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Interesting Traffic Developments 



An order reopening for argument the matter of tlie inveestigation 

 and suspension of advances in rates on hardwood and other kinils of 

 lumber and manufactures tliereof from points in Louisiana an<l 

 Arkansas to Memphis and St. Louis and other points, has been 

 issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission. Additional argu- 

 ments will be heard April 14. 



The following dates have been set for hearings: April 19, at 

 Cairo before Examiner Horton, Southern Lumber Company versus 

 the Big Four; at St. Louis, April 24 before K.xaminer Horton, Chi 

 cago Lumber and Coal Company versus Morgan's Louisiana & 

 Texas; at St. Louis, April 24 before Examiner Horton. Ozark Coop- 

 erage Company versus Tazoo & Mississipjii Valley. 



A petition of carriers to establish an eleven cent rate from Rhine- 

 lander, Wis., to Iron River, Mich., via Pembine, Wis., without observ- 

 ing the long and short haul clause, was denied by the commission. 



Foreign weight certificates are not regarded as important evidence 

 by the commission, as is shown in a decision last week in the case 

 of the E. Sondheimor Company versus the St. Louis, Iron Mountain 

 & Southern. A car of lumber was shippeil from Rayville, La., to 

 Naples, Italy, via New Orleans. The ear was weighed in the United 

 States and again at Naples. There was a variance of 1.3,000 pounds 

 in favor of the Naples weighing. The lumber company claimed an 

 error in the American weight. The commission held that the Naples 

 weight certifiete was not snfiBcient evidence on which to claim over- 

 charge. 



The case of the Berthold & Jennings Lumber Company versus the 

 Alabama Central has been dismissed by the commission. It was 

 held that the case embodied the same principles as that of the Meeds 

 Lumber Company versus the Alabama Central. 



Oral argument in Washington in the case of U. B. Merrill & Brother 

 versus the Illinois Central, which was set for April l.'j, has been can- 

 celled. 



Twenty-six and one-half cents is a reasonable rate on yellow jiine 

 from Arkansas producing points to Sioux City, according to a lirief 

 submitted by the lumberman in the matter of rat«s, which is pemling 

 before the commission. The present rate of twenty-eight cents is 

 attacked as unreasonalilo ami unjustly discriminatory. 



An order by the commission suspends until July 27 proposed ad: 

 vances on lumVier from Michigan points to Middle Western destina- 

 tions. 



Reparation was awarded to the Kern Company of New Orleans 

 in its case against the Louisville & Nashville. The commission found 

 that the rate on staves in carloads from Evergreen, Ala., to Gulf- 

 l)ort. Miss., is unreasonable to the extent that it exceeds 11% cents. 



Reparation has been awarded the McLain Hardwood Company in 

 its case against the Illinois Central because the rat« charged was 

 based on minimum weights applicable to cars longer than 36 feet. 



In the case of the National Pole Company of Minnesota, Michigan 

 „/id niinois, versus the Minnesota & International Railway, the com- 

 mission has decided that it will dismiss the complaint of refusal 

 by the defendant to permit an employe of the complainants to have 

 complete access to the defendant's yards and yard office at North 

 Bemidji, Minn., for the purpose of witnessing weighing operation. 

 Much importance is attached to this case, owing to tlic number of 

 similar requests known to be pending. 



26d 



Important complaints have been fileil with the eonimiSMon as fol- 

 lows: , 



Standard Lumber Company of Birmingham versus the Atlanta and 

 West Point Railway. The lumber company asks reparation for 

 damages while awaiting delivery of a loaded car. This is in addi- 

 tion to demurrage. The delay in placing the ear was the fault of 

 the company, it is alleged. 



The Waddell-Williams Lumber Company of Rhoda, La., has at- 

 tacked the rate on tupelo gum to Port Arthur, Tex. A 14-cent rate 

 is being applied from Rhoda. Nine cents is held to be a reasonable 

 rate by the lumber company. Reparation amounting to $2,783.23 is 

 involved. 



Wm. H. Sheets of New Orleans, claims that excessive rates are 

 being charged on piles and logs from Mississippi to Louisiana points. 



The Warren Stave Company of Warren, Ark., has asked that the 

 commission relieve it of onerous switching arrangements which are 

 l>eing enforced by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern. 



The Bowie Lumber Company of Bowie, La., claims that Morgan's 

 Louisiana & Texas Railroad and Steamship Company' is enforcing 

 unfair transit privileges at Bowie. 



Another Hearing Ordered 



Word has been received from Washington that Investigation ;ind 

 Suspension Docket 184 has been reopened for a rehearing as a result of 

 arguments presented by the attorneys for the Southern Harilwood 

 Trailic Association. The case covers the lines west of the Mississippi, 

 and will be reopened for hearing with Docket .520, which covers Jan- 

 uary advances in territory south of the Ohio and east of the Missis- 

 sippi rivers. The hearing is set for April 14 at Washington, D. C. 

 Walker & Walker are attorneys for the lumber association. 



A Maple With Roots in the Crown 



It is a fact not generally known that when a tree is injured inside 

 the bark it may form roots which penetrate the dead tissue. Such 

 loots have been observed in a tree at a height of thirty feet from the 

 ground. Recently the writer saw a large niajile with one of the top 

 branches split off at the crotch. It was evident that the original 

 split was not recent, for the crevice to the depth of eighteen inches 

 was completely filled with a flattened mass of fibrous roots which 

 had grown out of the sound tissue above. Water trickling down the 

 liranches had run into the crack, carrying dust and bits of bark, and 

 these, together with the decaying wood, flere furnishing some nour- 

 ishment and water to the tree top. 



Other instances have been observed in street trees where a fungus 

 had entered the wood through a root or a knothole and caused decay, 

 and had stimulated the growth of roots which later ramified all parts 

 of the rotting wood. Sometimes these roots extend downwards until 

 some of them finally reach and enter the soil. As long as the bark 

 remains in place they are hidden from view, but sooner or later 

 the bark falls or is torn off and the roots are visible. Probably a 

 great many people have seen them without being aware of their 

 nature nor realizing that they were witnessing the anomaly of tree 

 literally feeding upon itself. 



The explanation of these roots seems simple enough. It is a mat- 

 ter of common observation that many trees, not only hardwoods but 

 conifers, can be reproduced by cuttings. If a living .shoot is cut off 

 and placed in moist earth or sand it will form a callus around the 

 wound and from this callus roots develop. The conditions under which 

 roots are formed in a living tree are practically identical. There 

 is injury to the growing tissue, and to repair it callus is formed. 

 Since this is in a moist and dark place with decaying vci;etable mat 

 tor forming humus, it is not strange that roots should develop. 



While the writer has seen such roots only in maples and elm, 

 Kuropean foresters report their occurrence in beech, linden (bass- 

 wood), mountain ash, willow, poplar, pine, fir, juniper and larch. 



S. J. R. 



