Routing frequently affects the rate. It might appear logical to suppose that the rate between two given points would be the same, regardless of the route; but this is not the case. Of two routes to a given point, one may be longer than the other. If shipping and destination points happen to be in different states, the provision of the Interstate Commerce Act which forbids a higher rate for a short haul than for a long haul comes into play. Similar provisions applying to local shipments, are found in the laws of certain states. In Iowa, for instance, such a provision covers the transportation of passengers as well as freight. One railroad is not permitted to meet the competition of another having a shorter route between two points, but must base its rate on the mileage. All of which goes to show the necessity of considering the length of the haul in routing shipments. The above conditions apply especially to shipments taking class rates, but when goods which take commodity rates are to be shipped, the question of routing is of even greater importance. It has been shown that a commodity rate may be in effect between two points on one road, or two or more roads may have issued a joint tariff which can be taken advantage of. The question of commodity rates, therefore, has a most important bearing on the routing of shipments. Another factor that has a bearing on the routing is _basing points_, which necessitates a knowledge of the points on which rates are based. In the territories governed by the different classifications, certain common points are used for basing rates. On shipments from the central states to southern territory, rates are based on Ohio River points, while, to western territory, they are, in many cases, based on Missouri River points. Class rates from Chicago to all Missouri River points are, as a rule, the same over all roads, but, to points beyond the Missouri River, rates may vary from the different basing points; that is, the rate from Omaha to a western point may be less than from Kansas City, though the rate to these basing points is the same. The alert shipping clerk will learn the basing points in the territory to which he is shipping goods--which he can do by consulting local freight officials--and will then secure tariffs from these basing points to the towns he wishes to reach. This information he will incorporate in his rate files.