The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-15

nor spectacular in the city's his- tory.
 being followed is objectionable in many ways Not only are certain of its provisions open to varying inter pretations, but it Is cumbersome and costly of application. Moreover, the record shows that even those rail divisions which were designed to ac- commodate and encourage the move- ment of traffic are often inconsistent, one with another. In our opinion, a committee representing rail carriers and representatives of the barge line ought to be able to meet In confer ence and negotiate divisions which will be reasonably free from such in consistencies and which may be re- duced to percentages which can be published in the form of new division sheets applicable to rail-and- d-bargs and rail -bal Ge-and-rail traffic.
 Complaint Submitted
 The Mississippi river barge serv- ice operates between St. Louis and New Orleans, while the Warrior river service is between Cordova and Bir- mingport, Ala. and New Orleans and Mobile. Established under the rail- road administration, the service was later transferred to the war depart ment.
 The decision today resulted from the submission of a complaint to the commission by the government ask ing for further cooperation of rail- roads in an attempt to increase the transportation service, and to reduce the deficit which the barge lines have encountered. Losses on the Mis- sissippi river operations during the 10 months ending October 3l, 1922, amounted to s255,S94. the decision said, total revenues from the freight service being s2.o43.579. On the War rior river in the same period the de- ficit was s37s,411, while the total revenues from operations were S411,- 559.
 New routes with joint rail and barge rates to facilitate ths move ment of coal from Alabama to Mobile and New Orleans, unquestionably should be established, the interstate commerce commission ruled, in con nection with it's general treatment of the Mississippi-Wa river barge controversy.
 "The proposed rail and barge routes and joint rates on coal from the Ala hama coal fields" the decision said ito Mobile and New Orleans for ex- port should clearly be established, but the evidence indicates that the rail lines are entitled on this traffic to the river ports, although not to their local rates.'
 ST. LOUIS, Feb. 14.-John r. Hig- gins, executive assistant of the gov ernment barge service. asserted the interstate commerce commission de- cision was "an important milestone in the effort to obtain for inland waterways transportation more equi- table treatment at the hands of the railroads"
 that under the present percentage of division entails an actual loss on the barge line.
 For instance, the present through rate on cotton from Decatur to New Orleans is s7 cents. The Warrior barge line rate is 20 per cent under the ab-rail rate, or 76 cents. But the local rate from Decatur to the river a. Tuscaloosa is s1.20 and this is the rate which the rail carrier is allowed to charge. The barge line must pay the rail carrier this $1.20 our of it's total of 76 cents. The barge lines net loss on every bale of cotton so handled would be about s2.i0
 The Mississippi river, having water borne rates based on the old fight against the boats when they were put out of business by the rail carriers, had d base for rate making when the federal barge line was es- tallished, hence the Mississippi d- vision of the Mississippi- Warrior barge line has made net profit. The Warrior was g brand new affair, with no rates and hence not on a footing with the Mississippi. Under applica- tion of the commi ssion's decision the way is open for stabli shment of joint rates with the rail carriers that will lift what experts regard as the greatest handicap on the earning ability of the Warrior =
 The rail carriers and barge line officials are ordered to hold joint conferences and work out a fair dis tribution of the joint rates. The com mission wishes more clarity on the tablishment of through rail and water traffic routes.
 "I am delighted over the decision of the commission" said o. l.. Bum, manager of the Traffic Association and Chamber of Commerce. Tt re- moves the one outstanding handicap on success of the Warrior barge line operations. You will now see the barge line begin to flourish and be- come dividend payer instead of los ing money.
 "The Warrior barge line could not live on the unfair divisions of through rates and no other carrier, rail or water, could do so. The way is now cleared for the Warrior to come up to expectations of the most .rdcnt and confident Nothing has occurred of more importance to the district. to Mobile, to Alabama and really ot this entire section of the south which may be served by the Warrior.
 The Warrior also needs more equipment but that can be obtained from time to time. The division of through rates was vital. I believed all along that we would win, because