Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-22

cept for such as our lumbermen, with
whom there was not stronger conflicting
interests from without the state. You
wrote me in your letter: You will have to
look TO the state for laws to correct these
evils | saw that ! would be ruined be-
fore [ could get this state protection, as |
was rapidly losing all l had. So l closed
out my business as soon as l could, and
found | had lost about half my property.
Now having this experience, | feel that
by giving you the cause of it that it might
place you where you could prevent a re-
currence of it.
In the first place, goods shipped from the
East in large or small quantities go direct
to the point of consumption At very low
freight, when from 4 Texas mil or fac
tory, when the output exceeds the home de-
mand to freight it locally is simply prohibit
tory compared TO the common point rate in
vogue from abroad. Besides, our jobberS
and factories distribute in small quantities,
so the freight for much distance is nearly
equal TO the freight on like shipment from
up North. To Il Fort Worth merchant two
years ago, nails from st. Louis in car lots
to Fort Worth and in small lots from there
10 Vernon, Tex, were Is cents greater than
in small lots from ST Louis through Fort
Worth to Vernon. Again, a small shipment
of iOurth-class goods from St. Louis to
Austin was 80 cents. to Fort Worth it was
80 cents. and from Fort Worth to Austin 1t
was 80 cents more. And this condition OF
rates TO small towns surrounding Dallas
and Fort Worth apply relatively with St.
Louis. as the 80 cent rate to Austin. And
IN regard TO the bagging rate, with which
see you are having some worry. The rate
two wears ago from st. Louis 10 San An
Mo was - cents in car lots; 1t was the
same to Fort Worth Then it was % cents
less - per cent from Fort Worth 20 San
~ = -..H1 Tho, ksafr
ging factory at Fort Worth, while 1t was
subjected to this freight to San Antonio,
was taxed 4 56-cent rate on the raw jute
from St. Louis out of which it made this
bagging.
Now how can this factory exist under
such 4 tax But this is not all. for these
roads in the beginning of n season for
staple article like bagging generally cut the
rate from the North to help their friends
up there. to the ruin of competing indus
tries Query-Would these cut rates be
made if the roads were required to make
like reductions here on the same cOmmodl-
ties on both small and car shipments:
Now | have read after YOU closely, and l
notice there is some talk of mileage rate
where it is possible; and while this has
been the policy of the roads themselves,
they fight YOU in it, and as a plea urge that
The cost for handling freight is the same
for Il ten or j lO00-mile haul SO here | wish
TO make this point. Suppose there was
separate and specific charge to cover every
expense incidental to the handling of
freight-a mileage charge. Il transfer charge
from one road to another, and 4 charge for
receiving and delivering freight. For in
stance, suppose the mileage rate was cent
per mile per 100 pounds on tirSt-clasS
in small quantities, 10 cents for transfer
charges and 10 cents for handling. then on
a shipment of 100 pounds for 1000 miles the
freight would be 81, transfer 10 cents,
handling 10 cents in all Sl,20 For 100
miles the freight would be 10 cents, hand
ling 10 cents, in all 30 cents. For ten miles
the freight would be l cent. handling 10
cents. in all II cents (There would be no
transfer in so short a shipment) OF course
as the size of a shipment Increases, the
costs for handling and transfer should be
reduced and like reduction should apply
10 each shipping class.
ANY one can see that the great anxiety
on the part OF the roads IS u fear of
j mileage rate in connection with ocean
TRANSPORTATION, but, Judge Reagan. this
crisis sooner or later Will have TO be faced,
and it would be but a shadow now COM
pared to what it will be after few years.
This ocean outlet is a gift to Texas that
she should not be deprived of. God gave
the gulf to Texas, not to the railroads.
Now should YOU make mileage rate, and
it should 10 some extent revolutioniZe the
traffic routes by increasing the gulf trans
portation, would it be as hurtful to the
roads entering the north of the state as
these roads claim At present the freight
largely to the gulf, so TO Fort Worth or
Dallas, they could charge the Galveston
rate from the north, with the rate from
Galveston back to 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 TO Texas roads. and through their
strength they have almost closed our ports
to commerce, and now nearly everything to
and from Texas is shipped almost across
the continent TO get in and out of the state.
4 few years ago freightS from New York
to Galveston, by steamer, were from 30 to
so cents, and by sail, 10 TO so cents. Now,
first-casS goods are about 81 cents. If
Texas had mileage transportation this
combination between our railroads and
strong steamship lines would be broken.
Tramp steamers would soon cut ocean rates,
and then the fight the revolution in traffic
that | have spoken of, would be on. Imean
west. The Texas lines would have the
short lines and the Eastern roads the
money. But il 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 NE for thus consuming
YOUR time, but allow me to express my graf
ification ut your careful and conservative
course rs 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 at the eX-
g 81, h,