Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-29
.lNCREAsED.FRE|GHT RATE
ON GRAVEL IS ALLOWED
Corporation Commission Fixes a
Cents Per Ton as Rate From
Massaponax to Norfolk.
ENDS LONG CONTROVERSY
Various Railroads Affected Sought
S5-Cent Rate, While Gravel COM
panics Opposed Any Increase From
Present .O-Cent Rate.

present sO-ScnC rate.
Authority TO increase from 20 to II
cents the joint freight rate on gravel
in carload lots from MassaponaN to
Norfolk was granted the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac, the Nor
folk and Western, the Atlantic Coast
Line and the Seaboard Air Line Rail-
road companies yesterday by the state
Corporation Commission. The railroads,
which asked in their petition for an
increase of So cents. Will be allowed
to increase the rate upon notice of
not less than ten days TO the public
and the State Corporation Commission
s by a publication of their tariff.
- The opinion of the commission deals
: at length with the hearing conducted
+ some time ago in the matter. and re-
Views the testimony introduced both
by the railroads and those opposing an
increase in the rates. The gravel bust
ness in the State, and the various rates
and arrangements that have been in eff
feet for some years are also reviewed
in the opinion.
On April 20. 1916. the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
Company applied to the commission for
authority to increase the then-eNisting
rate of 20 cents per ton of 1000 pounds.
on gravel in carload lots. from Massa
ponax to Norfolk. via either of the
other railroads. to SIS cents per ton
without change in the minimum car.
load weight, which is $4,000 pounds
The petition of this road was in behalf
of all of the four lines which partici-
pated in the rate.
Following the publication of the
proper notice, the Southern Sand and
Gravel Company and the MusterfiGld
Sand and Gravel Company, with plants
located at Ntassaponax, interviewed and
opposed the ihorease in rates, and were
made defendants to, the petition. The
commission, In it's opinion. reviews the
various rates and arrangements be-
tween theSrailroads for the handling Of
this traffic. Comparison between fine
rates. OF. coal and gravel were made, hut
ut was admitted that the latter was
among the .lowest-grade articles trans
ported.
The opinion says that the attorney
for one of the interveners caused in
formation to be put in the record Of
the rates on sand in carloads applying
from Norfolk and Petersburg on the
one hand, to various points in the coal
fields of Virginia and West Virginia
over the Norfolk and Western Rail-
way; the rate to PocahontaS. a repro
sents 1--WE destination. being 81 per ton
of 2,G00 pounds: the distance thereto
from Norfolk being S75 miles and from
petersburg 293 miles. However we
think that these rates, ranging from
81 to SIPS per ton of 1000 pounds, are
not fairly comparable with the rate
In question On gravel. on account of
the different conditions under which
the different transportation services are
given, one movement. the westbound
in this INSTANCE, being made against
grade but for which empty coal cars
returning TO the mines are used"
DECISION BASED ON
LOADED CAR MILE EARNINGS
The commission reached its decision
largely through it's consideration Of the
earnings per loaded car mile. and writes
that while the average ear mile earn
,ings on all of the traffic handled on
each road for distances equal to it's
maui OF the gravel would probably be
higher than the general average
shown in the exhibit for the reason
that short-haul rates are relatively
higher than longer hauls. yet II is prob
able that even if the average car mile
earnings for traffic carried the exact
distances of the gravel hauls respec-
lively could be ascertained they would
snow result less than the car mile
earnings on the gravel from Massapo-
max carried at the rate of 20 cents per
ton.
We think that the car mile earnings
are more Illuminating than the ton
mile earnings. We consider the rate
or 20 cents per ton on gravel from
MassaponaX TO Norfolk. via Petersburg
and the Norfolk and Western Railway.
to be somewhat lower than would be
prescribed by the commission. and it is
our conclusion from the racts and cir
cumstances prosecuted t'that the petit
TONERS have not Justified the rate of
SO cents per ton proposed by them.
ana, further. that reasonable rate
VIII be a cents per ton of 1000 pounds.
with a minimum Carload weight of
$4,000 pounds This rate will Weld Der
ton mills revenue Of AIS mills and n
revenue per car mile of 23.77 cents on
load of fifty tons"