Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-04
JAMES RIVER LINE ASKS
INCREASED FREIGHT RATES
Would Double It's Charges for Car.
rying Many Kinds of
Freight.
cUT OUT ALL THROUGH SERVICE
Proposes to Turn Over to Old Domin-
ion Limo and Its Controlling Rail-
roads All Hauling Between This
City and Norfolk.

| Petitions were filed with tho State
| Corporation Commission yesterday by
+; the Nirr mia Navigation Company seek
ing general increases in the charges
| for the transportation of freight to and
tom points reache | by the company
I on the James River. which. while vary
/ ing as to the class of freight and COM
modify. are approx imately 100 per cent.
/ greater than the rates which have been
/ in effect for some years. The steam
ship company also seeks permission D
discontinue the handling OF freight
! traffic between Richmond and New
! port News. Norfolk and Portsmouth. to
/ allow the Old Dominion Steamship
Company's night line and the railway
/ lines TO handle the traffic between these
! terminal points.
! Immediately upon receipt of the two
| petitions. of which one is for an in
crease in passenger rates. the Corpo-
ration Commission dc ided to give the
company hearing before the commits
sion August IL This hearing will be
held in the courtroom Of the COM
mission at the Capitol Building at 10
O'Clock at which time the merits OF
| the case VIII De investigated
The Virginia Navigation Company Is
n subsidiary of the Old Dominion
Steamship Company. and for number
Of years has been operating day line
on the lanes River between Rich
mond and Norfolk and serving all In
,ermcdiatc points The steamer Poca-
hontas is used In this service. It's di-
rcctoiS recently recommended to stock
holders that tho company be dissolved
f,at
tinued at Il loss.
PROTESTED AGAINST
CtRTAiLMEST OF SERVICE
Numerous protests were filed against
any canoe llaticn Of service on the
'ames River. principally by those
,arm,rs along the river who are de-
pendent entirely upon the river SER
vice for all transportation facilities.
Commercial organizations and city Of
icials iii Richmond. Norfolk and Pc
terSburE also protested against the
contemplated action. and the matter
was not considered at the first special
meeting Of the stockholders.
The matter was also taken up in
IN informal way by Chairman Christo-
pher rs. Garnett. OF the State Corpo-
ration Commission. and as result
ihc company is now petitioninE for a
general increase in it's freight and
passenger rates. No action looking TO
The dissolution OF the company will
be taken by the stockholders pend
inE the decision Of the Corporation
Commission on the petition for in
creased rates.
The petition throws further light on
the transportation alliance. and by
the permission IL seeks would throw
all through freight traffic between
Richmond and Newport News, Norfolk
and Portsmouth TO the Old Dominion
Steamship Company. which controls
the Virginia Navigation Company aid
TO the railway lines. While the Old
dominion company controls Tho viz
Einta Navigation Company. II is in
turn controlled by the competing rail-
roads entering Richmond Under such
an arrangement competition would be
reduced. and the Virginia Navigation
Company would handle only freight
for intermediate points
SEEKS INCREASE OF
100 PER CENT IN RATES
Inc company seeks a general increase
"l 'proXInately 100 per cent I'm its
freight rates. For instance. IL is pro-
r"Srh /" make the rates on vegetables
""opir the present rates and the IN
'''dSei rates. as Is the case IN present
fi'e. drr 10 apply between ali notn,s
coached by the Virginia Na.is.tion
So,'i','"s win the exception OF bust
S.
Inc rates for carrying automobiles
cach weighing 1000 pounds or less.
vary win the distance carried tn.
rate OF SO being charged for the shorr-
eSt maui and $40 for the longest haul
The proposed rates are IS and 500 re-
sPectipciy. and for automobiles weigh
MS over 1'ooo pounds each 1t is sought
20 chanse the present rates. ranging
from 50 to SIS. to $40 and $40. respec,
lively.
IN regard to live stock. the small
sizes. such as calves sheep hogs. etc.
III small lois. the proposed rates are
twice the amounts of the present
Rates. On horses, mules or domestic
horned animals The present rates vary
according TO the distances carried. run
ning from Sl.2o per head to s3.uO q,
one head for the shortest haul I'm ~
$if on shipments containing over
twelve to twenty head, inclusive. with
an additional charge OF 81 Tor each
animal over twenty in number Til.
proposed rates begin with s.; OH on.
head for hauls Of any distance and
with added amounts for additional ami
mails ranging from s. to So, with a
charge OF $50 for twenty head ard S.
Tor each animal over that uumber.
INCREASE II PASSENGEN
RATES ALSO I'KOEOsED
The proposed class rates TO be suv.
crncd by the Virginia classification u
apply locally between landings from
i'itlm"nd 10 City Point inclusive, are
something like 20 per cent less than
the proposed class rates to he applied
between the other landings Of the com
pany.
IL is proposed to revise and increas.
!rettht Rates between Petersburg aid
.'.hhs OIL the James River. Via City
Point. 80 that they will. with slight
variation. be the same as the Increased
rates from Richmond.
In connection with passenger fares,
II Is proposed to make increases from
. cents TO IS cents in the ons-way
fares For instance. the present fare
from Richmond to City Point is rs
cents and is to be increased to 50
cents and to Newport News from Sis
To $40. and to Norfolk and Ports,
mouth from $l.25 to So. but II Is
not proposed to Increase the prescn,
fatcs for The very short hauls between
l..ks <lt