The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-14
up TO COMMISSION.
SHIPPERS ASK FREIGHT RATES
INVESTIGATION.
Petition Alleges North Carolina Dis
tributers Enjoy Advantages Over
South Carolina Competitors.


Carolina was carried before the rail-
road commission yesterday. when a
petition for hearing was filed by the
State Freight Rate Association. Mem
bers OF the commission said that
hearing on the petition would be held
early i'm April.
The petition is filed against the fol-
lowing railroads: Alcolu Railway
company. Atlantic Coast Line railroad
company. Augusta Northern Railway
company. Bennettsville & Cheraw
railroad, Blue Ridge Railway com
panp. Branchville & Bowman rail-
road. Carolina. Clinchfield e. Ohio
Railway OF South Carolina, Carolina
a Western Railway company, Caro-
lima & Northwestern Railway COM
pany. Central Railroad Of South Car
olina. Charleston & Western Carolina
Railway company. Charlotte. Monroe
q Columbia railroad, Chesterfield &
Lancaster railroad. Columbia, New
berry q Laurens Railroad company
Due West Railway company, George
town & Western Railroad company
Greenville q Knoxville Railroad COM
pany. Hampton & Branchvile rail-
road. Lancaster & Chester Railroad
company. Marion & Southern rail-
road, Northwestern Railroad OF
South Carolina. North & South Caro-
lima Railway company. Orangeburg
railway. Pickens railway. Raleigh &
Charleston railway. Scaboard Air
Line railway. Seivern. & Knoxville
railroad, Southern Railway company.
South Carolina Western railway. I'm
ion q Glenn Springs Railroad COM
pany. Ware Shoals railroad.
In the petition II Is staed that the
stste Freight Rate association is q
voluntary organization OF shipping in
terests OF South Carolina. having for
Its purpose "the matter Of obtaining
Just. reasonable and non -discrimina-
tory freight rates within the State Of
South Carolina.
The rates applicable on intrastate
traffic in the State of North Carolina
are materially less than those operat-
ed by the same carriers on intrastate
business In South Carolina" says the
petition, and such traffic in South
Carolina Is handled under conditions
and circumstances more favorable to
the transportation companies"
The railroad commission of South
Carolina is petitioned to initiate an
investigation upon its own motion 10
determine whether the interests of the
citizens Of South Carolina are not be-
Ing encroached upon by the general
reductions OF freight rates in North
Carolina, while increases are being
made. II Is alleged. in South Carolina.
Transportation conditions and 9TH
er ratemaking factors. the petition
says. would justify lower freight rates
In South Carolina than i'm North
Carolina
IL Is contended by the petitioners
that the freight produced in South
Carolina for line haul movement
both interstate and intrastate, fur
nishes at present greater revenue
and n greater density of traffic than
10 furnished by North Carolina per
mile OF road.
IL Is claimed that the interstate
rates from the West to points in South
Carolina are materially greater than
the rates from the same points to
points In North Carolina.
The petition says that the interstate
rates from points within this state TO
points In North Carolina are material
ly In excess OF the rates applicable
within the latter state on intrastate
traffic. which therefore by reason of
the fact that the interstate rates from
points In North Carolina to points in
South Carolina being In great many
cases materially less than the intra-
state schedule applicable between
points In South Carolina. gives the
distributing centres OF North Caro-
lima material advantage. first as op-
Grating within that State rs against
the distributing centres In South Car
olina and second. as operating In
South Carolina as against the dis
tributors In this state. The advan-
tage. therefore. II is said. is in every
way in favor Of the North Carolina
distributors.
In the event that the railroad com
mission does not sec ~ To make an in
vestigation upon it's own motion. the
petitioners ask that the commission
proceed In due form by fixing an early
date for IA hearing and i'm that man
ner enter into an investigation.
The petitioners lay particular stress
lot