The Sentinel=record., 1914-06-23
REPRESENTATIVE OF SHIPPERS BUREAU PROVES HOW HOT
 SPRINGS SUFFERS.
SOME INSTANCES RECITED
In Sending Out Mineral Waters High CT Rate Is Charged From Hot Springs to Cineinnatti Than From Points in Texas to Same Points.

Levin L. Mcdonald, representative of the Shippers Traffic Bureau of Lit tie Rock, of which Percy Allen, form CT railroad commissioner, is presi- dent met last night with the freight traffic committee of the Young Mems Chamber of Commerce for the pur- pose of presenting before that body the detail of the proposed plan to se- sure Hot Springs something of a say ing Of the estimated $200.O0O the busi- ness interested are being charged each year in excessive freight rates here.
 Mir Mcdonald said that there was about $750,000 per year paid out in Hct Springs in freight rates, or about three quarters of million dollars. He also reiterated the statement made by Mir. A en that there was between $t50,000 an $200000 per year charged against the business in Hot Springs i1 excessive rates, that could be saved to the city under proper conditions.
 Explaining in detail the system that would have to be worked out to get the matter properly before the In. terstate Commerce commission, MT. Mcdonald said that there would have to be notifications given to practi. cally every road in the country and that it was al inexhaustive proposi- tion to meet, in a way. There would he an expense incurred of about $2,- OG0 in order to get the data properly ill shape that the matter of results, and relief, would be contingent upon the success of the movement, and no fee would be expected in payment for the work unless substantial results were secured.
 There were present at the com mittee Chairman John G. Higgins, C. ]. Homer, Wayne Moore, and George Housley and Secretary Iatta, of the Young Mems Chamber of Commerce.
 In giving an illustration of the freight rates Hot Springs is paying in comparison with Little Rock on St Louis shipments, the following were given per 100 pounds:
 NldSS |. 0tdSS l. AidSS Q. Little Rock .S10O s S5 s .65 Fort Smith .. l.10 s5 75 Hot Springs >.... 1.35 116 .9S
 The distance from St Louis to Fort Smith Is 417 miles; from St. Louis to Hot Spring. is 400 miles. These fig ures show the dfferential between Little Rock and Hot Springs to be on first class freight B cents per 100; second class 31 cents per 100, and third ass 2S cents per 100 The diff ferential between Fort Smith and Lit tie Rock is 10 cents per 100 on all three classes, while the distance is longer between Fort Smith and St. ouis than between Hot Springs and St Louis.
 In connection with the claim often made by the railroads that the eX- cessive rate here is because the freight cars are returned empty, Mir. Mcdonald said that the number of empty cars hauled from this city was not more than hauled from other cities. for there was business for empty cars at Beauxite and benton and other points near at hand,
 Also an illustration was given of two items in which Hot Springs is rarticu arly interested, in that gate on drugs from Columbus Ohio, to Lit tie Rock, is S1.37 per 100 pounds, and the rate to Hot Springs is S1.75, while to Fort Smith it is but $1.47 per 100 pounds. Also on the ship ment of mineral water from Hot { Springs to Cincinatti, the rate is 62- 1-2 cents per 100 pounds. and the rate from Texas on mineral water to Gin cinnati is 50 1-2 cents per 100 pounds, showing marked discrimination against Hot Springs in one of the most advantageous inrustries 1t could ' build up.
 The rates that might he ordered through properly placing the matter before the Interstate Commerce Com < mi sion would be tasting for at least 1.-two years, and it is most usually the fEfase that where the proper reduc- xStions are enforced once, the higher hate is never put back again by the Tailroad companies.
 The matter will be taken up more Id detail at the Young Mems Chaber