Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-27

where it is possible; and while this has
been the policy of the roads themselves,
they fight you IN 1t, and as plea urge that
the cost for handling freight is the same
for a ten or a l000-mile haul. So here wish
10 make this point. Suppose there was
separate and specific charge to cover every
expense incidental to the handling of
freight-a mileage charge, a transfer charge
from one road to another, and charge for
receiving and delivering freight. For in
stance. suppose the mileage rat , was i cent
per mile per 100 pounds on frst-class
in small quantities, 10 cents for transfer
charges and 10 cents for handling then on
Z shipment Of 100 pounds for 1000 miles the
freight would be 81, transfer 10 cents,
handling 10 cents. in all 1920. For 100
miles the freight would be 10 cents, hand
ling 10 cents, in all so cents. For ten miles
the freight would be l cent, handling 10
cents. III all II cents. There would be no
transfer in so short a shipment.) OF course
as the size of shipment increases, the
costs for handling and transfer should be
reduced, and like reduction should apply
TO each shipping class.
Any one can see that the great anxiety
On the part of the roads IS fear OF
a mileage rate in connection with ocean
transportation, but Judge Reagan, this
crisis sooner 81 later viii have 70 be faced,
and it would be but a shadow now com
+lGL ~ W tlStI IL VIII DS 4 IcE d iSN ,NCiLS
This ocean outlet IS 4 gift TO Texas that
she should not be deprived Of God gave
the gulf TO Texas, not 10 the railroads.
Now should you make mileage rate, and
il should TO some extent reVOlutiOnlZe the
trahc routes by increasing the gulf trans
pOrtatiOu, would it be as hurtful TO the
roads entering the north OF the state Is
these roads claim At present the freight
largely to the gulf, 50 10 Fort Worth or
Dallas, they cOU!d charge the Galveston
rate from the north, with the rate from
Galveston back 10 Dallas or Fort Worth
added. so where is the rnin
think this whole fight comes from the
East. How? The strong interior connect
ing lines from the East dictate arbitrary
rates 10 Texas roads, and through their
strength they have almost closed our ports
to commerce, and uow nearly everything 10
and from Texas is shipped almost across
the continent to get in and out of the state.
few years ago freightS from New York
to Galveston, by steamer, were from 30 20
30 cents. and by sail, ID to 30 cents. Now,
first -cIass goods are about 81 cents. If
Texas had d mileage transportation this
combination between cur railroads and
strong steamship lines would be broken.
Tramp steamers would soon cut ocean rates,
and then the tight, the revolution in traffic
that [ have spoken OF, would be on. mean
the fight for the freight from the North
west. he texas lines would nave the
short lines and the Eastern roads the
money. But in this fight Texas would not
be in it, but Texas would reap the profit
for the same causes that built up the East
would be here and build up Texas, and that
is cheap ocean freightS.
Please excuse me for thus consuming
your time, but allow HE 10 express my graf
iiication at your careful and conservative
course as railroad commissioner. ] can
see that your heart is in your work, and if
possible you will not permit either the
roads Or the people to profit one ut the OK
peuse of the other Yours truly,