lalia line. a Pennsylvania property;
Dr 1t may buy the d., IT. d !. from
oelray to Lima, o., connecting With
Is main line from Pittsburgh to Chi
rago. II Is figured that by the ex-
,enditure OF about 100000, proper
connection could be made between
he Delray terminal and the outer
belt line.
.The d.. I. & I. could be made a
treat feeder OF freight to and from
letroit." says Mr.. Waterfall. 1t
,rosses all the big systems--the New
FORK Central lines. the Pennsylvania,
ne b. & O., the Norfolk & Western,
nd the Erie--and could feed to any
bne of them.
I'm attempting TO secure better
reight facilities for Detroit. the trans
ortation committee found the rail-
Dads confronted bysfwo obstacles.
)ne was the lack Of money for I'M
brovements, In the present unQuiet
tate of the loan market The other
kas the system of terminal charges.
rhe Detroit Terminal Co. Is owned
oually by two systems-the New
fork Central and the Grand Trunk.
me result was that in its new tar
Ms. which we protested against, the
Detroit Terminal Co. favored the
ailroads I'm the systems which own
over other railroads. For instance,
where the Wabash would have to pay
switching charge of S., the charge
o the Lake Shore was only so cents.
"Under the commits sion's ruling,
UGH discrimination must cease, and
ach road must be given an equal OPP
ortunity to use the Detroit Terminal
CO.'S tracks. The Il. & o., the N.
w. and any other road that can
ct to Detroit will thus be able to use
he terminals"
Great credit Is due the transporta-
ion committee Of the Board OF Com
nerce. which has been behind the
ght since February, when the new
ariffs were posted. The committee
onsists OF w. @. Norvell, chairman;
J. Crowley, A. A. Templeton, c. w.
lotcher, Oliver Phelps. c. J. Shaar
nd w. b. Campbell.
The Michigan Central oficials
anne to US and told US that because
the great expenses they had un-
ergone in Improving the Detroit
criminals, they felt entitled to III
rease their charges" said Commits
Toner Waterfall. The committee re.
lied that 10 would not object to rea-
enable increases, provided the COM
any made Its case clear.
"A short time afterward, the new
hrins were posted, averaging an In
reAse of 100 per cent on the outer
elt and IS per cent on other switch
Pc. We protested, but to no avail.
he tariffs were to become operative
thin 4S hours. The committee held
haety meeting and decided to fight.
We protested to the interstate com
herce commission; and had the tar
% suspended until Dec. "a.
I'VE then went to work to gather
Acts and figures to present to the
Dmmission. We got into touch with
ANY industries and many other
ties. and collected a great mass Of
atortat Afforuov Smith orasenfo<i