Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-16
Tho Texas Farmer and the TeIas Merchant
Haven't Half as Much 10 Nick About
as They Imagine.

II is the opinion of many that when the
government takes from the railway mana
gers the power and undertakes TO fix rail
way rates the government should comnen-
safe the railway companies Tor any c0nsc-
sucut loss. The English government has
never undertaken the task of fixing rates in
general. France practically controls the
fates Of her railroads, but she guarantees
private investors a liberal per cent on the
Investment. Russia controls the railroad
rates, but she guarantees 10 private invcs-
tors al least > per cent. In Italy the gov
brnment is authorized to reduce tariffs pro
TiGed the loss in earnings to the companies
shall not exceed Oue-Aat of ] per cent Uu
sum agreed on as minimum revenue. IN
AUsCla-HunEaTE the government may re
duce rates where the net earnings exceed
10 per cent OF the capital IN the Neither
lands il Is provided that where the GOV
ernnenJ reduces the tariffs and such action
reduces the net profit Of the carriers, they
shall be Unidentified out Of the treasury.
Belgium guarantees 10 some Of her private
roads minimum interest on the capital
invested
In view of the action of other countries in
protecting their railway investors from loss
b. government action, when Texas has uu-
dertaken to establish rates for her raj roads
without providing any remedy for the loss
which may be sustained by the action Of
She commission, ii seems 10 US that her com
missioucrs, Us they have thus far done.
should proceed with the utmost caution and
and circumSpcctiOu. We do not ask YOU TO
take any Of our representations as cOnclu-
slye, but If they are not believed, we earn
eS'iN invite he exercise Of the powers con
serred by the law on the commission to hear
evidence. appoint experts. etc, to the end
that the facts may be correctly aScertaIncG.
and We DO ask the commission TO consider
7he priIna facie case that we have made.
and that we be rot considered guilty until
proved SO. ana We believe that we are not
asking much, when we ask what is accord
rd the lowest criminal, or the humD-
Jest defendant m civil suit to
baVe evidence adduced against US be
fore our rights are injuTiously affected.
There may be some instances in which
the manufacturing or other Interests III
Texas are uuiustly Disseminated against in
freight rates If such instances exist an
effort should undoubtedly be made TO cor
sccJ them, If the power be in this commits
sion, and II not, an effort should be made
50 correct il through the commission at
Washington. the truth, we believe, can
OuiE be arrived at by requiring the parties
10 file their complaints in writing with
specifications of the nature thereof, and
giving the railway companies complained OF
Il reasonable time 10 ascertain the facts and
present them 10 the commission.
ia many Instances il would be found that
conditions exist which would justify the APP
dUStries. tOI instance, at the Dallas meet
Eng the Dallas people complained that Gal
weston had d lesser rate from s.. Louis
than Dallas. This condition of things is
moi caused by The railroads The rate to
Galveston is made by the water rates from
S.. Louis or the water rates 10 New Or
Jeans with ne local on arbitrary rate Of tae
Southern Pacific from New Orleans to Gal
weston added.
1t IS true that there is no regular line of
boats between New Orleans and Calves
Ton but the Southern Pacific IS afraid to
raise ihcir present local or arbitrary rate.
Tor If they did such line would soon exist,
So there is practically water competition to
Galveston.
actual water transportation between Std
Louis and other Missouri and Mississippi
river points 70 Galveston forces the lines
coming into the state via Texarkana, Paris,
DruiSon and Gainesville TO meet the rate
via he Mississippi or go out of the bust
ness b. going out of the business they
would lose some revenue, which would have
10 be made up by charging higher rates 10
the people OF Dallas and other interior
points. By the operation of the commission
law they cannot give Dallas the same rate Is
Galveston without extending the same rate
10 IlI intermediate stations between st
Louis and Dallas, which the railway COM
pauios
CANNOT AFFORD TO DO.
rs tl~t COM 'lLtllt'u Lllll 81 i4OulS 2tlS Il
much lower through rate from New Orleans
than Dallas While it is true that St Louis
Is 200 miles from New Orleans and Dallas
5l5, 81. Louis has the Mississippi river, and
# Is as natural that she should have lower
rates as il IS for the water ia the rivers to
hoyv to the seas.
The same may be said of the complaint
that Little Rock gets better rate from
New Orleans than Dallas. She has water
navigation via the Arkansas and Mississippi
rivers, and IS only 80 miles from New Or
leans against 5lJ miles from Dallas to New
Orleans.
Il IS also complained that st. Louis re-
C"ives a better iron rate from Birmingham
than Dallas. The distance from Birming-
ham 10 Dallas IS 4Sl miles and from Biz
mingham 10 81. Louis 40 miles. BiIming-
ham is. however $50 miles from the Mis-
sissiPpi river, and there are several lines
of railroad running from Birmingham to
10 h. Mississippi river, which would
rather carry iron 10 the Nlissippi river at 4
low rate than surrender II 10 the an-rail
lines. For the balance Of the distance 81.
Louis enjoys water transportation. The
same explanation shows why Galveston and |
Houston are entitled by nature 10 4 cheaper
rae from birmingham than Dallas
We have cited these instances, not with
tic contention that he differences in the
lc.aIIv" ga c> complained of should not be
less than lh.y now are. as we are not suffi-
gently advised of the facts 10 form an opin-
ION. bat 30 show that conditions exist which
must be- considered in every case before
gust conclusions are reached.
The troubles of Dallas are not attributa-
bic 50 much 10 The fault OF the railway cclI-
panic, as 20 her misfortune in not being
situated on a water highway.
We rGiEl, his commission Will. III q great
Iu,uN respects, he a benefit TO the people.
particularly hy teaching them something of
1r.:.h' r.'e> and giving them 70 under