The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-10-14

Since the last issue of the FLoRrptAS !, has
come TO our know ledge that the railroad dis
elimination against the people of Tallahassee
and Leon county 10 not confined to cotton, but
extends also to incoming freights, and we are
informed that while the rate on trs-c ASA freigh
from New York to Tallahassee is 40 per 100
pounds, the rate on the same class of freiaht
from New York to Quincy, 20 miles beyond Tai
lahassee, is only serenty-eight cents per 100
pounds.
To illustrate how this unfair discrimination
operates against Tallahassee merchants, we cite
case in point. Last Friday Tallahassee mer-
chant received from New York via Fernandina
50 nests trunks) of frst-cass freight on which he
paid freight to the amount of 1910. The same
goods, over The same line consigned to Quincy
merchant, 30 miles farther from New York
would cost only $2087 for freight, or $1e43 tess
than the Tallahassee merchant was compelled To
pay.
These rates, like the cotton rates operate
against the business interests Of onr city and
county. 1t is n bold and unjus; blow at the very
foundation of our prosperity 1t comes right
home to every merchant in Tallahassee it is
dIHlcu ht tHclll llltlH al lne
people whe trade with them.
1t is not necessary for us to elaborate on this
point. Every person with any business sagacity
whatever can readily and clearly take in the stu
alton at n glance. But we, AS public journalists,
have a duty to perform, which We have no incli-
nation desire to shrk, especially when the wei
fare and prosperity OF this community and this
people are seriously threatened, as they are in
this instance.
Every merchant in Tallahassee knows how
this injustice is operating against them and tn If
patrons every day, and they know full well to
what disastrous results it will lead and soon, too,
if there is no effort to stop IT. The inexnrnble
first law Of nature-self rvaiion-self pride
demands that you make the effort, and make
it quickly. Do this and your people will stand
by you The merchants O Tallahassee are the
proper ones to right this great wrong; the PEG
pie expect you t" do il, and you owe it 70 them
and yourselves to do 1t. We repeat Do This,
and they Will cling 10 and support you III the
fight. d. nothing, and they will leave you to
br"Od alone over your humiliation and despair
There ale more ways than one oul OF lhl~
trouble, AMI there ale Two that will afford pet
mAnenl immunity from future iup"silI"n~ from
The same quutrr. One IS he budIng # fhc 1
I. Il g. Railroad and thu, other would he t" gr'
steamer Ia ply regularly bel N"rn Nrwp r al Il
NV Orleans. n wprl is only about eighteen
mites from + hts>,e, hnl the di>ta1er Ia "a.
). +. W. Railway. Bay Your goods in n ~
Orleans, have them hr n-ht ny steamer 20 New
porl, send W ,gon> down with cotton and ic item
return with g"od--in kim the round TRIP III .
day.
But il ia useless to talk think at doing any
thing unless AL pull together The first step I"
he taken is the organization ef "A Board OF Trndr
Get every business man in Tallahassee into It
make il good and srong-nnd you are rcndy tor
effective work. But there mus be no white icith-
cred knights y IN this contest. Let The command
be " forward, charge the enemy in force. and he
will soon capituae. Then you, and not the enc-
my, will dictate terms.