Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-01-20
RAILROAD FREIGHTS.

RAILROAD FREIGHTS.
The question of appointing railroad
commissions to assist i'll bringing about
a more equitable and uniform rate of
freights throughout the country, is now
being agitated in Congress and the
States. The rapidly increasing pro
duets of the country demand cores
ponding reduction in freight tariffs
The roads, in the South especially, fail
to recognize this important fact, and
have not reduced their rates in proper
ton to the increase of business over
their roads. Their great desire to make
money for their stockholders, and pay
good salaries to the officers and agents
in the employ of the road, may be one
reason why freights have not been re-
duced. If railroads could be managed
as economically as private enterprises,
there might be some saving in expenses.
The failure Of our roads to make
these corresponding reductions in freight
calls for commission to determine what
is just and proper to be done between
the shippers and common carriers. Not
only are freights too high, but there
Why railroad arrangements cannot see
that it is to their interest to adjust
these differences we cannot understand.
The roads and the producers are mutu.
ally interested and dependent upon
each other for success, hence it is of the
utmost Importance that they work har-
moniously. But so long as roads con-
tinue to favor one class Of producers
and Cypress Others there will be COM
plant. For example: This week we
desired to ship consignment of apples
to Marietta, Ga, place directly on
the line to, but this side of Atlanta.
We were informed by our clever and
accommodating railroad agent at this
place that the rate to Marietta was
more than to Atlanta, Notwithstanding
the former was considerable distance
this side of the latter on the same road
We asked Mr.. c. why this was so. HI
could not, or did not, give any reason
for it. OF course we attach no bIam
to Mr.. c. He is acting under instruc
tons, and has nothing to do with max
ing rates. A and B may desire to pur
chase ear Of apples, corn, wheat, o
anything else in McMinnville. A live
in Atlanta and B in Marietta, som
distance this side of Atlanta. A ca
lay his goods down at home in Atlant
cheaper than B, who lives this side G
Atlanta. Is this right? Is it not
plain case Of discrimination Can an
railroad management give plausabl
reason for such differences ? If so, Ii
them do so.
We do not desire, nor would we ii
tentionally do injustice to railroads
What We may have to say from tin
to time about railroads, will be said f,
the purpose Of arriving at truth. "
recognize the fact that railroads hay
rights which must be respected, but
public carriers they have no right
discriminate or Cypress one class to
vor another. We, as farmers an
merchants, are charged "a cents p
hundred for hauling our clover al
other field seeds from Nashville to M
Minnville, and our neighbor, who ha
pens to be q manufacture, gets his m
terial hauled the same distance, ov
the same road, for Is cents per hu
dred. This may he right, and mi
not be discrimination, but if so we f
to see it. We are glad to see man
tacturers protected and encouraged
low rates and in every other legitima
way, and would not have their raj
increased. While manufacturers RAJ
are comparatively low, they are not
duced below what will pay the roa,
AT least it is hardly probable that tn
would give rates so low as not to pay
profit. If the roads can haul MAJ
facturers material for Is cents does
not appear reasonable that they col
haul seeds for farmers and merchau
too, at less than 81 cents per hundl