Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-10
A Catechism Prepared and the BOYS Given
Until juIy Is to File Answers.
A Vigorous Effort To Show how the Isi-
and City had Ceased TO do the Cot
ton Business of Texas. and the
Why's and Whersfores.
Special TO the Gazette.

: y.
show in 4 vigorous manner how the island
CITY had ceased 10 do me cotton business OF
I Texas. ana New Orleans had got il under
I the policy adopted by The railroads
Another .eudiug feature Ofthe conference
was the effort of Commissioner Foster 10
ascertain from the traffic men the real
: reasons why the maximum distance rate Of
- cents for III miles from Houston was
established
y third matter q importance WAS the in
terrogatorles 10 'he traftc men pvonHundrd
BY the commission rhcy will De found be-
low
The conference concluded to-day in order
10 give the traffic men time 20
prepare answers to fhe iurerroCatu-
ries Ia adjourn and 10 meet again July
10. when thr answers will be ready for sub
mission 10 the commission.
After some preliminary matters had been
disposed ", Chairman Reagan placed the
following interrogItorieS before the trattc
men, and stated that answers To them We're
desired as = matter OF help To The commits
sion. They are As follows:
|. What Is the average rate per ton per
mile by steamer and sailing vessel for OCEAN
transportation
,. What is the average rate per ton per
mile for railroad transportation in the
United States,
>. What is the ocean rate OF Irausporta-
from New York II the coast cities of Texas,
J. what IS the local rate per ION from the
coast cities Of Texas 10 common points in
Texas
>. What IS the rate per ton by rail from
New orl 10 common points in Texas
Is What are the rates per ton by rail be-
tween the coast cities of Texas 10 common
points i'll the indian Territory. Kansas and
Nebraska4
:. What are the rates per ton per mile be-
tween the following named points and COM
mon points i'll Texas, to-wit: 81. Louis,
Kansas City and Chicago
5 Can merchandise he carried as cheaply
from the coast cities OF Texas TO the north
efn boundary Of Texas as from Kansas
City, 81. Louis or Chicago
g. y radius of 1000 miles from New York
As center and a radius of 1000 miles from
Galveston as center, bisect each other III
the southeastern part OF Minnesota. la
view of this, what can Texas railroads do
towards giving an outlet to ocean trans
portation for the territory nearer the Texas
coast than to the cities of Baltimore. Phila-
delphia, New York and Boston!
10. The people Of the Western states and
territories and their commercial and politi-
cal representatives are giving all the aid
they can to secure deep water harbors on
the coast of Texas, and an outlet TO the sea
by way of the coast OF Texas so as to be re-
lieyed from the cost OF the longer railroad
haul to the Eastern cities. What can the
Texas railroads do,
II. II the rates on the shorter lines should
control the rates on longer competing lines,
why do not the rates from points within the
radius from the coast of Texas control ths
rates on longer hauls to the Easter citiese
l.. What is the difference between the
rates received by Texas roads on freight
brought into Texas b. through lines aud
that received by Texas roads on freight
originating in and destined to points in
Texas,
THE TRAFFIC MEN
asked for week and were given until July
10 10 frame answers.
The chairman stated that under the pres
ent system Of rates commerce was
directed from the W est and Southwest
TO the Eastern seabOard instead of 10 the
gulf. 4 correct policy. he thought was
one that would not result i'll Il discriminat-
ing rate against Eastern roads. but that
would benefit Texas roads BY directing
from Kansas and Nebraska to
the gulf and South, making trunk lines OF
Texas roads instead of feeders, as they
now are, FOR Eastern roads
The inequality of the reigning system
was the apology for the interrOgatories.
Kansas and Nebraska wanted 10 come TO
he gulf ports, and if Texas could do any
hing to aid THEN wishes. they wished 10
y committee of the traffic men chosen
by themselves will prepare the answers.
AN EXTENDED CATECHIsM
Commissioner Foster catechised Mr.
smith, general freight agent of the Mis-
ourl, Kansas and Texas. with reference 10
he principle governing the existing traffic
yStem III the state. The Catechism was
quite extended, and developed that the
'asis of the system is "a distance or mileage
ariff from Houston Ia miles TO the inter
or, for which distance the maximum rats
S IS, 50, 10 aud % cents on first, second and
hird and fourth class general merchandise.
Beyond the a mile limit the distance tariff
eases, and the blank OF common point sys-
EN- prevails.
Asked for the reason or principle upon
which that basis was fixed, Mr. Smith said
hat competition, not between the roads but
etween trade centers in the interior and
he peculiar railroad conditions existing de-
ermined it. The object was TO place Waco,
DALLAS and Fort Worth upon
II equal footing. They all had the
anne freight, the 1T4-mile limit extending
D Abilene.
Asked if the real reason why the distance
'as that at that distance the maximum rata
y law had been reached, and that
Il extension of the distance would result
diminutiOn OF the rate to intermedi.
te points, Mr.. Smith replied that such
ras not the case.
LESS THAN THE LAW ALLOWED.
Mr.. Ncwlin stated the present rates wers
.ss than those allowed by law, and that Il
lie roads chose 10 do SO they might extend
nc distance TO a 300 mile limit and charge
30. but that would ruin the people wh<
aid the increased tariff.
Both Mr.. Newlin and MIR Smith urged
lat the existing system of tariff rates wa.
lie best under existing conditions
Mr.. Hinton, general freight agent of thu
e1as and Pacific, stated that an extension
the distance rate beyond ia miles woult
2 greatly TO the disabling of the west and
OrthweSt trade.
II reply TO Commissioner Foster. he ad
lifted that the limiting of the distance
,tes TO la miles was the effect of the legs
squirement of the law fixing
laximum rate of one-half cent mile, bu,
lat was not the cause or reason of the
nit.
Asked If the mileage rate was not practi-
lble, ina said. Eyes, if il be wisely made,
1asot GIT TO BUILD UP THE WEST
rcd if the roads did not employ their
stem 10 build up trade centers. he replied
lat they sought to build up the West
he TIE ias and Pacific had no interest in
)frOD