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posed increase in telephone rates by Greenwood Telephone Company for service rendered at Greenwood, S. C.

The Commission has given this matter thorough consideration, and has reached the conclusion that the proposed increase petitioned for by said Greenwood Telephone Company and a majority of its subscribers, and consented to by the Town Council of Greenwood, S. C., is just and reasonable under existing conditions. Therefore, in view of these and other facts connected with the case,

IT IS ORDERED, That on and after September 1, 1920, the legal rates for telephone service furnished by the Greenwood Telephone Company in the Town of Greenwood, S. C., shall be as follows:

Business Special line telephone
Residence-Special line telephone
Residence-Two party line telephone
Residence-Four party line telephone

$3.75 per month

3.00 per month

2.50 per month

2.25 per month

Provided, That the said Greenwood Telephone Company gives such improved service as shall be in keeping with the above schedule of rates, which shall remain in effect until further orders of this Commission.

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Columbia, S. C., September 24, 1920.

In re Restoration and Maintenance of Connection Track Between the Southern Railway Company and the Piedmont and Northern Railway Company at Paris, South Carolina.

ORDER NO. 217.

This matter came on to be heard by the Commission on September 1, 1920, in the offices of the Commission in the City of Columbia, South Carolina. At the hearing, the Minter Homes Company was represented by Mr. J. B. Knight, and Mr. Haynesof the firm of Haynesworth & Haynesworth, of Greenville, S. C. The Southern Railway Company was represented by General

Superintendent H. L. Hungerford, and by Mr. McDonald, Commercial Agent of the Southern Railway Company. The Piedmont and Northern Railway Company, being an interested party, was represented by Mr. Cureton, General Freight Agent, and by Mr. J. C. McGowan, of attorneys for the P. & N.

From information obtained by the Commission, it appears that at the time Camp Sevier was established at what is now known as Paris, S. C., the Piedmont & Northern Railway Company and the Southern Railway Company constructed and for several years maintained an interchange track between their respective roads at this place. It also developed that the P. & N. Railway Company had constructed and maintained during this period, as well as up to the present time, almost the entire portion of the interchange track herein referred to. The Southern Railway Company constructed and maintained only one hundred feet or so of this track beyond the clear-post adjacent to its main line.

It was further developed that while this track was constructed when the roads were under Federal Control and maintained for government purposes so long as the camp existed at this place, and since the use of this track for the purposes of the government has been discontinued, traffic for local enterprises and, possibly, private individuals, has been moved over this track herein referred to, and at the time of this hearing, published interchange rates were in effect over this exchange track.

However, it also developed that recently, and since the roads were returned to their owners for operation on March 1, 1920, that the Southern Railway Company, without notice to the public, without consent of the Railroad Commission of South Carolina, did go upon the premises above referred to, tear up and remove that portion of the interchange track herein mentioned; thereby destroying this facility for the purposes it was intended to perform.

It is the contention of the South Carolina Railroad Commission that at the time of the removal of this track, that portion of the track which was removed by the Southern Railway Co., that this specific facility was under the jurisdiction of this Commission, and that the Southern Railway Company could not legally remove same without the permission of the Railroad Commission of South Carolina.

It is the further opinion of this Commission that an interchange track such as this was, and such as the P. & N. Company's

portion of said track is at this time, was not only a convenience to individual shippers, or manufacturing industries that might be located near this point, but that it is beneficial to the entire shipping public; to the Southern Railway Company, and to the P. & N. Railway Company; inasmuch as it would allow interchange of car-lot shipments from one of these roads to another without the necessity of handling such traffic through the yards of Greenville which have been, and again may be, congested to such an extent that it would be detrimental to all parties at interest; aside from the fact that it might become necessary-due to wrecks and other unavoidable occurrences-to detour trains from one road to another, and in such instances this track would be of untold value, both to the public and the carriers. In view of these and other facts which the Commission could go into,

IT IS ORDERED, That the Southern Railway Company be and is hereby required to reestablish its portion of this interchange, or connecting, track, and maintain the same;

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, That this order be complied with within thirty days from the date of this order. This order to remain in force until the further orders of this Commission. By order of the Commission.

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Before the South Carolina State Railroad Commission, State of

South Carolina,

In the matter of general increase in express rates in accordance with the increased rates granted by the Interstate Commerce Commission, in thir Order No. 11326.

The American Railway Express Company filed with this Commission on June 18, 1920, a request for an increase on intrastate express shipments in accord with that granted by the Interstate Commerce Commission in their Order No. 11326, dated August

11, 1920. Some time after the Interstate Commerce Commission's Order was rendered, the South Carolina Railroad Commission, at the request of the American Railway Express Company, ordered a hearing to be held in its office in the City of Columbia, S. C., on August 19th, at 11 a. m.

This meeting was thoroughly advertised through the press of the State, Chambers of Commerce, trade bodies, and numerous shippers were notified, either by telegram or letter. At the hearing appeared representatives of a great number of shippers using express service, and after the presentation of the facts by the representatives of the American Railway Express Company, and considerable discussion by shippers and receivers of express in South Carolina, as well as by the officials representing the American Railway Express Company, it was agreed to by the shippers that they would not oppose a 12 1-2 per cent. increase in rates on intrastate shipments in South Carolina.

In view of this, and the further opinion of the Commission that it was absolutely necessary for the American Railway Express Company, in order to render efficient service, that they have additional revenue, as well as the further consideration that uniformity, especially in rate structure, adds materially to the efficiency of the service: Therefore, the South Carolina State Railway Commission issues the following order:

ORDER.

That the American Railway Express Company are hereby authorized to increase all intrastate express rates in South Carolina, twelve and one-half (12 1-2) per cent., so as to conform with the rate granted to said American Railway Express Company by the Interstate Commerce Commission on August 11, 1920.

By order of the Commission.

This order to become effective Saturday, September 25, 1920, and to remain in effect until the further orders of this Commission.

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Columbia, S. C., October 20, 1920.

ORDER NO. 219.

In the Matter of General Increase in Express Rates in Accordance With the Additional 13 1-2 Per Cent. Increase in Rates Granted by the Interstate Commerce Commission in their Order No. 11326.

American Railway Express Company:

This matter came before the Railroad Commission of South Carolina on petition of the American Railway Express Company asking the Commission to grant an increase of 13 1-2 per cent. on intrastate express rates in conformity with increase granted by the Interstate Commerce Commission in its Order No. 11326, decided September 21, 1920. The Commission ordered a hearing to be held in its office in Columbia, S. C., on October 6, 1920, at twelve o'clock noon. At this hearing representatives of the American Railway Express Company appeared, as did a number of shippers and receivers of express in South Carolina.

Much testimony was given and explanations made by the officials of the Express Company to show that the proposed increase in rates was solely to care for increase in wages of employees of the Express Company as authorized by the Federal Wage Board, and that while the petition asked for a 15 per cent. increase before the Interstate Commerce Commission as well as before the State Commissions, the Interstate Commerce Commission had granted only a 13 1-2 per cent. increase applicable to rates in effect prior to the increase of 12 1-2 per cent. previously granted to the said express company, and which increase was also granted by the Railroad Commission of South Carolina, applicable to intrastate rates, in its order No. 218 of September 24, 1920.

During this hearing the representatives of the public were permitted to question the representatives of the said Express Company and to reply to questions asked by such representatives, and at the proper time the shippers were given an opportunity to represent such interests as they had in the matter, and to give such testimony to the Commission as in their opinion was necessary. It was finally concluded by those present that as the increase of 13 1-2 per cent. was to take care of wages of employees alone, and would, in their opinion, have a tendency to improve service, the increase as above outlined should be granted by the Commission

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