Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-03-19
freight from ss. Louis.

To the EDITOR Of the Iateilieeacer.
I wish to call the attention OF
the mercantile aud shipping COM
munity of Lexington and Vicinity to
the very unjust aud oppressive joint
freight tariff, between the Mo-, p. r.
t., tho Missouri River Packet compa-
ny and the ST, L. X. c. h Northern
4. r.. Tor the ensuing months Of riv-
er navigation. by this tariff there 10
acomplicatcd system of classification,
which is not only exceedingly annoy
Ing to keep the run Of, but which Is
very unfair. There are seven differ
ent classes Of freight, seventh class zoe;
sixth class 2sc /; fifth class 25c ; fourth
class Acc third class 45c ; second class
55c aAd frat class CSC. There arc
eighteen niue Inch columns Of priutcd
matter showing the different articles
aud their classiications. In those
leighteen columns, seventh class occurs
about fourteen timos, so that out of
about Que thousand articles mention
cd, only fourteen, and some Of them
hampered by conditions Of quantity,
may be expected TO DO carried at 20c
per 100 lbs. Salt at zoe per 100 lbs. is
Coo per Dbl, nearly double tho
usual freight; so with lime, plaster.
cement, &c, &C., and this on the
lowest classification in the list.
Whom it comes TO figuring on the
higher classes of freight it reveals
amounts which ar simply cxtortion-
ate. And bear in mind, that the
small shipper canuot get the benefit
of seventh class OH most Of these ar
%ticlcs, as ho cannot ship in sufficient
quantities. Coffee, than which
there is no better freight, is Sd class,
r45c; sugarin bbls. is 4th class, or 40c;
many hardware articles of little value
are 2ud and Srd class. A great many
articles of prime necessity are LIST class
and some double first class, or 81 80
per 100 lbs. Who pays for all this? The
consumers. And as every merchant
and shipper depends upon the consul
mers for his support, just so much is he
interested i'll seeing that no injustice
is done them. When it is remembered
that freights by river are often as low
as l5c per 100 lbs. without any sort
of classification, tho enormity of
this tariff may DO realized. The
boats should undoubtedly have rates
that will afford them remuneration.
But when it comes. to asking su cl,
rates as are contemplated by this tar
if, it is downright robbery, and the
merchants should give their frcighis
to the railroad that has had the lcas,
to do with the matter. Tho boats can
carry very much cheaper thar the
roads and make money the Mo. +.
4. Il. has the advantage of the ST. T..
K. Z. & Northern in convenience, an!
i'll having men here on the spot 10
transact its business. / therefore
blame them in the ratio of their
advantages, the boats most. the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railroad next. ! shall
consequently give my frcights to tn,
st. L.. Il. c. IN. II. r., especially IL
1t will, as is my Understanding, PM
u freights at our doors for tiir tariff.
l have heard several of the largest
shippers in Lexington say that ti,cy
would do the same thing.
Seekers after natural curiositics. arc
to enclose a postage stamp
the Missouri Packet Company for
q tariff and when they have mcn,or-
lied Its multifarious provisions. re-
strictions, classifcations, condition.
aud qualifications, they will be entitled
to diplomas, which the company will
furnish free gratis for nothing, as
they will certainly be pecumiarily
able to do SO, if they can make ,ha,
tariff stick. Respectfully,
LEXINGTON