Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-28

\ very large reduction IN The charges made Dy
railroads for freights and passengers has been
made since the organization OF the commission
in this state. To show this reduction l state
that in 1879 the charge made for the Transports
ton of passengers was cents Der mile whilst
the rate now charged is cents per mile, and to
show it in freghts 1 submit the following table
of rates in 1879 and in 1890, taking the Savannah
division of the Central railroad example.
This immense reduction in charges for freight
and passen gers has been accomplished without
injury to the railroads. They have prospered,
whilst the people have been benefited.
The market value OF the stocks of our most
important railroads has been steadily increased.
This is shown by the following comparative
statement of the prices at which the stocks of
Central railroad and of the Georgia railroad
railroad syst ems in this state in 1879, SELF
ing in 1873 and selling now:
Selling al in 1879. Selling at in 1890.
Georgia r. T. stock 5s............ 20l
Central Il. L. stock 79.....-..... ..........12l
Not only have the charges of railroads been
reduced, and the value of their properties en-
HANGED; but there has been an immense increase
in their mileage since 1879. The records of this
office show that for the first year previous to
there were built in this state less than 100 miles
of railroad. showing an annual average of
about twenty miles, and since 1879 TO the pres
ent time there have been built in Georgia 1000
miles of railroad. making an average of 200
miles per annum.
The sentiment of the people of Georgia toward
railroad commission can be determined by the
following facts: All candidates for the Office of
governor in the past eight years; the members of
ton; the present candidates for governor; the
candidates for congress and for the legislature
at this time who have been announced, have
been and are in favor of railroad commission.
In addition, / may state that the press of the
state and Farmers Alliance favor railroad
commission, and that many organizations of the
Alliance approve increase of the powers of
the existing commission.
The establishment OF railroad commission,
with the proper powers TO make joint rates for
all connecting roads in your state would GER
tainly result. in my Judgment, in the building
OF more roads from trunk lines into sections that
otherwise will never have the benefit of a rail-
road. This would follow, because the railroad
commission. by the making and enforcing of
Joint rate over the two roads (the new and the
trunk line) to the commercial centers of your
state would be guarantee against the ex-
ercise of unfriendly hindrances. and the estab
lishment of such arbitrary rates by the trunk
lines as to head off and crush out the new road
and thereby making its construction impracti-
cable.
With such a joint rate, however, the road
would be able to reach your commercial cities
with their shipments over the trunk line upon
such Just and reasonable terms as to insure their
construction and make them paying roads. In
the absence of such regulation the new roads
would be forced to build long and expensive
through lines to reach the commercial thorough
to entirely defeat their construction. Without
such power vested somewhere TO oVerco ne the
arbitrary rule of trunk lines, they may entirely
prevent, by the means above alluded to. the
building of roads in large sections of your coun
try, and absolutely lock them up against all
railroad facilities except as furnished by them
selves upon their own terms With such regu-
lation, however, and the enforcement of such a
rate, all sections of your state able to build
a short road and connect it with any other road
and can do so with the assurance given by the
authority lodged in a commission of being justly
and fairly dealt with, ich would, as l have
said, insure the building of railroads into Sec
lions that are now without them. One other rea-
son, and probably the strongest one that can be
given showing the necessity of a railroad
commission, grows out of the fact that the stocks
OF railroads are now held largely for speculation
f,,t-a k4r1ua,a ftnv- hold
an investment it would be to the interest of
those holding them to give to the country such a
service at snch rates would add to the wealth
and population OF the country, which would in
return remunerate the roads by the increase of
travel and larger tonnage, as the natural results
of increased population and wealth.
But when the stock of the roads are held as
they are, for speculative purposes alone,
the holders have no interest in the future os the
railroads, or in the people of the country which
they traverse. Their interest is in the reports
and in the next dividends. AS these are to
look for advantageous sales and large profits,
this state of affairs causes an irresistible de- |
mand by the holders of the stocks upon the Off
GERS who are managing the roads for favorable |
reports and large dividends, which can only be |
given by exacting such high rates of the patrons
of the roads,. and the country through which |
they pass, as to strip every industry and every |
interest that the road may touch of all profits.
with most disastrous results to the country and |
to the people.
railroad commission, clothed with proper |
authority. could prevent all this by the esiab- |
lishment of rates that would be just to the coun-
try ana to the roads by disregErding these de- |
mands made by spectators in stocks and pre- |
scribing and fixing rate for the roads by which |
the country would be developed, enriched and |
made populous. The stimulus that such ia |
vorable rate would give to all pursuits and al in
dustries would in return pay the roads. by reason
of increased travel and larger tonnage, more |
than they now make by the high rates upon their |
light travei md small tonnage.
In conclusion, permit me 10 state that do not |
wish to be misunderstood as attributing all the |
prosperity of Georgia, and especially OF her rail-
road interests. to the fact that she has railroad
commission.
Georgia feels the impulse towards progress and
development which stirs all her sister states, and
is reaping some of the benefits of the general
prosperity of theitimes But lido honestly believe
that the railroad commission has been a great
factor in her prosperity, and shall be glad TO
know that the great state of Texas has organized
a commission with the proper powers. and has
placed the administration of those powers in
proper hands. L. n. TRAMNELL,
Chairman of the Railroad Commission of the
State of Georgia.