Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-08
T0ILING ON.
Commission, Shippers and Rail-
road People Still at 1t.
SOME HEADWAY MAI
Texas and Paciffcs Terrible Tale of
Porerty-COtton Rate Ruling
Modified SO il Suits the
Railroads Better.
Before the Commission.

Special 10 the Gazette.
AUSTIN, TEX, Aug. THE lum Der ques-
ton opened the proceedings before the rail
road commission this morning. Mr.. Lam
caster of Northeast Texas appeared in de-
Tense of the commission 5 lumber rates. but
wanted some arrangement Made by which
his mill, on a short line the Paris, Mar
shall and Great Western railroad). can com
pete with mills on the Texas and Pacific.
The short road is entirely supported by its
lumber traffic, which, under the proposed
rates. would receive but small division of
rates. Unless Il larger division of rates
could be secured the road would have TO
quit running.
Chairman Reagan remarked that informa-
ton had been received to the effect that
Michigan salt was selling in Dallas ut 81. %
barrel, which seemed to indicate a pur-
pose TO crush out the Texas salt men,
A railroad man remarked that the Michi-
gan salt sold in Texas was surplus, dis
posed of at less than cost of production.
Mr.. Clark, a Tyler lum herman, who posed
as a mill man, made Il talk against the pro-
posed lumber rate, which he declared was
favorable to him and those of his section,
but was inimlcal to the Southeast Texas
mills. He did not want exclusive control of
the North Texas market to the injury of his
competitors at Orange and Beaumont.
There perhaps never was a more diSinter-
ested or purer philanthrOpist than Mr..
Clark.
The commission discovered a bug under
the chip however, or thought it did. At
least it looked aSkance on his story.
Mr.. GroSecloSe of the Cotton Belt sub
mitted tabular statements and made argu-
ment, showing the heavy losses his road
would incur under the proposed cotton rate.
The road could not stand it, because last
year its earnings were nearly S250, GOO less
than its operating expenses
Chairman Reagan remarked that some
Texas roads are run chiefly i'll the interest
of outside connecting lines, for whose bene-
fit they are worked.
Mr.. GroseclOse stated that cotton brought
his road its largest earning, and that it de-
pended on that article for its operating ex-
penSeS.
VicePresident Grant of the Texas and
Pacific made a general statement of the
condition of his road. showing its inability
TO stand any reduction of rates. In ats
present condition the road needs five mill
ions expended on it to bring il up to the
condition of efficiency required in every
weli-equipped and well-managed road.
Several months ago lie made requisition
for additional rolling stock, including
dozen engines and about 600 cars, very
much needed. The directors of the road.
at their meeting held in New York, con-
cluded that they could not afford the ex-
penditure in view of probable disturbance
of rates, to say nothing of a possible crop
failure. The road should be balaSted, but
that it cannot afford either Ii has done a
great deal to build up Texas aud is operated
honestly and for the good Of the people. as
well as for its own interest. 1t is now
barely able to meet the interest on its first
mortgage bonds. the second mortgage bonds
getting nothing, and no dividend Oh stocks
Capt Quinlan. general superintendent of
the Central, said in reply to Chairman Rea-
gan, who made an observation relative to
the vast amount of land granted by the
state to the railroads. that If there was one
thing more than anything else that was the
source of loss and annoyance TO the Cen
trial, II was the land given il by the state
Asked how that could be, he replied that it
came about in various ways. such as the
cost of surveying, locating and selling the
land. and defending the numerous land suits
brought against the company, taxes, etc.
The question of lumber rates being under
consideration, as well as the alleged combi-
nation between the roads and mill men. both
Qulnlan and Grant were most emphatic IN
denying that such combination exists or
has existed. 1t would be a violation of the
law, and WAS something they abhorred, If
there was discrimination in favor of the
lumber dealers, and against the individuals
or builders, 1t was the result of an under
standing between the mill men and the
dealers in which the roads had no share.
They would haul lumber for anybody who
would pay the same rates allowed the
dealers
The commission will hear the railroad
men and others on Monday on the bagging
and ties question.
The commission to-day modified its rul-
ing in the proposed cotton rate relative to
cotton as follows: For the
purpose Of COMPRISING, cotton may be con-
centrated at any press in the direction in
which it is to be shipped, but where it is
shipped back out of the direction of its
destination for the purpose of being COM
pressed. II must be compressed at the near
est compress. In all cases cotton so con-
centrated at a compress for the purpose of
COMPRISING must pay the local rate from
the point Of shipment to the compress
When such cotton is compressed and re-
shipped the rate from the point from
which it was originally shipped through to
the point of destination shall be paid
and the local rate from such orig
inal point to the compress refunded to
the shipper provided that when cotton is
localed.in an opposite direction from its
final destination only so much of the local
charge shall be refunded as is necessary to
make the rate from the point of concentra-
ton apply.
The Texas and Pacific was granted a
rate of s. ton on coke from Dallas TO Alb
iIene, effective August 10.