Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-16

however, are in course of erection 1t
New Birmingham, aud there is also
plant under construction at Jefferson.
We are informed by Mr.. Day, the repre-
sentative of the st. Louis, Arkansas and
Texas railway, upon whose line Rusk and
New Birmingham are situated, that he
has recently materially reduced the rates
on pic iron from those places, and that if
the rates are not now satisfactory the
citizens Of those places have not eX-
pressed their dissatisfaction and that If
necessary to make further reduction In
their rates, on a showing therefor by the
citizens of those places, such reduction
will be granted by his company. As
soon as the plants for producing pig iron
are in operation at other points, we are
satisfied that all the railway companies
leading to such points will give whatever
rates may be necessary to enable the
producers to send the product to the
markets.
Now5we have endeavored to fairly and
fully show you the condition of the rail-
roads in Texas, their poor financial con-
dition, the present bankruptcy of some
and the Strengthened circumstances of
all. We have shown that the rates now
prevailing are just of themselves, and as
compared with those of other states
where the population is more dense and
business much greater, aud the laws
more favorable, are certainly very low,
and if unjust to any one are unjust to the
roads themselves 1t must be evident to
you that the roads cannot survive any
material reduction of earnings and avoid
absolute bankruptcy to say nothing of
maintaining their efficiency for the per-
Torrance of their duties as common car
riers. Still we desire to go as far as pos
sible towards satisfying your demands,
believing you will as fair minded men,
appreciate the condition of the roads.
The representatives of each line present
has, therefore. expressed a Willingness
to make
SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTIONS
on the following articles in any event,
and while owing to the trust law, which
has not yet been interpreted by the
courts, we have not considered and do
not consider it safe to make any agree
ment among ourselves as to rates. Each
railway representative will meet the COM
mittee and indicate such reductions as he
can make on the articles herein enumer-
ated:
/. Referring again to pig iron we think
it would tend most to foster the produc-
the reduced rates apply only to shipments
from points where pig iron is now pro-
duced or will hereafter be produced, to
all other points in the state, instead of
making the reduction apply generally to
shipments from any other points in the
state. We are, however, willing
to discuss this question with
the committee and do what
will best tend to promote the growth OF
this industry in the state.
2. AS Texas is largerSan agricultural
state and it Is very desFable that the
farmers should adopt all modern i'm
proved agricultural implements, in or
der to encourage such adoption and
cheaper the same to the farmers we think
it would be well to make a considerable
reduction on agricultural implements,
although our present rates on these arti-
cles are below the average of rates IN
other Southern states.
3. We also understand that complaint
is made that production of onions and
potatoes in this state is retarded by the
fact that rates are now too high to JUS
tify producing and shipping them to
market in this state at any distance from
the producing point. For this reason, 4
we think that it would foster the plant
ing and production of those articles in
the state to make material reduction in
rates from the local rates.
4. Referring to the cotton factory pro- /
duets, known in Texas as cotton piece
goods, we find By comparison that the
rates now prevailing in Texas are higher
than the rates in some of the other
Southern states. While the greater pro-
duction Of those articles aud the increasedgl
tonnage furnished to the railroads in thnse
states justify them on business principles
N making lower rates, at the same timer
in order to encourage this industry Ia. the
state and to induce the construction &nd
operation of other factories, we think it
proper that material reduction beinade
from the present rates on these products.
Considering the present amount of the
tonnage of all the articles referred to, in
this state, and the risk to be incurred in
handling the same, with the exception of
pig iron we think that the present retes3
are not too high; but at the same time,
IN order to foster their production we
believe that the railways in the state |
generally are willing to make the rates |
so low, if necessary, that they will no !
more than compensate the roads for the |
actual cost of transportation leaving no |
profit whatever to the roads for handling
them.
We VIII now say that If it can be
shown that there are any other special !
products of the state the production Off
which can be materially encouraged or 7
rapidly increased, we are willing to dN-
2uss those articles with the committee or
my citizen Of Texas, and if it can be
shown that it is necessary to have lower
'ates to encourage production of the
same, we are confident that the railways |
If the state generally, acting for them-
ielves, will make such rates.
We now trust that this committee, and
through them the people Of Texas, will
understand our situation; that in view
# present and past earnings it is i'm
possible for the railways of the state
% make any general reduction in present
'ates, but that still we have always been
Ind now are willing to make such rates
IN particular articles as are necessary to
oster and secure that production in the
tate, while we cannot, as often urged
Upon you, make reductions III rates upon
articles and products generally which
esult in any material decrease in the
present earnings of the roads.
We now desire to invite the people of
1exas through you. and each individual
of bo I1n n