The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-07-23
GENERAL TALK.

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number of the railroad men before
them, and the conference took on the
aspect of old acquaintanceship.
The meeting opened with the read
ing of number of complaints by the
chairman. Citizens near Justin made
complaint that wheat rates to Gal
weston and San Antonio from Justin
and Fort Worth were different, with
the advantage in favor of Foro Worth,
though it was the longer haul.
Mr.. Newlin, for the road in question,
stated they would gladly remedy any
difference, if they could do so.
A letter was read from Mr.. Keller of
Fort Worth complaining of dis
elimination in wagon shipments, and
one from Beeville complained Of dis
elimination in salt rates
Other communications of similar
import were read and briefly discus; ed,
which having been done, the object of
the conference was stated to be for
the purpose of receiving the
response to the list of
queries propounded by the
commission at the last meeting.
Mr.. Richard Lord, general freight
agent of the Fort Worth and Rio
Grande, stated that the representa-
tives of the various lines had met
together and he would for them as a
unit, submit set of replies to the
questions asked.
THE QUESTIONS.
1. Whist Is the average rate per ton
ocean transportation?
2. WhaI is the average rate per ton
per mile tor railroad transportation in
the United States?
3. What is the ocean rate of trans
portation per ton by steamer and rail
from New York to the coast cities of
Texas?
4. And what is the local rate per ton
from the coast cities of Texas to COM
mon points in Texas2
5. What is the rate per ton by rail
from New York city to common points
in Texas?
6. What are the rates per ton by |
rail between the coast cities of Texas
to common points in the Indian terri
tory, Kansas and Nebraska?
Z. What are the rates per toa per
mile between the following named
points and common points in Texas,
to-wit: Kansas City, st. Louis and
Chicago2
s. Can merchandise be carried as
cheaply from the coast cities of Texas
to the northern boundary of Texas, as
from Kansas City, st. Louis or Chi
cago?
8. A radius of 1000 miles from New
York as a center, and a radius of 1000
miles from Galveston as a center bisect
each other in the southeastern part of
Minnesota. In view of this what can
the Texas railroads do towards giving
an outlet to ocean transportation for
the territory nearer to the Texas coast
Uhan to the eastern cities of Baltimore,
Philadelphia, New York and Boston?
10. The people of the western states
and territories, and their commercial
and political representatives are Civ
ing 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 relieved
from the cost of the longer railroad
haul to the eastern cities. What can
the Texas railroads do to aid them and
what will they do?
II. If the rates on the shorter lines
should control the rates on the longer
competing lines, why do not the rates
from points within the radius from the
coast of Texas control the rates on the
longer hauls to the eastern cities?
II. What is the difference between
the rate received by Texas roads on
freight brought into Texas by through
lines, and that received by Texas roads
on freight originating in and destined
to points in Texas2
THE ANSWERS.
Interogatory No. 1. Impossible to
tell. Ocean transportation is governed
by the law of supply and demand.
No. 2. Poor's Manual gives for 1889
76-100 mills and the interstate com
iuerce commission gives 10 Ito mills.
These are the only sources from which
we can obtain such information.
No. 3. Galveston is the only Texas
.ort in reference to which we can Sc
"ure any reliable information as to
rates from New York. From the in
,prmation we have the average rate
per stea aship is $7.52 per ton by sail
ing vessels. New York to Galveston is
il per ton net register.
No. 4. The average local rate on all
classes and leading commodities is
1874 per ton.
10. 8. The average rate per ton on
al classes and leading commodities, all
all from New York to Texas common
oints, is 500. 40 per ton.
No. 6. The rates per ton on all
classes and leading commodities be-
ween the coast cities of Texas and
common points in the Indian Terri
tory, Kansas and Nebraska, are as
follows: Indian Territory and Kan
>as. S11.39; Nebraska, S13.67.
No. Z. Average rate to Texas COM
mon points from Kansas City S1.97
per ton per mile, from st, Louis SIS
rom Chicago $1.44.
No. s. Merchandise is handled as
eheap'y per ton from the coast cities
of Texas to the Northern border towns
Of Texas as it is from Kansas City, st.
Louis and Chicago, and is today being
carried at about the same rate per ton
per mile.
No. and 10. These question can be
consolidated Best answer we can