The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-28
TO FIX COTTON RATE.
Secretary RcardOn Starts Campaign to
Reduce Freight Charges


The Sumter Chamber of Commerce
has started fight to adjust the rate
on cotton from HagOod, and other
points on the Southern Railway, in
Sumter County, to Sumter The Sum-
ter business men think that the rate
from 1agOOd to Sumter, for instance
as compared With the rate from Ha-
good to Camden, is entirely out of
proportion, considering geographical
conditions and distances to Sumter
and Camden from Hagood.
From HagOOd to Sumter the rate
on cotton is II cents per hundred
pounds. From Hagood to Camden
it is 10 cents. The Southern Rail-
way mileage from HagOod to Sumter,
transporting freight from Hagood in
a round about way to Sumter juno
ton and thence to Sumter, is about 80
miles.
The mileage via Southern Railway
to Camden, from HagOod is 13 miles.
Rembert, Sumter county. on the
Northwestern Railway, only three
miles from Hagood, in competitive
territory with the Southern Railway,
has cotton hauled to Sumter and
Camden for 10 cents per hundred
pounds to each point.
While it is true that the Southern
Railway does not enter Rembert, as a
competitive line, and the fact
that the Southern Railway has to
transport cotton or other freight In a
round about way to Sumter, which
increases the mileage to practically
exactly double the distance from Ha-
good to Camden, nevertheless the
Sumter commercial organization feels
that the rate on cotton to Sumter
from Sumter County points on the
Southern Railway should be based on
mileage compared with it's competing
line, the North Western Railway Co.
While there might be some grounds
for a slight advantage to Camden
over Sumter by virtue Of railway
mileage distance by Southern Rail-
way round about mileage, yet the
Sumter Chamber of Commerce does
not think that the difference of more
than 60 per cent. in cotton rates is
proportiOnate at all.
In the mileage of the freight traf-
fic rules under the "3O-35" mile haul
Sumter might possibly be barred
from competitive rates with Camden,
but there is grave question as to the
rigid application of this rule which the
Sumter Chamber of Commerce ques-
tions, and h'r asked for ruling
from the south Carolina Railway
G91lmission. Sumter has no Kick On
Northwestern cotton rates.
The Railway Commission Is oyi-
den.ly inclined to agree with the
Sumter Chamber. of Commerce judg-
ing from the letter printed below.
Southern Railway local officials
say that the Southern Railway is not.
responsible for the unequitable rate
from Hagood to Sumter as compared
with the rate to Camden, and that the
Southern Railway will be glad to get
the rate adjusted so that this COM
pany can compete for the cotton bus
mess in all Of Rafting Creek township
and other Sumter county cotton grow
ing points in that territory with the
Northwestern Railway company.
Columbia, Aug. 21, 1915.
Mr.. E. l. Reardon, Managing Secre-
retary, Chamber Of Commerce,
Sumter, S. c.
Dear Sir: Yours Of the 10Th re-
ceived in regard to difference in rate
on cotton from points on the South
ern Railway and Northwestern Rail-
way. The Commission directs me to
inform you that we are handling this
matter with the Southern Railway
company and trust the matter will be
so adjusted as to give you the relief
asked for.
Yours very truly,
j. P. Darby,