The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-10-22

termed a 60c rate on iron ore from
southern Lake Erie points to the
Wheeling district. From figures here.
with submitted It will be observed
that throughout a period Of ruIIy
seventeen years the net rate per ton
never was more than so cents and
for n considerable portion Of that
time IL really was less. During this
whole period. the defendant railroad
companies. your complainant wisne1
10 submit. lever argued that the .Oc
charged was not enough and in this
connection IL is offered hat the net
receipts TO the railroads. in truth ana
In fact. actually was increased with
each succeeding year even with the
maintenance OF a ate not In excess
OF soc. This too in the face OF what
is believed to be a fact hat the COM
panies herein named as defendants
really received during a part OF this
period less than so cents. this by rea-
son of certain secret rebates and Al
lowances to the full knowledge OF
which the record is closed 20 your
complainant. At any rate your com
plainant wishes TO insist. as hereto
fore stated. that the actual income OF
the defendant companies was greater
with each succeeding year:
Firstly reason OF the
OF he iron and steel industry in the
district:
secondly reason OF the marked
increase, meanwhile in car capacity.
increase in the number of cars hauled
In trains and a more constant EN-.
ployment OF railroad facilities due TO
the growth OF the industry;
Thirdly reason OF increased ra
ceipts On account Of demurrage such
charges not having been generally
levied when the so-called 6Oc rate
nrst became operative. and.
Fourth-By reason OF what may be
termed the back haul to the lake
points o which the ore is brought
originally. This is due chiefly TO the
marked development OF the coal i'm.
dustry in the district during the last
eight or ten years. the major part Of
which production goes to the lakes
thus giving the defendant companies
a back haul Of almost, II not fully. ons
hundred per cent.
Unequal Equalization"
Your complainant wishes respect.
fully TO submit that the original in.
struction OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission comprehended only a pro-
per equalization Of the rates "a they
related to the Wheeling and Pitts
burgh districts. respectively. the rates
then obtaining being approximately
soc 70 the Wheeling district and s6c
10 Pittsburgh. In the process Of this
so-called equalization on the part OF
the defendant companies the wheel
ing rate has been increased % cents
while the Pittsburgh rate has been
decreased by 8 cents. The defendant
railroad companies thus have exacted
from the manufacturers OF the Wheel.
Ing district during the period covered
by the calendar year. 1914. the sum
OF sS2S.S2lS6 a. shown In the records
or b Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. Docket 1850. The data for the
present year g. not yet available. but
the amount undoubtedly win be
greater.
The independent manufacturer IL
probably should be- stated here h
handicapped. too. by an increased out
bound rate. In support Of this con
t%ention ~ may be said that the rate TO
Chicago IN 1900 was 10 cents: n nov
Il IS $40 cents. During the same
period the rate 10 St Louis has been
increased from 1917 20 % $40 cents
similar increases are effective 10 other
points.
A Further Handicap.
a further handicap 10 the ~independ-
ent manufacturer. who. very generally
10 without any transportation facilities
v hatever 90 carry his raw materials
for any part ~ the distance from tho
lakes 20 bis plant. b. the fact Of he
marked depreciation. in recent years.
in tho iron content Of the ore He
must now purchase approximately two
tons 81 ore TO obtain one ton or iron
and this fact alone necessarily works
an Increase IN the earnings Of the
railroads on inbound shipments
Your complainant wishes. in this
connection. % submit that the indus
trial condition lu 20 FAR a. 81 re-
iates 20 The iron and steel industry
has undergone q marked change IN
The last twenty years due. largely. 90
the consolidation 81 many inde1en.
dent companies into larger units. me
era opened about 1855 and eliminated
in The formation Of the United States
Steel Corporation This radical
change n ownership ~ many indo.
pendent companies. ln effect. practI
cally has rev0lufi0nized the mo 900
~ handling business 90 tho point that
present cristinE independent CON
pauIee are Freatly handicapped lac
United states Steel Corporation. win
ita enormous capital o. able 90 oper
alto plants To- every manufacturing
district ~ The country ~ thus a. able
tn accept. without protest. any 10
creased rates me railroads nay ~
permitted to impose. for the good ana
sufficient reason that % can and viii
deliver from its nearest plant ana