The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-12
TtILwAY MONOPOLY.
Albert Fink's Answer TO the state
nents OF Judge jeremiah n.
Black

Albert Fink publishes in the World en-
answer to Judge Black. "ln the explanation
given by Judge Black in your issue of March
., 1851, of his estimate of railroad extortion
showing how no arrived ST marvellous results
commented upon ia my former communica-
ton, ne makes an addition Of 225, 900. 900 to
his former estimates Cor items of Robbery
committed on local freight, which had been
omitted in the report Of bis speech before the
snti-monopOly league, February q, thus
really estimating the total robbery al 5000
0(0000 during the yesr. Tho robbery, of
course, would be somewhat les. in ears in
which business was not SO heavy. Judge
Black admits, with pr4seSorthy candor, that
he does not pretend his estimate is fraction
ally accurate, but that it is made in good
faith, upon the best material no had, and HI
submits bis figures TO the scrutiny Of the
railroad advocates, in the full consciousness
that they probably need revision, and calls
upon me TO perform this service II will
give me great pleasure to do so. II is really
q source of satisfaction for me to know can
with so little trouble relieve Judge Black
from the shame he attaches to himself and to
his follow citizens for being tame and stupid
enough to bear such burdens in silence |
propose 10 show conclusivo.y that rniirogd
monopolies have not only been more mod
crate IN their execution than ne had sun.
posed, bus that they have committed no rob.
berries at ell; yes, more, that tkoy have
not even bean repaid for tie services which
they have rendered to tho people Of the
Unite States, and that thay are no monopo.
lies The facts are these; The whole grain
crop Ia 1879 amounted to 2424000,O0O
bushels. | have again to use the statistics
Cor 1879 as those for 1880 are not ye. pub
lished, and call special attention 10 this fact,
80 snat another case Of suppreso veri may
not be made oat against me, Those who
have later information csn readily make the
corrections. Of,he 2,42i 600 900 bushels of
grain raised in the United states in 1879.
26l, 000 900 bushels found their wsy to the
four Atlantic ports, New York, Boston. Phil
adelphis and Baltimore, and of these G0,0O0,-
ono bushels were carried by canals. The
remainder of 20l, 900, 600 bushels were carried
by rail. About 80 per cent Of the grain
which arrived at the seabosrd was exported
IN 1879; an increase Of i've cents on
the portion of grain amounts to
81 100000, and the total earnings from
the export of grain carried by mil
ways east of Chicago to about S11.OOO00O
Surely these amounts cannot be looked upon
as tax paid by the people of the United
States. II is actually the sum collected by
the people from tho consumers of American
grain III foreign countries, the railroads oct,
iIg only as collectors. Of the amount so
collected 60 per cont is paid for the working
expenses Of the roads-to their operatives:
to the wood chopper, who furnishes fire
Wo0s or cross-.ies; TO The men working on
| the track 10 the mechanics; to the engineers
and trimmers; to clerks aud officers; TO
manufacturers who furnish material to the
railroad, and 70 laborers in the manufacture
ers' employ; 10 miners OF coal and of orc; TO
butchers, tmiors, aDd merchants who supply
food ard clothing to all these peoplo-all get
share OF the 80 per cent. of the money
collected from the foreign consumer for
the Transportation services rendered him by
the railroads of this country. This is
so much wealth added TO this ma
| ton instead of tax levied upon the
people. Then the other 40 per
cent. Of the money collected from other
countries, being about A IL per cent. on the
capital invested, goes to the citizens of this
country who, by their capital, enter prise and
public spirit have been furnished to the
United States u great system of railroads
extending into the far west, and who have
made j, possible by the lowest railroad
transportation charges known in the world
that the farmer of Kansas and Nebraska and
Iowa can compete in the market. of Europe,
in the products Of his labor, with the farmer
that lives on the Black Sea, and other grain.
producing countries in eastern Europe,
/ thousands Of miles nearer to the market.
Only 40 per cent. of the total amount collec-
ted for transportation service, representing
only small interest on the capital invested,
goes to those citizens of this country-fellow
citizens Of Judge Black whom no pesses to
designate as robbers and public plunderers,
and whom he denounces as great public
enemies, whose operations must be restrained
| by law, otherwise he fears they will finally
destroy the happiness and prosperity of this
country, and of whom Senate. Window be.
lieyes thew will finally lepriye this rrast