The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-20
TO GIVE LOWER GRAIN Rate,
RAILWAY OFFICIALS TO MEET ~
MARCH AND ARRANGE FOR
EMERGENCY.
AT Hearing Held i'm Columbia Rail-
roads are Promise Re!icf-GeneraI
Opinion Expressed South Carolina
Must Look to the South.


trafilc heads Of the three main rail-
way systems operating in South Caro-
lima promised immediate relief in the
matter of cheaper rates on grain
shipments. The railways not only
promised to readjust the rates, but
to cooperate in every way in secur-
ing markets for the South Carolina
crop, which will be the largest in the
history Of the State. The situation.
it was pointed out by those attending
the hearing before the railroad COM
mission in the Supreme Court room.
is one that needs immediate attention.
conferences are 20 be held and the
new rates will be announced as soon
as possible. The movement for a re-
adjustment of grain rates was launch
ed by w. w. Long, State agent for
the United States farm demonstra-
ton work and director of the Glenn
son extension department, in coopera-
ton with the Chambers Of Commerce
Of the State.
Grain is much more desirable
tratlc than cotton. If the movement
is to the interest Of the State it is to
our interest" said one Of the speakers
for the railways.
The general opinion was expressed
by practically all of the witnesses
that South Carolina must look 10 the
South" rather than to the east in
the matter Of market for grain
Florida, it was shown, consumes sew
eral hundred million bushels of wheat
and is directly connected by three
trunk line railways with all points in
South Carolina.
John l.. McLaurin, State cotton
warehouse commissioner, was among
the witnesses to appear before the
commission. He said that il would be
necessary for many farmers of the
State to find q market for their grain
outside the State. The farmers, he
said, will need ready money, because
they are already carrying one crop.
The South Carolina grain crop Will
be thrown on the market early in
June. The value of the crop this
year will be about $16,O0O,O0O. II
was urged that the crop must be turn
ed into cash as soon as possible so
that The farmers will derive the great
est benefit.
Among those attending the hear
ing were: l.. f. Chaloner, freight
traffic manager of the Seaboard Air
Line railway; j. w. Perrin, general
freight agent, Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad; Ernest Williams, general
freight agent, Charleston and Western
Carolina railway; r. b. Pcgram. gem
eral agent, Southern Railway; j. A.
smith, division freight agent, South
ern Railway; Rawley w. Holcombe
and n. Monseratt, of the Columbia
Chamber of Commerce; ID. c. Durham
Of Greenville; Charles Kemmich
Charleston; G. c. White, United States
bureau Of markets; w. w. Long. John
l.. McLaurin and V. Hooper, of the
Hill Ice Cream Company.
! 1t was agreed by the railways and
the petitioners that a proper market
should be established fc~ the grain.
and that the grades should be STAN
dardized. The railway officials said
h.
near home as possible, although they
were ready to consider some adjust
ment to reach even the Eastern mar-
ketS'
The hearing was in session for more
than two hours when the grain situa-
ton was discussed. The new tariffs
are to be darwin and submitted TO tho
railroad commission for approval.
After the rate hearing today the
railroad commission issued the follow
ing statement:
AT conference between the rep
resentatives of the railroads, the rail-
road commission, the representatives
OF commercial bodies and State and
government officials, the question of
the rate on grain from South Caro-
lima points to eastern and virginia
cities and to Southeastern points was
fully discussed with view to COOP
Grafton Of all concerned in marketing
the increasing grain crop of the State.
AS result of the meeting, the rep
resontatives of the railroads will meet
during the first week in March 10
check in the rates TO try to meet the
above emergency situation.
PRESIDENT EXPRESSES CONFI-
DENCE.