The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-21
DETERMINATIONS
ALLEGED BY NELSON
Says Frisco FavOrs Ken
lucky Coal Operators
RATES TO MEMPHIS
Said to Be Ten Cents Per Ton Lower
From Illinois and Kentucky
Than From Birmingham-To
Institute Contest
RATES TO MEMPHIS

Frank Nelson, Jr.. president of the EN-
pire Coal company is up in arms against
the Frisco railroad because of the dis
criminatory rates, which Mr.. Nelson says
are in existence. Mr.. Nelson says the
have a rate to Memphis that is at least
10 cents per ton lower than is the rate
made to Birmingham operators. The
mileage from Birmingham to Memphis is
much less than it is from the Illinois coal
fields to Memphis, Mr.. Nelson points
out, and he cites the rates of the Louis
Vile and Nashville and the Southern rail-
roads. which are much less than the Frls-
co rates. even though the mileage Is
greater. Mr.. Nelson says that his COM
pany is going to contest these rates and
that it has already filed protests with the
state railroad commission and Interstate
commerce commission. He issued a state
ment as follows:
Mr.. Nelson's Statement
Birmingham is practically shut out OF
Memphis and other Mississippi river
points by raise in rates on coal and coke
from the Birmingham district by the F'ris-
co system.
THE Illinois and Kentucky coal fields
now enjoy a 10-cent per ton better freight
rate into Memphis, Natehez. and Baton
Rouge than the Birmingham district,
yet this territory should iightfuly be-
long to the Birmingham district, as the
mileage from Birmingham is much less
than from Illinois and Kentucky. In
some instances 1t is only one-half the dis
-
per ton higher. The Frisco railroad oper-
ates the only direct line into Memphis and
this unjust discrimination against the
Birmingham district will be resented by
the Birmingham shippers and contested
before the railroad commission. What
the Frisco railroad will gain by increased
rates they will and should surely lose i'm
decreased business.
Previous Action Taken
Some years ago the Frisco management
r.ghtfully took the position that the rates
from the Birmingham district on coal
10 Memphis and Mississippi points should
be lower than from the Illinois and Ken
tucky fields and just why the present
management has reversed the opinion and
raised the rates 10c per ton above the
Illinois and Kentucky rates into this ter
ritory, in the face of one OF the dullest
coal markets birmingham has ever seen,
seems ridiculous and can be viewed In
no light other than a. stab at this dis
trict.
Under the raise in rates the coal mines
on any other line In the Birmingham dis
trct enjoy a cheaper rate into New Or
leans than mines on the Frisco road. The
+ nd uhxtfIi rria tat,
Pensacola and Mobile, 2s miles farther
than to Memphis from Zoe to 20c per ton
cheaper than the Frisco carries II into
Memphis The Louisville and Nashville
and Southern carry coal into Memphis
via Decatur 20 miles farther than to
Memphis by way OF the Frisco, on a less
rate.
Increase Unwarranted
1.-The increased rates made by the St
Louis and San Francisco railroad are un-
warranted and discriminatory against the
Birmingham district In favor of the 1lli-
nois and Kentucky fields. In addition
to the raises made on westbound coal
and coke, the Empire Coal company has
been notified in supplement No. 25 that all
rates on eastbound coal and coke from
Empire into Georgia is raised SC per ton
The Birmingham district on account of
the low rates prevailing from Tennessee
and West Virginia into this territory has
already been shut out OF most OF Georgia,
and 1t would seem that the management
OF the Frisco is determined, SO far as
mines on its line are concerned, to cur
tail their territory both east and west.
al would like to ask Mr. Eugene Nc
Auiffe, who seems to be the expert rate
maker for this system, to explain to the
Birmingham public why the Illinois and
Kentucky coal operators should be per-
mitted to ship their product into Mem
phis Tenn, Natchez, Miss, and Shreve-
port, La. on a 1Oc per ton lower freight
rate than ours when the mileage Is
from so to 100 per cent greater. He stated
to me yesterday that the Birmingham
district only shipped about Is per cent
of the coal consumed in Memphis and
presume he wants to still further curtail
these shipments or thinks an increased
rate from Birmingham will increase
them