The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-03-07
is BEING HELD BEFORE EXAM.
iNER FOR INTERSTATE CON-
MERGE COMMISSION.
Rates From Florida Discussed Yes
terday, and From Kentucky n
tennessee Will be Up Today.

The investigation OF freight rates
on clay from Florida was concluded
yesterday afternoon before Examiner
Arthur II. Mackley. OF the Interstate
commerce commission from Washing
ton. ID. C.. and a special session was
held last night to discuss the proposed
Increase In the rates on similar ship
ments from Kentucky and Tennessee.
This inquiry was adjourned about
1890 o'clock last night and will be re-
sumed this morning at 9 o'clock in
the court rooms of the local federal
building.
The proposed increase which ranges
from > cents to PC cents per ton on
car load shipments OF clay has been
suspended by the commission until
May 81, upon complaint OF clients
who are responsible for the present
hearing. Regardless of the outcome
OF the case the increase will also be
automatically suspended for a period
of ten months. II the Ease is decided
against the railroads the matter can
not be attacked again for a period OF
Two years.
Several witnesses were examined
yesterday morning and afternoon in
regard TO the proposed increase from
points in Florida to the local markets.
One OF the principal witnesses was
q. T. Tingley. secretary of the board
az trade at Huntington. W. Va. MIR.
Tingley Is very familiar with he
tariffs on freight rates and he proved
n very important witness against the
railroads. J. II. Ross. traffic manager
of the Edgar Clay company. occupied
the stand~ throughout the morning ses-
sion. He said II was the opinion OF
not only the clay mining companie ;
In the southern states but also the
opinion of all pottery manufacturers
t~hrouchout this territo- that even
the present rate was excessive and II
the Increase was granted the railroads
would be getting a whole lot more
Than what was justly due them.
Keen Competition.
Every witness who took the stand in
behalf OF the c-omplainants claimed
that there is a keen competition be-
tween domestic and foreign shippers
OF clay. Exhibits were presented
showing that clay from England can be
shipped from Baltimore to points IN
the Wheeling district for 1924 per ton
while il costs S5.75 per ton to. ship the
same material from Florida.
The point which the attorneys for
the clay interests tried to make clear
10 the Examiner. and tho Interstate
Commerce commission. was that the
foreign shippers could demand the
trade with their cheaper freight rates.
England has been supplying the great
part of the supply for the local pot
teries but since the present war there
has been a scarcity Of clay from tails
port. The southern mining companies
are now c~ndcayoriuG TO invade the
local territory but In order 10 do so
they claim they should have a lower
freight rate instead OF an increased
one.
The railroads propose an increase OF
g. cents per ton on shipments from
Florida 10 MheelirE. and q greater in
crea TO East Liverpool. Washington
and Pittsburgh Attorney Arthur a..
Hayes. OF Washington. ID. G.. represent
ed the clients az the hearing and At
torneys Hart and Fowle. OF the firm or
r. Walton Moore. who j. the general
counsel for the southern railroads IN
traffic matters. represented the rail
roads.
Night Session.
At the night session the proposed
increase in rates from Kentucky and
Tennessee We're taken ny Mr.. Shep-
herd. Of the Illinois Central railroad.
was the only witness examined Upon
being questioned he stated that the
rate would be $3.52 per ton on car load
shipments of clay from these points
providing the increase was upheld.
This is an advance Of ten per cent 10
Wheeling. Notwithstanding the fact
that an increase Of ten per cent went
into effect prior 90 May I. 1915. To
East Liverpool and PITTSBURGH the ~
crease viii amoun tO 70 ents per ton.
Big Expense IN South.
Mr.. shepherd stated that the In.
crease was not based entirely upon
the number Of miles the material was
hauled but upon the cost per mile for
the construction OF the tracks He
said that throughout the south his
company has been put to considerable
expense repairing tracks. raising
bridges. etc. or account Of the many
floods experienced tn tho past few