The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-03-17
RAILWAY MONOPOLY.
Albert Ftnk's Answer 10 the StaSe-
ments OF Judge Jeremiah "
Black.

Albert Fink publishes in the World an
answer to Judge Black. "Iu the explanation
given by Judge Black in your issue OF March
2, 1881, of his eatimaee of railroad extorhon
showing how he arrived at marvellous results
commented upon in my former communica-
ton, he makes an addition of 225,0o0 600 to
his former estimates for items OF Iopoery
committed on local freight, which had been
omitted in the report of his speech bsfcre the
snti-monopoly league, February Il, thus
really estimating tho total robbery at S9oo-
100000 during the year. The robbery, OF
course, would be somewhat less in years In
which business was not so heavy. Judge
Black admits, with prdisewortby candor, that
he does not pretend his estimate is traction
ally accurate, but that il is made in good
faith, upon the best material no had, and he
submits his figures to the scrutiny OF the
railroad advocates, in the full consciousness
that they probably need revision, and caila
upon me to perform this service. 1t will
rive me great pleasure TO do so. " is really
q source of satisfaction for me to know can
with so little trouble relieve Judge Black
lrocn the sharne he attachea to himself and to
his fellow citizens for being tame and stupid
enough to bear such burdens in silence. |
nropose to show conchlsigely that railroad
monopoIes have not only been more mod
crate in their exacstion than he bad sup
posed, but that they have committed 10 rob-
berries at ali; yes, more, that they have
not even been repaid for the services which
thew have rendered TO the people of the
United States, and that they are no moropo-
lies. The facts are these: The whole grain
crop Ia 1874 amounted to 2.424,OOoO00
bushels. I have again to nse tie statistics
for 1879, as those for 1880 are not yet pub
lished, and csll special attention TO this fact
10 that another case Of suppresio veri may
not be made out ageinst mo. Those VINO
have later Information can readily make The
corrections. or the 2 424 900 600 bushels OF
grain raised in the United States in 1879,
26l,O00 900 bushels found their way to the
four Atlantic ports, New York, Boston, Phil
adelpha and Baltimore, and OF these 60, OtO,-
900 bushels were carried By canals Inc
remainder Of 20l Coz, 600 bushels were carried
by rail. About 50 per ceot. OF the grain
which arrived at the seso0erd WIS exported
the norton Of grain amounts to
81 600 900, and tho total earnings from
Inc export os grain carried by rail.
ways east of Chicago to about $ll00o,OO0,
Surely these amounts cannot be looked upon
as tax paid by the people Of tina United
States. Il is actually the sun collected by
the people from the consumers OF American
gram ia foreign countries, the railroads acts
ing only as collectors. Of the smount so
collected GO per cent is paid for the working
expenses of tho roads--to their operatives;
to the wood chopper, who furnishes fire
wood or cross-.ies; TO the mgn working on
the track; to the mechanics; TO tho engineers
aud tfimmers; . clerks anG .-cors; to
manufacturers Who furnish maleiiai to the
railroad, end TO laaOrers in the msh6t 5tur-
ers' employ; 10 miners Of coz Id o. ore; 10
butchers, tsilors, and merchants who supply
food ard clothing to al these pcop!c-AGi let
q share of the 90 per cent. of the money
collected from the foreign consumer for
the trsnspoltion services rendered him BY
the railroads of this counlry. This ia
so much weslth added TO this na
ZION instead OF tax levied upon the
people. Then tho other 40 Per
cent. Of the money collected from other
countries, being about IL per cent. on the
capital invested, goes to the citizens OF this
country, who, by their capital, ente prise and
public spirit have bean furnished 20 tho
United States q great system Of railroads
extending into the far west, ard VINO have
made il possible by the lowest railroad
transportation charges known 10 the world
that the farmer Of Kansas and Nebrs.ka aud
Iowa can compete in the markets OF Europe
in the products Of his labor, with the farmer
that lives on tho Black Ses, and otner grain
producing countries in eastern Europe,
thousands of miles nearer 10 the market
Only 40 per cent Of the total cmouat colec-
ted for transportation service, representing
only q small in.eress GA tle capital insos.ol,
goes to those citizens of this couDtry--tellow
citizens of Judge Black --whomhe pleeaes TO
designate as robbers and public plundercre,
and whom he denounces as great public
enemies, whose operations must 3" restrained
by law. otherwise he fears they .i'i finally
destroy The happiness and prospt ny OF ibis
country, snd Of whom Senate. WiLdom be-
lieyes they will finally deprive ths er1ai
country Of its liberties and proaperlsy."
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