New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-04-04
BRi~TOI'~ COAL KICK
AND RAIL RATES

h>' iN-N'i' IN -
The city OF Bristol. alive to all
possibilities Of economy and intent
upon reducing the cost OF living. is
strongly Directing to higher
freight rate ON anthracite coal than
enjoyed by New Britain. Plainyillc
and Southinyton. In this particular
EristoIs objection seems wholly
justified seeing that all its coal first
travels through that city and then is
hauled back It's rate of s4.5i a ton
seems high compared with the rate
Of si.16 a ton for New Britain,
Plainville and Southington.
Railroad tariffs are distinctly pc
euliar Why it should cost more to
haul coal to Bristol than it does to
New Britain under the new rates
belongs 10 one of the peculiar
angles Of the transportation bust
ness.
II wooden industry were situat-
ed in Bristol it could ship wool from
san Francisco for IS cents, whereas
competing wool plant in, say
Utah. could not get wool from
Frisco for less than s225 a hundred
pounds. The Bristol plant could
then ship its completed product for
so cents hundred, whereas it
would cost the Utah plant $40.
Instances like this could be multi
piled indefinitely. These oddities are
no mystery; they have existed for
4 century, and during half that time
have been the subject Of debate.
The principle has been upheld by
the L. S, Supreme Court and by the
Interstate Commerce Commission
with but a few exceptions. The last
attempt to do away with them was
when the Gooding long and short
haul bill was defeated in Congress
last year
This inequality in railroad rates
between the east and the inland
west is an important hulwark to
eastern manufacturing. A plant in
Bristol can ship goods to the Paci-
lie coast at a considerably lower
rate, either by rail or the Panama
canal, than can plants in the in
land west. That's one reason why
the Rocky Mountain states are so
shy of manufacturing Senator
Smoot OF Utah himself once headed
a manufacturing enterprise in his
home state and had to give it up.
business genius that he is. Give me
control OF freight rates and | will
have the bats flying through any
manufacturing establishment in
America in less than one year" was
one of his remarks.
Bristol now is in the same posi-
ton New Britain used to be COM
pared with coal rates to Hartford.
The state capital is on the Con-
noctcut river; and to towns enjoy
ing water transportation the rail-
roads always give lower rates in or
der to compete with water-bornc
traffic. The towns away from navi-
cation get it in the neck, as the say
ing goes. The adjustment which
yielded lower coal rates to New
Britain, Plainville and Southington
in all conscience could very we'll
have included Bristol, But not for
the reason, that coal destined for
Bristol first passes through the
city and thcn is shunted back. If
this argument were applicable then
'liS tlNAlc idtc structure Is wrong
and the east was in error when it
opposed the Goodins bill. which
would have equa!ized coal rates as
wei as everything else.
The line marking difference In
coal rates could Just as easily have
been established south OF Brist Of.
rather than north of that city. That
it wasn't probably was due to lack
OF foresight somewhere in Bristol.
Now that the city is aroused it
might not he too late to include it
in the bencfiCont lower rates on
coal.