Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-30

Chairman Reagan Writes Letter Explain
ing Rates.
The following letter from Chairman Rea-
gan 10 w Z. Gass of Bonham will no doubt
be of interest:
AUSTIN, TEX. Oct. 90 1891.
Mr. w. Il Gass, Editor Fa. N ers' Review, Bon
ham. Tex:
DEAR SIR-Your letter of the 18th, with
the article from the Daily Favorite, pur-
porting to state the effect of the commits
sion tariff on wheat. has been received. The
writer Of this article bases his opinion that
the said tariff increases the rate on wheat,
and is therefore an additional tax OF the
wheat growers of the Abilene country, on
two statements. The first is that the rate
from Abilene to San Antonio has been in
creased from 20 to % cents per 100 pounds,
or 3 cents per bushel The very fact that
the rate from Abilene to only one city in
Texas was cited to support the statement
that rates have been increased gen.
orally, as is evidently meant by this writer
stamps him as an unfair and prejudiced
critic II Abilene was the only wheat pro-
ducing locality and san Antonio the only
consuming point in the state. there might
be some reason in the article. But Fort
Worth. Dallas, Corsicana, Terrell, Sher-
man, Denison and many other milling
points buy wheat. and the rates to nearly
all those places from Abilene were reduced.
Why We're rates TO those points not men
toned by this critic? San Antonio is evil
IDENTIFY the only point where the rate from
Abilene has been increased. Then gain,
the Panhandle. the great wheat producing
region Of Texas, is not mentioned at all in
this criticism. Was it because the rates
from Panhandle points to nearly every con-
Stunning point in the state have been re-
duced! In some cases where there was a
very long haul from the point of production
to the point of consumption the commission
tariffs have increased the rate, but
this results from the fact that
the railroad tariffs made but little if any
difference in rates on account of distance.
Under their tariffs rates were nearly, and
i'll some instances quite, as high from Abb
lene to Dallas and all intermediate points to
San Antonio as from Abilene to San An
tonic. Under the commission tariff ship
perS pay for the distance wheat is hauled,
anC consumers situated near producing
points do not have to contribute any of their
earnings TO convey it at a cheaper rate to
those more remotely situated.
The following comparison between the
rates on wheat in force when the commits
sion was organized and those fixed by the
commission fairly illustrates this point:
Wheat in carloads distance railroad COM
mission rate:
Miles, Per 100 lbs. Per 100 lbs
Abil'ne to Dallas..l92li 70 cents l51a cents
Abil ne to 5 'nham276 20 cents II cents
Abil'Ee to y Ant oi5l - cents % cents
The second statement in the article that
circular No. 20 gives authority to railroads
TO charge the ''sum of the locals on two or
more roads, thus greatly increasing rates, is
wholly untrue. Said circular simply pro-
vides that in no case shat a road make 4
haul for less than the minimum rate, which
on wheat is cents per 100 pounds.
The above observations apply with equal
force TO the criticism of the rate on hay,
corn and oats. There may be few points
remote from the producing centers where
rates will be higher, but the vast majority
of consumers enjoy cheaper rates, and 70
one section of the state is taxed to keep up
another
Finally would cite You 10 the opinion of
the railroads themselves as probably the
best evidence OF the effects of the commits
sion tariff on rates. The various roads est
mate the reduction on grain. -four, bran,
meal and salt at from 10 TO 25 per cent
Very respectfully, JOHN. H. REAGAN,
Chairman.