The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-07-09

! IL at % cents bushel. at present
roasting ears sold at about 10 cents a
dozen Every body laughed heartily
| again and the discussion turned upon
other points.
| A complaint from a Weatherford
attorney that the Texas Pacific rates
| on wheat f,uI Aledo, sixteen miles, to
Fort Worth we're Is cents a bushel,
while iC cost but 25 cents to get it to
81. Louis Mr.. Turner of the Texas
Pacific cane promptly to the scratch
ald stated that the rates were grouped
iu The Abilene region at the request
of the grain producers OF that region
themselves. 1t was the same, prac-
tically, for all the millers of Fort
Worth, Abilene, Weatherford and
other neighboring points and placed
them all on an equal plain.
A letter was read by the commission
complaining of unjust discrimination
in cotton rates at BRENNAN. Mr.
Ripley asked if the commission had
any objection to giving the name of
their commandment. Chairman Reagan
smiled thoughtfully moment, then
said: "None In the world that can
see. No man in Texas need have any
fear of the railroads now. This gen.
tleInan's name is G. 8. Watson,
and one of the commissioners
knows him personally as an
upright reliable man. Mr.. Ripley
knew him, too, and substantiated the
good name given him, but thought he
misunderstood the situation.
In reply to a complaint from fruit
growers at Columet, Mr.. Ripley stated
that rates had been made so as tc fos-
ter the fruit growing business. Mel
Ions, for instance, to the extent of $50
cars came out of Waller, where two or
three years age it was not to exceed
80 per cent Of that amount.
At this point question was asked
Mr.. Ripley by Mr.. Gresham of Calves
ton, and Mr. Ripley replied, but at the
same time stated he would refuse to
answer any further questions from
gentlemen other than the commission.
Mr.. Gresham said nothing, but
looked several octave volumes in two
line plea type.
Mr.. Masters corroborated the state
ment as to fostering rates being made
on fruit shipments.
The discussion falling back upon
cotton, Commissioner Foster asked if
the Texas Central or any of its stock
holders owned interests in congresses
on their lines, but this Mr.. Ripley, of
whom the question was asked, looked
upon it as a personal matter with the
gentlemen referred to and could give
no information, The question being
put in another shape, he replied that
il he had money to invest and knew
of assgood investment in congresses he
would not be deferred from taking
advantage of it because it was on the
line of his own road. When asked as
to rates on compressed and bulky
bales the same rates were charged.
The railroads gain in COMPRISING is
obtained in the saving in transporta-
ton. The road was not otherwise ben
Gifted by the COMPRISING except |
get ten cents hundred for compress.
string it. He stated that the roads do
not control the congresses, but was
uniformed as to whether railroad
All roads in Texas made practice of
delivering cotton free to the com
presses.
MIR. Bartholomew was called upon
by the commission and Chairman
Reagan asked him for an opinion on
the practicability of mileage rates.
He replied that while he could not say
they were impracticable, he would
not be positive. When asked for a
suggestion as to how the matter might
be regulated, he stated that the com
mission had the propositions of the
roads in regard to the matter in the
present condition of affairs, which the
commission seemed to think was I'M
Just and undesirable. 1t was, how
ever. the result obtained by years of
experience and skillful management.
1t may not be perfect, but all changes
should be carefully and cautiously
made. All roads have mileage rates
on all classifcations only for short dis.
tances. Group rates prevail on long
hauls. Some broken discussion en-
sued when Manager Waldo suggested
that progress in the work before the
commission might be facilitated,
in as much as the COM
mission saw proper to adopt
dis basis for future action, the class
ification now in force, it might be ad-
NiouplJ W ltOpp =" pan WIN
reference to ratio now in force and
from that basis scale the changes that
might be desired. Information was
what Chairman Reagan was after.
He did not claim to be a practical
railroad man, and he wanted all the
knowledge that railroad men were
willing to give up. Mr.. Waldo thought
mileage rates impract:oble. When
asked how much territory he thought
groups should cover he suggested
that the basis now in use be adopted
as basis. He thought the distance
now employed ran from % to 40
miles. The experience of those who
hal practical methods in force for
years could safely be followed. Much
time will be spent in discussion and
by adopting the rates as a basis to
work from something would be &C
complished Immediately.
Discussion at this point struck an
open switch and scattered promis-
cuously over the field, but matters
were again brought to 9
focus by Mr.. Gresham who
arose and said: "Nr chairman
think the time has come to tx the
status of these appearing before the
| L.. I h..