The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-04-14
ROGERS GIVES
TRAFFIC PLAN
TRAFFIC MANAGER AT SHIPYARD
EXPLAINS HOW NEW BUREAU
OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
WILL FUNCTION.

III. II. Rogers, traffic manager for
the Pensacola Shipbuilding Company,
has written a letter in which he ex-
plains how the newly organized traffic
bureau of the chamber of commerce
for cooperation and promises that
will function. Mr.. Rogers makes plea
the bureau can and will be made OF
real value to every shipper and buyer
in the community. The letter fol-
lows:
Managing Editor Pensacola Journal.
Dear Sir: In compliance with your
request of day or so ago, I am sub
hitting below the context of the pro-
posed operation of the recently or
ganized traffic bureau which will
operate in connection with the chamber
of commerce.
At a recent meeting of the board
of directors of the chamber of COM
merce, there was submitted to that
body a proposal relative to the in
auguration Of a traffic bureau for
the purpose of protecting the interests
Of Pensacola. business houses in the
matter of rates. switching facilities.
rate adjustments and export and i'm
port business.
considered by a number of progressive
business men Of the city of Pensacola,
and the realization of the fact that in
order for Pensacola to keep step with
the progress of the country, some
means by which these features could
be properly analysed must be installed,
has resulted in the crystalization of
! their efforts in the organization q
4his traffic bureau.
This traffic bureau is to be self
supporting and will be open at all
times for advice and help to the mem
bers of the chamber of commerce
without charge to them, except with
the understanding that the business
of the Pensacola merchants from a
transportation standpoint will be
handled through this bureau for the
purpose of auditing expense bills for
overcharges at cost of so per cent
of the amount collected by them and
for the additional purpose Of analyz-
ing the rate situation so that they will
be in an intelligent position to deter
mine whether or not the rates on all
commodities moving into the city of
Pensacola are just and reasonable.
On account of the fact that with the
average business man, his business is
not Asufficiently large to justify the
employment of a competent traffic
man hnd is not familiar with the legal
1 3nd thechnicaI features which are en-
|AAodie - conditions governing
taf9f1AN%II Notifications, nor to the
various com Eence rulings which are
issued from time to time by both the
interstate commerce commission and
the local state railway commission, it
is necessary for his own protection
that there be some means by which
he may be placed in a position to
know his firm is not paying more
than is authorized by law for the
handling of his freight
The angles Of traffic are so many
and SO varied that it is an absolute
impossibility for any man except one
especially trained in that particular
line to intelligently analyze a classi-
fication on a tariff for the purpose of
quoting or checking a proper rate and
the time of the average business man
is so engrossed with his labors in an
endeavor to promote his business that
he has neither the time nor the in
clination to consider this feature and
on account of his unfamiliarity with
same, unconsciously is daily paying
out amounts in actual cash, which
though small, in a very short time if
properly handled, would considerably
better the conditions of his profit and
loss account
This bureau will endeavor to serve
promptly and efficiently the business
OF all firms in this immediate vicinity,
and it is to be hoped that when q rep
resentative calls upon the business
man in regard to same. that the mat
ter will be given careful consideration
as il may mean a considerable saving
to him in his business and should un-
derstand that unless this saving il
secured for him the services which are
being offered will cost him absolutely
nothing.
The organization of this bureau
contemplates a very large scope OF
work, and below are enumerated few
of the items that they will handle:
CD Quotation of rules.
90 Auditing of expense bills anC
prepaid bills of ladings.
go The preparation and handling
against the transportation company Of
loss and damage claims and over
charges.
ca The adjustment of unreason-
able rates and the elimination OF any
undue determinations.
Isl Securing where possible chan
res in the rates, rulings and regula-
tions necessary for the development OF