The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-07
Extension of City Limits
 to- Warrior Urged By
 Many Prominent Citizens
(ContInued from Page Five,

railroads can again increase their rates to the old schedule. This cannot be done
 The interstate commerce commission and state railroad commissions have re- peatedly held that when railroad re- duces it's rate to meet water competition and then when the boats or barges on the stream go out of business, the rail- road cannot get the rates put back into effect. The worst they could do would be to show some cause why there should be an increase such as they do now from time to time. and the commission would never consent for the old schedules to be put back into operation.
 ''When the shippers of Birmingham have adequate connections with the river which enable them to use the stream for shipping purposes without too great cost, you may rest assured the business will be diverted that way But there will pe no reduction in freight rates so long as no means are provided for Birmingham to make use of the river. Just as soon as a considerable part of the traffic be- gins to seek the river, then the rail roads will come to terms and the low rates will be put into effect. once ln' IL will be almost impossible for them ever to be changed, even if not ton or Irelght were to go over the river.
 JACKSON ON FREIGHT RATES
 J. J. Jackson, freight rate expert and A lawyer who has specialized in ln- terstate commerce mmission litigation, says that Birmingham is paying out an nually hundreds of thousands Of dollars in excessive freight rates on commoulties where time is not an object, and when could just as easily be shipped by water.
 .In the matter of grains flour and slm- liar commodities, Birmingham would or could save a fortune every year IT the
 ] lA til the proper connexions are made ana the use of the stream is made easy, a general use of the Warrior is out of the question. While it would doubtless De a fine thing for the city of Birmingham to extend it's limits to the river and take in a considerable part of the -sontage 10 keep it from going into hands that at sometime might used it to the detriment of the city, the idea that the mere loca- ton of Birmingham on the river banks would, ipso facto, result in securing low freight rates is an erroneous one. The interstate commerce commission has held that such will not be the case. How ever, there would be the advantage in that the city had control of the high way and the river front if the limits were extended.
 But if adequate and easy means are provided for moving freight to and from Birmingham to the river, those who are ia miliar with the great saving in freight by water transportation are confident that the river would be used, and that without any great delay. As soon as the railroads saw that they had real com petitor and one that was constantly talk
 ing more and more of their business, the proper rates would be granted. Even if the use of the river ceased entirely after the railroads made their reductions, they would not be allowed to put them back again after the boats and barges ceased operations. There are many cities in this country today enjoying water rates that do not ship any more freight by water than the Birmingham district does.
 With low freight rates, such as are enjoyed by many other cities, Birming. ham would become one of the great job ping and distributing centers in ths country. Now this city is unable tt compete with many other cities which have not half the railroad connections and which have a very poor surround ing territory. When one considers wha small margin of difference there is il