Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-05
SAYS BUREAU
HASGOOD YEAR
TRAFFIC MANAGER DAWSON IN
REPORT SHOWS 1916 TO HAVE
BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

| Dawson of the Commercial club when
was to have been read at the annuai
meeting of the club but instead re-
ferred to the press to publish, shows
1916 to have been a successful year
for the freight bureau and OttumWa
shippers The report speaks for it.
self and is given in full below:
1.-The year 1916 might, from traf-
fic standpoint, be called an abnormal
year, it being very active PERIOD ootn
for the carriers and the shippers. 1t
might be well to add at this time that
the carriers were exceedingly pros
porous during this period and their
net income exceeded one billion dol
lars, or more than SO per cent greater
than any other previous year.
'In the period just closed this de-
partment, in connection with similar
departments of the other interior
Iowa cities, has practically concluded
the rehearing Of the so-called Interior
Iowa Cities case. This case affects all
of the class rates between Ottumwa
and points east of the Indiana-lllinois
state line and is without question the
most vital freight rate issue that could
be brought to the attention OF the IN
terstate commerce commission by the,
interior Iowa shippers.
Several hearings and many confer.
ences regarding this particular case
have been had during the year and
vast amount of data presented to the
interstate commerce commission IN
support of the shippers contention.
The men who have been actively en-
gagged in handling this matter feel
that very good presentation OF the
existing determinations was made,
and have reason to expect relief. 1t
was impossible to dispose of this is
sue in 1916 and its conclusion there
fore goes over into 1917.
"While a great deal of time and
energy was directed towards the case
lust cited, many matters of interest
to individual firms were handled, such
as quoting freight rates. advising
proper routing for shipments. audit
ing freight bills, filing and collecting
claims for overcharge and damage. A
considerable sum Of money has been
returned to the Ottumwa shippers
through the channels mentioned.
"The c. r. I. & P. railroad is at the
present writing refunding to the OF
tumwa shippers the overcharge IN
freight rates collected at the time the
K, & D. M. was operated as an indie.
pendent railroad A careful check OF
the shipments affected by this change
was made by this department and
from that investigation it developed
that there was some $746 overcharge
in freight rates properly refundable
to the Ottumwa shippers.
Gail of the shippers entitled to re-
fund were asked to send to this bureau
the bills of lading and freight bills in
order that claims might be filed. About
fifty per cent of them took advantage
of the opportunity and claims for
s427.S5 were filed with the c. X. |. &
P. railway. The bureau was very &C
tive in pushing this matter from the
very first and it was through our eff
forts that the X. {; D. M. was again
operated as part of the Rock Island
system, consequently we are very
pleased to report the success as indi-
Gated.
''While the auditing of freight bills
and the handling of claims for over
charge and damage have not been pur-
sued vigorously as possible on account
Of lack of time. it might be said that
this department in addition to hand
ling the K. & D. M. refund. filed claims
for the shippers to the extent of 81
O6t.56. which added to the K. & D. M.
refund makes total Of s1,492.41 in
claims during 1916.
Various commodity rates applying
~ hnr
linois points to Oskaloosa and Des
Moines were lower than those apple
able at Ottumwa. This matter was
presented to the interstate commerce
commission. but that body has not as
vet disposed of the matter.
"Just recently the carriers proposed
some very material advances in the
iron and steel commodity rates, this
change affecting traffic from Pitts
burgh. Chicago. st. Louis, etc. A petit
ton for suspension Of the proposed ad-
vances was filed and granted by the
interstate commerce commission and
Jan. %, 1917 has been set as the date
for hearing of same.
"On account of the very serious car
shortage that became apparent during
tiic ldtltl pa VI INC sSoi' viz >NH
riers proposed to make some very rad
ical changes in the demurrage charges
and rules Through the efforts of the
shippers they were not successful in
the attempt to place the entire blame
for the car shortage on the shippers.
'The commission suspended indefi-
nitely the changes proposed by the car
riers. they were evidently of the opin-
ion that the measures proposed were
of too drastic nature. The commits
sion. however. in spirit of coopera.
ton saw fit to distribute the respons-
Utility and issued instructions to both
shippers and carriers.
This department took very posi-
tive stand against the changes sug-
gested by the carriers and we believe
that the commission has been very fair
to all concerned in their plan TO re-
lieve the situation. which was brought
about by conditions beyond the control
of the shippers and the carriers.
Turning to the freight service,
would say that the jobber's meetings
inaugaurated in 1914 were continued
through 1915 and 1916 and the Ques-
ton of adequate freight service from
Ottumwa to its iobbing territory might