Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-07
THE RAILROADS.
The Communication by rs. H."
Discussed by
Mr.. LORD OF THE RIO GRANDE.
Jay Gould and bis Party at San Antonio
Yesterday-A Trip to Mexico Planned
OF Course He is Out for
His Health-PersonaIs.
THE RIO GRANDE
And the Commission RuIings-An Inter
view with MT. Lord.

And the Commission RuIings-An Inter
view with MT. Lord.
Though it was Sunday. GAZETTE man
yesterday tackled Mr.. Richard Lord, gen
eral freight manager of the Fort Worth and
Rio Grande, and asked him if he had read
as. II. 's' communication upon the commits
sion and the Rio Grande in Sundays
GAZETTE, and if so would he depart from
strict observance of the Sabbath and talk
upon the subject Said he:
ayes, 1 always read The GAZETTE, and
of course read carefully the article signed
IS. H Now, l have not much time to
spend on anonymous communications; one
whose opinion is worth anything is geler-
ally willing to avoW it openly But there
appears to me to be an intent in this COM
muuication TO create a false impression,
which may as well be exposed.
II will answer the statements first, and
then have few words to say about the the
cries.
1T is not true that the commission is not
now in possession of the information
needed TO show the effect of its rates on the
Rio Grande road We have submitted to
the commission all the necessary facts and
figures in the exact form requested by
that body. and have offered to make oath to
or produce our books in substantiation of
those facts and figures.
ut is not true that the Rio Grande road
could have had an increase of 10 per cent
IN the rates over the other roads 1 am in
possession of the written refusal of the
commission to make such an increase, dated
Sept. 10, 1891.
sit is not true that we have lately
asked for it, 1t was offered to our attor-
ney few days ago, and accepted as
partial relief Owing to competition the
reliefto be COTTON from it is a mere baga-
telle What we did ask for was a general
advance in short haul rates and the restOra-
tim Of tine cotton rates from terrific
and competitive with our line, which terri
tory is served by the least profitable roads
in the state, to the figures in effect prior to
the reduction made by the commission.
1t is not true that we have been making
loud COMPLAINTS We submitted our case
In writing to the commission, and within
the last three days l have refused to en-
barrsss that body by giving the figures to
The GAZETTE.
'It is not true that we are mot restricted
at all in the division Of rates. Prior to the
passage OF the commission law it was our
practice to refuse to put in rates unsatis-
factory to US; now the commission rates
are obligatory, and with a few insignificant
exceptions, are so much for given distance
whether 1t be over one road or six. and we
are compelled to put them in force and
make whatever divisions we can. If the
law compel you to buy your meat from
certain butcher, you are likely to have some
u
''It is true that most OF the Texas roads
were in the hands of receivers when the
commission took hold, and that none of the
rest were making money. Why then should
they be still further crippled by reductions
in rates2
There is a Legitimate way of relieving
the situation 1t is to advance the rates
especially on short hauls. On many COM
modities the rates fixed by the Texas COM
mission are lower than obtain in any South
ern state; although Texas, by reason OF its
sparse population and enormous distances,
is less entitled to low freight rates than any
state in the Union.
''It cannot be shown that the Texas roads
have increased their revenues under the
commission rates. The increases claimed
to have been made in gross revenues are
due to the fact that during the past cotton
season all the cotton went forward between
September 1 and December 81; last season
we were all hauling cotton in large guam
titles until April In other words, thecUul
parison is made of q whole season this year
against a half season last year.
None of the roads complain because
there is not enough business in the state to
support them. What they do complain of
is that with this fact demonstrated enor-
nous reductions are made in rates already
totally inadequate to yield any profit.
And, in regard to local roads amelorat-
ing their condition by extensions of mile
age, it occnrs TO me to observe that I have
never had much faith in the obsolete adage
that a hair of the dog is good for the bite
and my experience has not taught me that |
victims of arsenical poisoning cry for Fow- |
ler's solution"