The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-18
GREAT CHANGES IN
WAYS OF EXPRESS
New Order of Things and Re-
duced Rates in Effect
February 1.
COMPANIES ACT GRACEFULLY
Rates Cut Nearly in Half-Prac-
tically There Is But
One Company.

On February / next the practically
level reduction OF 16 per cent In exist
ms interstate express rates goes into
effect for two years. as prescribed by
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The new rates. however, may not
necessarily remain In force for that
length OF time. the commission hav-
ing intimated that IL. after reason
able period IL is shown thar the rates
are unreasonable. express companies or
shippers Will have the opportunity to
appeal
1t is certain. however. that whether
OF not an appeal is taken either by
81 .ppers or the express companies be-
fore the twoyear Lcr!od expires, the
present system OF stating rates will be
permanently supplanted by tho block
system Devised and adopted oy the In
terstate Commerce Commission. It
Viii not be possible TO put back the
old rates, according to express COM
pany officials, or TO revert TO the old
basis OF rate-making, once ths ship
pers OF the country have familiarized
themselves with the workings Of the
biock method OF determining rates
Numerous New Rules.
Simultaneous with the advent of the
new rates. new rules regarding .lassl-
hcatton of shipments. receipts and de-
liVerS OF shipments and returned un-
delivered and &c. o. D." shipments will
go Into effect. Express rates. which
heretofore have been divided into
merchandise" and general special
rates. will be known under the new
system as first" and second class"
rates. the frst-class covering all ship
ments OF merchandise, and the sec
ond-class all food products and most
beverages. The second-class rates are
made 76 per cent of the frst-class
rates. There is also third class rate.
which applies to "almanacs, books.
calenders," etc.
After February shippers will be
compelled to place their names on
packages unless they choose the al
Tentative OF preparing the package 70
fered for shipment All packages ar
ter the above date will have to be
forwarded by the express companies
over tho most direct route existing and
not. as has som etimes been tho prac-
tice, over circuitous routes to gain the
advantage OF longer hauls or to avoid
splitting of revenue with some other
express carrier.
An Idea OF the big fall In tho rates
may be formed from the following
sample figures: From Richmond to At
ianta the new rate on a five pound
package is 81 cents. old rate so cents;
TO Boston. 20 cents, old rate, IS; to
Greensboro. rs cents. old rate 40 cents;
to New Orleans. SO cents. old rate 20
cents. These are different rates for
ten, fifteen. twenty and twenty-five
pound packages, and 80 on up to 100
pounds.
Took 1t Gracefully.
That the express business is recog-
nized as a necessity. is beyond the
question Of n doubt. 1t Is made use
of In almost every conceivable way,
and for every conceivable purpose, both
by the public and by tho government.
1t is said the express companies ac-
copied the order of the Interstate
Commerce Commission gracefully and
In good faith, and there is no reason
to doubt it's management will make
good their expressed purpose to give
the patrons service that will prove
helpful and satisfactory, notwithstand-
ing the tremendous loss In revenue,
which they claim must inevitably re-
suit.
The local facilities of the Southern
Express Company In this city, recently
completed, is evidence, OF it's progress
siveness. and an indication Of the COM
pany's desire to afford the very best
service to Its patrons. Richmond has
an up-to-date express office