From an honest and careful consideration of all of the foregoing facts, the Commission is forced to the conclusion that simple justice to the carriers in Georgia demands some increase in the low level rates now in effect on class P commodities. We are inclined to the opinion that this is demanded by the necessities of the short line railroads as well as by justice, and that additional revenue is almost necessary to their continued well-being under increased costs of operation and maintenance. We believe that adequate, safe, and prompt freight service, such as this Commission has at all times insisted shall be rendered, is reasonably and justly worth to the public more than it is now paying therefor in class P rates. The Commission has had this investigation and study of the reasonableness and justness of our class P scale of rates in hand for a year. We have compiled and digested voluminous data covering every detail of the subject. We have been slow in reaching a conclusion that rates so long established ought to be disturbed, and it has been only after such investigation and study that we have become convinced that simple justice demands some revision. In authorizing the increases which we shall, our rates on the whole will continue lower than in the adjoining states, except Florida. The probability is that railroad construction, maintenance, and operation, because of topographical and physical conditions in that state, are less expensive than in Georgia. Adequate transportation facilities are essential to the growth and prosperity of any state or section. Interchange of products. is not only essential to commercial and industrial life, but to promote the highest welfare means of transportation must be adequate, safe, prompt, and efficient. To secure such, fair compensation must and should be paid. Unreasonably low freight rates mean unsatisfactory and inferior service. The short line railroads are peculiarly carriers to the smaller communities, and through local sections where traffic is light. They cannot offset the effects of a very low level of rates by moving a heavy volume of traffic. A combination of lean rates and light traffic means insufficient and inferior equipment and unsatisfactory and inadequate service. There is every reason of policy and sound business in extending fair treatment in the establishment of rates for these short line railroads under local management, serving local sections, and so dependent on local community growth for their continued existence. In our opinion the short line carriers should be allowed on class P, as they are on a majority of the other classes, higher rates than are allowed the trunk lines. Under the increased scale which we shall authorize, they will be unable to adjust actual rates on the full combination basis, but will have to continue in the future as in the past, to publish rates on basis of certain arbitraries higher than the so-called main or trunk lines. The volume of class P commodities moving strictly between local points on the short lines is small; most of it moves to or from the trunk lines via junction points, for only short distances, and even if rates were published on full combination basis, they would be subject to a 10 per cent reduction, under the Commission's freight rule No. 27. P.U.R.'15B.-69. In our investigation into class P ratings, our attention has also been directed to the fact that there are several commodities taking these rates less 20 per cent, and two-limestone for furnaces and iron ore, class P-less 40 per cent. For the sake of uniformity of statement, and to avoid the possibility of confusion, we have decided to place all the commodities upon a uniform class P rating, and to increase the carload weight allowed so as to afford only the same increase as is authorized on commodities taking the full class rate. The new scale of rates which we will promulgate does not carry increases for all distances, as can be readily noted by comparison with the present scale. The increases are from 50 cents to $1 per car for some distances, with no increases at all for other distances, up to 200 miles; for all distances between 200 and 460 miles, we have made reductions in existing rates, running from 25 cents to $1 per car. In acting upon this file, we have considered only class P rates and their reasonableness and justness, and such conclusions as are herein announced are solely upon a consideration of the rates for this one class. Upon consideration of the record in the above-entitled case, and of the facts and arguments submitted at the hearings had under date of October 15th and 16th, 1914, and of the report and opinion this date adopted by the Commission containing its findings of facts and conclusions therein with respect to the issues involved, which said report is hereby referred to and made a part hereof, it is Ordered: That effective April 1st, 1915, the following shall be the maximum standard tariff class P scale effective on all commodities classified class P moving between points in the state of Georgia: Ordered further: That the following changes in and additions to the Commissioners' classifications of freight are hereby adopted: Change items now reading as follows: Bark, tan, C. L. min. wt. 20,000 lbs., class P less 20 per cent. Barytes, C. L. 25,000 lbs. Chert, C. L. min. wt. 30,000 lbs., class P less 20 per cent. Clay, C. L. (See rule 12) min. wt. 25.000 lbs. Clay, fire, C. L. (See rule 12) min. wt. 25,000 lbs. Copper Ore, C. L. min. wt. 25,000 lbs. Graphite, C. L. min. wt. 25,000 lbs., class P less 20 per cent. Limestone for Furnaces, C. L. min. wt. 25,000 lbs., class P less 40 per cent. Limestone, N. O. S., C. L. min. wt. 25,000 lbs., class P less 20 per cent. Manganese, Crude, C. L. min. wt. 25,000 lbs. Ores, Iron, C. L. min. wt. 25,000 lbs., class P less 40 per cent. Phosphate, C. L. min. wt. 24,000 lbs. Pine Straw (loose) C. L., class P less 20 per cent. Posts, split or round, C. L. min. wt. 30,000 lbs., class P less 20 per cent. Pyrites, C. L. min. wt. 24,000 lbs. Roofing slate. C. L. min. wt. 25,000 lbs. (See rule 12.) Sand, N. O. S., C. L. min. wt. 30,000 lbs., class P less 20 per cent. (See rule 12.) Sawdust, loose, C. L. min. wt. 25,000 lbs. Slag, C. L. min. wt. 30,000 lbs. (see rule 12), class P less 20 per cent. Soapstone, Crude, C. L. min. wt. 25,000 lbs. (See rule 12.) Stone, Marble and Granite, viz., Building stone and cement building blocks, including tile (but not other interior finish nor ornamental work) cut or sawed into shape, rough, dressed or carved, but not polished; protected (otherwise at owner's risk) valuation limited to 20c per cubic foot. C. L. min. wt. 25,000 lbs., class P less 20 per cent. Not subject to rule 27. Blocks, Paving, rough; rubble and crushed stone, C. L. min. wt. 30,000 lbs. cent. Rule 12. Class P less 20 per Curbing, C. L. min. wt. 25,000 lbs., class P less 20 per cent. To Read: Bark, tan, C. L. min. wt. 24,000 lbs., class P. Chert, C. L. min. wt. 36,000 lbs., class P. Clay, C. L. min. wt. 40,000 lbs, class P. Copper Ore, C. L. min. wt. 30,000 lbs., class P. Limestone, N. O. S., C. L. min. wt. 40,000 lbs., class P. Limestone, N. O. S., C. L. min. wt. 40,000 lbs., class P. Roofing Slate, C. L. min. wt. 30,000 lbs., class P. Soapstone, Crude, C. L. min. wt. 30,000 lbs., class P. Building stone and cement building blocks, including tile |