The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-10-22

points on the road are larger than in
our opinion is reasonable. The aggre-
gate OF these increases is about 81 per
cent.
2. The proposed increases would make
the rates from the principal shipping
points on the Boston & Maine system
to the port of Boston higher than the
rates from points similarly situated
with reference to the ports of New
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
8. The steamship companies engaged
in the coastwise trade from this port
usually absorb the local freight rates
on commodities shipped on their vessels
to southern and southeastern points. II
such large increases in these local rates
are granted, the steamship companies
would probable feel compelled to make
a proportional increase in their rates;
and the industries of New England
would thereby be further handicapped
in competing for trade with industries
located in the Central Freight associa-
ton territory. Further, in a large num-
Der of cases, the through rates from
New England to southern points are
made by adding the local rate to Bos-
ton to the steamships rate from Bos-
ton. In every one OF such cases the
freight rates win be advanced between
New England and the South just as
much as the local rates are advanced
by the Boston Il Maine.
A. A considerable number of manu-
faeturers and boards of trade have ex-
pressed the opinion that so extreme an
advance in rates-an aggregate OF 81
per cent, including the decreases to the
more distant portions of northern New
England--would seriously cripple the in
dustrial establishments on the various
divisions of the Boston & Maine rail-
road.
s. The proposed schedule of rates is
on a fixed mileage basis and applies I'M
conditionally between all points on the
road. We believe that in. fixing the
rates due attention should be given to
such fundamental elements as density
of traffic, degree of grades and curva-
ture, probable trainload and cost OF
fuel.
6. The proposed schedule of increases
puts at disadvantage in shipping TO
and from Boston local points, the dis
tributing and manufacturing centers To-
Gated on the Boston & Maine, such as
Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Fitch
burg, Lowell, Lawrence, Manchester,
Portland, etc, as compared with those
located elsewhere, such as New York,
Baltimore, Philadelphia, etc.
z. We believe that as much encour-
agement as possible should be given to
the locating of industries in sections
within reasonable distance of com
petitive ports. such as Boston. The
proposed radical increases in classified
freight rates would have the opposite
effect
"For these reasons, and for the 9TH
er reasons stated above, while recogniz-
ing the need of considerable read
iustment of freight rates on the Bos-
ton & Maine railroad and of a general
lining up of the rates so as to make
them harmonic with each other, and
while admitting the propriety of such
reasonable increases in rates as may
be shown to be necessary in connection
Herewith, we recommend that the d.
reetors strongly oppose the approval by
the commission of this particular pro-
posed schedule of increases"
(Signed) George Hutchinson, chairman;
Albert Greene Duncan, Charles J.
Hubbard, John S. Lawrence, George
F. Mead, Alfred /. Merigold, Will
liam 2. Ripley, Russell Robb, Rob
ert L. Studley. Associate member,
Edward Dana.