The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-02-11
THE CATTLEMEN.
ADDRESSES BY JUDGE REAGAN AND
OTHERS ON FREIGHT RATES.
A Beautiful and Patriotic Address on the
Worlds Fair by Mrs. Warren Of Fort
Worth-Report Of Committees and
Other Matters Of Interest.
The convention was called to ordel


The convention was called to order
by Chairman Rector at 10 O'Clock.
The question of railroad rates was
taken up. and Judge Reagan who was
expected to speak not being present,
Mr.. Charlie Caldwell of Travis county
was called on and he made a brief
but pointed speech. He said:
Nh President;
The subject assigned me is one that
interests the farmer and laborer as
well as the stOckman. yhe time has
already passed in a large portion of
| Texas when stock can he raised on the
range or in large pastures. Land has
become too high.priced and taxes too
heavy to permit of the enclosure of
! large bodies of land devoted alone to
the raising of cattle at prices that
have prevailed during recent years.
The result has been that the large
ranches in the settled portion of Texas
have already been converted into
farms, and the process of disintegra-
ton is steadily going on as the set
| Elements move westward. On the
same ranches that formerly supported
cattle and horses by the thousands
the farmers are today raising more
stock of better quality and stock
shippers are buying their supply of
cattle for feeding from the farmers in
stead Of raising them, as they former
| ly did. Inasmuch then as the farmer
raises the bulk of the cattle now pro-
duced in this state, and the stockman
collects them together at some central
point to feed and prepare for market,
it is clear that the rates paid on these
cattle in collecting them at central
point, and from thence when they are
finally shipped to market, materially
affect the price the farmer receives
for them. Therefore, in asking for
reasonable, fair and just rates for the
live stock interests, this association is
not entirely selfish, but is represent
of the state, which is a twin sufferer
with us in the general depression now
affecting our interests.
In all branches of business freight
rates, which represent the cost Of get
ting an article to the consumer, enter
largely into the value of the article,
and the live stock trade is no excep-
ton to the rule. 1t is very essential
element in determining the profit or
loss in any business transaction, and
this fact brings us to the
consideration of what is desired by
the stock interests in the way of
freight rates ON live stock.
LIST. 1t is uniformity of rates, by
which | mean that under the same
conditions the same rates should be
paid on the same kind and quantity
of stock, shipped the same distance,
by every shipper and in any part of
the state.
Cd. Stability of rates is an essen
tial consideration. No business can
prosper surrounded by an air of I'M
certainty and fluctuation. When a
stock shipper goes into the market to
purchase stock for feeding purposes
he buys on the basis of prevailing
rates. The earnings of lifetime are
sometime invested in q single trans
action and placed at stake. The
small margin of profit which the
dealer expects to reap in the transac-
ton is not the only thing involved
and the result ought not to rest on
the will and caprice of railroad
which by one of the sudden advances
in rates, with which we are all ia
miliar, fortunes are swept out of the
pocket of one man and into the purse
of another.
BY stability in rates l do not mean
unalterable fiXedness in rates, but
that degree of certainty and that
guarantee against tluctuation which
oil hxy Exyin 70 in n fnp
the service to be performed and MAX
ing it permanent until such time as
the railroad may be able by increased
traffic to give to the public lower
rate.
3. Reasonable rates are also essen.
tial to the growth and prosperity of
the live stock industry. No stockman
or farmer objects to paying reason.
able rate to a railroad company for
any service performed for him. The
objections to existing rates, in many
instances, are that they appear to
have been levied after duly calcu-
lating Just how much the article to be
shipped would stand. To the ship
pers the rates appeared to be man.
aged in this way, and Just how much
could be put on without prohibiting it
from moving altogether. Then again
where there are no competing lines
stockmen are often compelled to ship
stock at an actual loss, because they
are compelled to market them and at
such rates as the road they happen to
live on sees proper to charge.
TO sum up the needs of the live
stock industry as to freight rates as
above outlined, they are as follows:
l. Uniformity of rates.
>. Stability of rates, and
3. Reasonable rates.
will now consider briefly the ques
ton, "What would be reasonable rates
on livestock transported within this
state?n
This question opens up wide field
for investigation, and involves the
consideration of many collateral ques.
tons. In general sense reasonable
rates might be said to be fair COM
pensation for the service the railroad
company performs. To speak more
specifically and determine the reas on
ableness of rate for haul of 3, 10,