The Wilmington morning star., 1946-02-17

Freight Rate
Aid
GIVES CITY EDGE
Wilmington Enjoys Rail
Preferential in Ship
ment of Grain, Coal

Wilmington, because of its pre-
ferred position in the matter of
freight rates, has the advantage
over other bidders for the bust
ness of merchandisers in fields of
intense competition.
That was the gist of Whining
ton Port-Traffic association report
issued by Henry E. Boyd, traffic
manager.
The report, addressed to direc-
tors of the association, detailed &C.
tivities of the organization since
Boyd's return IN November, 1915,
from three and one-half years
army service.
In the case of ICC-Docket, 27418.
Boyd said, it was brought forth
that shippers OF grain and grain
products, from the Ohio and Mis-
sissippi river districts, were enjoy
ing proportional and local rates on
shipments of those commodities in
| TO SOutnern markets.
The 1CC commission, Boyd
pointed out rendered a decision
granting Wilmington shippers a
rail rate of IS per cent of the local
rate used by those shippers on
shipments of those commodities
brought into the local port by ship,
and thence by 1ail.
Boyd's report showed that Viii.
mington had enjoyed a good move
ment of flour through the port dur
ing the war and with the resump-
ton of Pacific water service this
traffic should be renewed through
the local port from the Pacific
northwest, thence by rail to mar
kets.
ICC-Docket 2939o, rates on coal,
was explained ir the report cover
ing formal complaint brought by
the Carolina Coal consumers with
offices at Ashevil1e, against the
Aberdeen and Rockfish railroad
and subsidiary roads numbering
! some 200, claiming rates on coal
from Virginia, West Virginia, Ken
lucky, Tennessee and Alabama to
North Carolina are unjust and un-
reasonable.
The Wilmington Port Traffic
commission. Boyd said, has inter-
vened in the case and that he,
Boyd, would be in attendance at
the hearing to protect a 35-cent
differential rate now enjoyed by
Wilmington. This rate, Boyd de-
clared, is an encouragement for in
dustries to locate here.
Wilmington is included in South
ern Freight association Docket
1882, to establish a rate on calcium
carbide, carload from Admission,
Ala, to Charleston, S. C. for ex-
port. The proposed rate to Charles
ton is IS cents per 100 pounds.
Boyd said, and pointed out that
the adjustment would put Whining
ton on an even basis for this trade.
The State of New York has been
granted an Injunction restraining
rail carriers from increasing rates
as directed by the ICC. The COM
mission had rendered decision,
Boyd said, finding the rates in the
South were 10 per cent too high,
and the northern rates 10 per cent
too low. They had ordered an ad-
justment effective Jan. l, 1916.
Wilmington and Hampstead have
been included in the adjustment
of rate of 81 cents per 100 pounds
on peanuts, shelled or unshelled,
from Elizabethtown to Tampa,
Fla. Boyd said. He explained the
local rate to Tampa had been au-
tomatically reduced to the 57-cent
rate by the commission.
Present at the meeting Of the
Port-Traffic association when the
report was read were J. l.. Duffy,
American Mclasses company;
Peter B. Ruffin, Wilmington Ter
minal warehouse; Alex Sprunt,
Alex Sprunt and Son, cotton i'm
porters; Horace Pearsall, Will
mington Oil and Fertilizer COM
pany and president OF the associa-
ton; T. H. Wright, Acme Fertiliz-
er company, and Howard Penton,
The Springer Coal company, all
diroc+orc ~ the oscociafiOn