The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-01-21
DEPARTMENT DoINGS.
RECORD OF YESTERDAYS TRANsAe
TONS AT THE CAPITOL.
aow, Where and by Whom the Government
talAfairs Of the People Of the Great
Commonwealth Of Texas are
Being Administered
The Railroad Commission.

During the early part of last week
the commission issued notice to all
parties interested in the question of a
reduction in their rates on salt to meet
the cut made by interstate roads on
Kansas and Michigan salt that they
would consider the question yesterday
and in response to that notice the fol-
lowing gentleman were present:
Major Parsons and Mr., Marshall of
the Grand Saline salt works, Mr..
Moore of the firm of Moore, Mckinney
u Co., Galveston, wholesale dealers,
and Mr.. Groseclose of the "Cotton
Belt" railroad.
The proceedings were opened by
Chairman Reagan who stated the
object OF the meeting by reading the
following call:
Notice is hereby given that on Mon
day, Jan. IL, the commission will con-
slider the question of reducing the
rate on salt as prescribed in commodi-
ty tariff No. l, to meet the reduction
in the rates on said commodity from
interstate points to Texas and pre-
serve the diderential between state
and Interstate rates.
A change in the rate on salt will
not be made on any road that has
refused to participate in the rednc-
til n from interstate points and pre-
served the differentials fixed by the
commission.
Judge Reagan then asked Major
Parsons to tell the commission what
he knew about the reduction in the
rate on Kansas and Michigan salt,
and also to state what effect it was
having OH the Texas trade.
In reply Major Parsons stated that
the matter as it now stands is in the
nature of three cornered fight, with
Michigan at one angle manufacturing
salt by artificial heat, Kansas at the
second angle pouring her products
into Texas by the aid of the Santa Fe
railroad, and at the third angle the
Texas settlers asking the commission
to come to their aid and make it pos
sible for them to do business with
Kansas and Michigan in the field as
competitors. He said that it was
the belief Of the Texas manufacturers
of salt that the cut rate was made for
the sole purpose of strangling them
and forcing them out of the market
which it would do most effectually if
the commission did not prevent it and
that very shortly. He further said
that it seemed to be the idea Of the in
terstate roads that by offering the
wholly Texas roads, that Is those
having both ends in the state, larger
rate division than that allowed by the
M mi coinn 70 ms u than 1iountiC n Tod
with the commission rates and try to
have them changed.
Judge Reagan inquired to what
extent the Grand Saline Salt
works could put their salt
in the market before the commission
rate went into effect.
Major Parsons replied that up to
that time his salt only went to certain
portions of the state, and that the
places where they could not go were
on lines of such railroads as were in
terested in salt works and raised their
rate so high as to effectually shut
them out of the market. Since the
commission took hold, however, we
have been able to send our product all
over the state, but now that this cut
on foreign salt has been made we will
again be shut out of those
portions of the state that are
reached by interstate roads.
In reply to question from Judge
Reagan as to how the reduction to a
26 cent rate from the Kansas salt
mines would affect the Texas works,
Major Parsons stated that Texas was
considered by the salt men Of Kansas
and Michigan as dumping ground
f for their surplus stock, and as they
are willing to dispose of it for almost
any price rather than lose 1t, we must
compete with them at their low fig
l uaes or else not do business at all in
that portion of the state.
TBMajor Parsons further stated that
approximately the consumption of salt
in Texas per annum is 500 GOO barrels,
/ calculating on basis of bushels pei
{ capita, the usually accepted basis
throughout the United States; the
3 works he represented supplied 100000
! barrels per year or one-fifth of the
, total consumption. The supply al
= Grand Saline is practically inexhaus.
tible and it is only question of time
! when they would be supplying not
only the demand of Texas but would
be exporting salt to adjoining states
In the general conversation that
q then followed, Major Par.
: sons made the remark that his
. company was doing business in Texas
r for the purpose of making money and
that they wanted all the advantage
they could get. This called forth 6
!, question from Commissioner Foster al
s to WHEEL her the Grand Saline company
f was enjoying any more or undue adj
@ vantage in Texas than the Kansas
and Michigan works were enjoying il
Y their respective states.
Q Major Parsons answered in the neg
: alive and pointed out the fact that thu
@ rates were such as to keep the Texa
/, manufacturers out Of those states
9 they not even having rat
into Indian Territory, while tn,
v workers in Kansas and Michigan
r were enabled 10 put their product
If into Texas, and seriously menace tn,
It home industries.
, Commissioner McLean-"What i
:. the difference in the cost of produc
l. ton in Texas and in other states ?"
n Major Par ons-"The difference