nies shall execute the following contract which shall be stamped or written on the face of the telegram offered for transmission, and signed by the sender: 'I hereby consent to this message being mailed at or any open telegraph office nearer destination." It is further ordered that no telegrams, except such contract is executed by the sender, shall be mailed by any telegraph company between points within the State of Alabama. This order shall become effective November 1st, 1907. Oct. 21st, 1907. The following General Order issued, known as General Order Number 8. The Legislature of Alabama having passed an Act entitled "An Act to prescribe and regulate passenger rates on all railroads, other than street railroads, carrying passengers between points within the State of Alabama," approved February 14th, 1907, wherein the passenger rate was fixed at 2 1-2 cents per mile for adults, and the Commission having been enjoined by the principal railroads operating in Alabama against the enforcement of said statute, and afterwards said injunction having been withdrawn by the Southern Railway, Alabama Great Southern Railroad, Mobile & Ohio Railroad, Northern Alabama Railway, Mobile & Birmingham Railroad, Seaboard Air Line Railway, Atlanta & Birmingham Air Line Railroad, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, St. Louis & San Fran cisco Railroad, they putting into operation the 2 1-2 cents mile fare, pending the result of the litigation in the Federal Courts, and afterwards the Southern Railway, Alabama Great Southern Railroad, the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, Northern Alabama Railway, Mobile & Birmingham Railroad, Seaboard Air Line Railway, and Atlanta & Birmingham Air Line Railroad representing that said passenger fare was too low and proposing to the State authorities to put in operation a 2 3-4 cents local passenger fare for adults, a 500 mile family ticket at 2 1-2 cents, and a 2,000 mile mileage ticket at 2 1-4 cents, and dismissing all litigation instituted against the Commission and State officers charged with the duty of the enforcement of said statute, therefore, in the spirit of concession, the Commission approves said compromise rates, and It is hereby ordered, That the Southern Railway, Alabama Great Southern Railroad, Mobile & Ohio Railroad, Northern Alabama Railway, Mobile & Birmingham Railroad, Seaboard Air Line Railway and Atlanta & Birmingham Air Line Railway, shall not charge a greater rate, for the transportation of adult persons, than 2 3-4 cents per mile, nor a greater rate for the transportation of children of five years of age and under twelve years of age, than one-half of the adult rate, and that the aforesaid carriers shall issue a book or ticket containing 500 miles or good for the transportation over 500 miles of road, to be known as a "Family ticket or book," good for the transportation only of such persons named thereon, and that the charge for such family ticket shall not be greater than 2 1-2 cents per mile; and that aforesaid carriers shall issue a book containing tickets to the amount of 2,000 miles, to be known as a "Mileage book or ticket," good for the transportation only of the person named thereon, and that the charge for such 2,000 mile mileage book shall not be greater than 2 1-4 cents per mile. It is also ordered that the aforesaid carriers shall not be required to accept a single fare for less than five cents, and in the case of odd miles, the passenger shall pay 3 cents for the last mile or fraction of a mile, and said carriers shall keep and sell at their regular stations, tickets not in excess of the rates prescribed in this order. This order to become effective December 1st, 1907. Nov. 25th, 1907. Following General Order issued, known as General Order Number 9. It is hereby ordered: That the Southern Railway, the Northern Alabama Railway, the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, the Mobile & Birmingham. Railroad, the Seaboard Air Line Railway and the Atlanta & Birmingham Air Line Railroad, put into effect, Dec, 1, 1907, rates of freight on certain commodities as set out in Southern Railway Company Alabama Local Tariff 5-B; said tariff being applicable to above lines in so far as their mileage maintains in said tariff, and that the rules and instructions specified in the aforesaid tariff shall be the rules and instructions of the aforesaid lines. Nov. 25th, 1907. ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD, ATLANTA, BIRMINGHAM & ATLANTIC RAILROAD. Petition Requesting That During the Period of Construction, the Abore Lines be Relieved From Prescribed Statutory Rates. (Not Docketed.) It being made to appear to the Commission that both of the above railroads were in the course of construction, and it being shown that during such period of construc tion the statutory rates, at the present time prevailing, would not be remunerative to the above lines; it is hereby ordered, That said Illinois Central Railroad Company and Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railroad Company are relieved from such statutory rates, and they will, therefore, charge, until further notice, such rates as are now in effect on their said respective lines. Nov. 25th, 1907. RAILROAD COMMISSION OF ALABAMA VS. ALA- 1st. Show cause why this Commission should not fix and establish joint passenger rates or fares to and from all points within the State and apportion each road its pro rata of such joint rates. 2nd. Why baggage should not be checked to and from all points within the State. This cause coming to be heard October 14th, was adjourned after taking testimony from a number of representatives of different railroads, until October 21st, for the convenience of representatives of railroads that could not be present at the original hearing, and it appearing at the time that this citation was made that very few of the roads had joint passenger tariffs or would sell tickets beyond the termini of their respective lines, or check baggage beyond said termini, but during the interim of the notice and of the hearing, such joint rates had been promulgated by the different roads, taking effect October 13th, and said tariff having been filed with the Commission, the Commission on investigation, finds that said joint rates have been established without uniformity or reference to the business of any particular road, but, in many instances, a flat rate of 3 cents was charged on some of the lines with the largest passenger travel, while others with a small amount of travel were based on a 2 1-2 cents rate, and the Commission, unable to see the justice or equity of such distribution of the revenue from these joint rates, hereby disapproves the joint passenger rates, as filed by the railroads, and in their stead: "It is hereby ordered, That joint rates be published and made effective December 10th, to and from all coupon points on the following roads: Southern Railway, Alabama Great Southern Railroad, Mobile & Ohio Railroad, Northern Alabama Railway, Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad, Seaboard Air Line Railway, Atlanta & Birmingham Air Line, Louisville & Nashville Railroad, Central of Georgia Railway, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Western Ry. of Alabama, and St. Louis & San Francisco R. R., based on 2 3-4 cents for each mile traveled, and that each road shall share in such joint rates in proportion to its mileage, making such joint rates, at the rate of 2 3-4 cents permile for adults and children between the age sof 5 and 12 years, at half fare and that baggage shall be checked from such points as tickets are purchased to destination. But nothing in this order shall be construed as to prevent longer lines meeting short line rates. Nov. 25th, 1907. Following General Order issued, known as General Order Number 10: It is hereby ordered, That you file with the Railroad Commission, by January 1st, 1908, copies of all contracts which relate to the transportation of persons or |