SOUTHERN HORIZONS 



question for years and had already made up its mind 

 on the principles involved. This is fortunate for the 

 South. If the Commissioners had been forced to under- 

 take this herculean task by court order and against their 

 will, begrudging, piecemeal changes might have been 

 dragged out for decades. 



While sincere equalization may now be expected as 

 soon as is humanly possible and the eventual effects 

 will be all that Kiplinger so boldly sketches, it is asking 

 for disappointment to expect that results will immedi- 

 ately revolutionize Southern industry. The discrimina- 

 tion has been obvious and real. For years, however, it 

 has been noteworthy that most of the agitation for re- 

 vision has come, not from the big shippers, but from 

 the politicians and the economists, the farm bureaus and 

 the chambers of commerce. Southern industrialists dealt 

 directly with the Southern railroads. Where they could 

 show cause they obtained rate concessions on specific 

 goods to specific points which enabled them to adjust 

 their competitive position. Naturally the equalization 

 of freight rates will help. But unless the ICC abrogates 

 its first duty, Southern industry will not be permitted to 

 enjoy unfairly any decisive advantages. 



Lower freight rates will stimulate and strengthen 

 several other influences that will advance the cause of 

 Southern industrialization. The war has been a potent 

 force scattering industry out from the Northeastern 

 zone. For military reasons it was expedient to locate 



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