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Interesting Traffic Developments 



While the ease at issue deals with a yellow pine blanket area the 

 liardwood industry is interested directly in the decision of the Inter- 

 state Comerce Commission last week in the litigation between the Wis- 

 consin and Arkansas Lumber Company and the St. Louis, Iron Moun- 

 tain and Southern KaUroad Company. The complainants, who are 

 producers of yellow pine in Arkansas, asked that the southwestern 

 yellow pine blanket be divided at the Arkansas-Louisiana state 

 line and that the northern half be given proportional rates to 

 certain gateways lower than those existing from the southern half. 



The commission held that neither the existing blanket arrangement 

 nor the rates are shown to be unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory. 

 It was held further that blankets co-extensive with areas of natural 

 resources are often in the interest of the community at large, as they 

 favor a wide and uniform distribution of necessary commodities. The 

 commission pointed out that instances of individual hardship cannot 

 be remedied on the evidence submitted in the case as it was insufScient 

 for conclusions. 



Lumber interests were disappointed last week when the points of 

 greatest moment in the ease of Vulcan Coal and Mining Company 

 versus the Illinois Central were left for further hearings. This case 

 took up the question of reparation for damages occasioned by the 

 failure of the carrier to furnish suflBcient cars upon reasonable re- 

 quest. Loss of profits on sales which were lost for this reason and the 

 greater cost of mining due to restricted output were asked. Heavy 

 losses are sustained each year in the same manner by the manufac- 

 turers of lumber. While the commission has not decided whether this 

 question is within its jurisdiction or is one for the courts this impor- 

 tant opinion was expressed: "Although a full car supply cannot be 

 expected all the time, carriers must do more than provide themselves 

 with sufficient equipment for the slack period of production." 



A question that often has been raised in the hardwood districts 

 is affected by the following findings handed down by the commission 

 last week in the case of the Boise Lumber Company versus the Pacific 

 and Idaho Northern Bailway Company: 



If the nature or value of a commodity offered for transportation is such 

 as to demand an unreasonably low rate, there is no lawful obligation upon 

 the carrier to meet this demand. 



Saw logs are a low-grade commodit.v. the transportation of which for 

 long distances may not always be logical oi- practicable, and in so far as 

 concerns the administration of the law the carrier has discharged its duty 

 in this respect when It has accorded reasonable and nondiscriminatory 

 rates. 



Extending undue credit to a shipper is a concession and a discrim- 

 ination in the eyes of the commission. The decision was brought out 

 by a California case in which the Sierra Kailway Company, a short 

 line, served the Standard Lumber Company. T. S. Bullock is the 

 principal stockholder in the railway arid in the lumber company. 

 There has been a system of credits in vogue between the two com- 

 panies as the railroad is furnished lumber, ties and other supplies by 

 the lumber cotnpany, but the accumulating freight greatly exceeded 

 the value of the supplies furnished. This resulted in the lumber com- 

 pany always being on the debit side of the ledger. This practice was 

 ordered discontinued. It is stated that this is a widespread custom 

 throughout the lumber producing districts. 



After a lengthy contest several important lumber companies in Vir- 

 ginia lost their case against the carriers serving central freight 

 association territory. The complainants allege that the rates on 

 lumber in carloads from certain producing points in Virginia to con- 

 suming points of which Pittsburgh, Pa., and Columbus, O., are rep- 

 resentative are unreasonable to the extent that they exceed what are 

 commonly known as "Virginia cities" rates, and subject complain- 

 ants to undue and unreasonable prejudice and disadvantage in favor 

 of their competitors at points from which Virginia cities rates apply. 



The commission holds that Virginia cities rates, including rates 

 on lumber, were made to meet conditions of transportation and com- 



petition that do not exist at the points where complainants' lumber 

 mills are located and that on the record presented, the rates in ques- 

 tion, although higher than rates from the Virginia cities, are not 

 unreasonable or otherwise in violation of the act. 



Cancellation of the transit privileges at Jackson and Vicksburg, 

 Miss., allowed the commission to dismiss the case of J. A. Adams 

 & Sons Company versus the Vicksburg, Shrevcport & Pacific. 



The Parrott-Pppe Lumber Company of Athinta received an un- 

 favorable ruling on the part of the commission in its demand for 

 damages against the Louisville & Nashville railroad. The claim 

 was based on alleged overcharges on lumber moving from Atlanta 

 to Canadian points. 



Arguments in the Chattanooga log rate cases will be heard in Wash- 

 ington March 10. 



The following complaints were among the more important ones 

 submitted to the commission during the past two weeks: 



Nashville Tie Company, Nashville, charges that the Louisville & 

 Nashville railroad's rates on white oak crossties are unreasonable. 



Southern Lumber Company, Cairo, lU., maintains that the rate on 

 chair stock in the rough should take the lumber rate instead of three 

 cents more than the lumber rate. The Big Four is the principal 

 defendant. 



Appalachia Lumber Company versus the Louisville & Nashville 

 promises to be an interesting case. Certain hardwood rates are 

 attacked between Virginia and New York points. 



The Brown Brothers Lumber Company, Rhinelander, Wis., sub- 

 mits further complaints as to the rates on lumber from certain Wis- 

 consin points to points within the switching district of Chicago. 



The Bristol Door and Lumber Company, Bristol, Tenn., attacks the 

 rates on building material to New .lersey points. 



In the following important fourth section order it is provided: 

 That the Xashville. Chattanooga & St. Louis Itailway be, and it is hereby, 

 authorized to establish a rate on logs, all kinds (except walnut, cherry 

 and cedar), carloads, minimum weight 40,000 pounds, from Memphis, 

 Tenn., to Paducah, Ky., via Hollow Rock, Tenn., when reshlpped from 

 Paducah, Ky., to points north of the Ohio river, the same as the rate con- 

 currently in effect on like traffic via the line of the Illinois Central Rail- 

 road Company ; pnd to maintain higher rates from intermediate points, 

 providitl that the present rates from said intermediate points are not 

 exceeded, and provided further that rates from intermediate points shall 

 not exceed the lowest combination of rates made on more distant points. 



December Lumber Exports 



The exports of hewed and sawed timber for the United States for 

 December, 1914, make a poor showing when compared with figures 

 for the corresponding month in 1913. For the former month the 

 total to all the world was 16,556,000 feet, valued at $338,778; and 

 for last December 1.579.000 feet, worth ,$30,139. The falling oflf 

 amounted to ninety ) or cent, and was general in all markets. In 

 France, Germany, Holland, Central America and Argentina, the ces- 

 sation of the imports of timber was complete, and not one country 

 showed an increase in this line of business. The figtires for the years 

 1913 and 1914 indicate a sharp decline in the square timber trade. 

 Exports during the first year totaled 471,197,000 foot and in 1914 

 thev were 324,626,000. 



The showing was a little better for the export of lumber than for 

 timber, but the decline was nearly sixty-six per cent, comparing 

 December, 1913, with December, 1914. The decline in the exports of 

 furniture was in the same ratio. No lumber was exported to Belgium, 

 Germany or Holland during last December. There was slight change 

 in the average value of all lumber exported. In the former month 

 it was $22.58, and in the latter $22.62. 



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