The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-04-27

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vile. To show the enormity of the
charges in this state it is only neces-
sary to say that if the rate from San
Francisco to New York were as high
as the longest haul in this state, the
freight on California oranges shipped
to New York would be- $15 per box.
1t is evident that the charge from
Jupiter to Jacksonville is about half
as much as that for hauling Cali
foInia oranges across the continent.
The rate for the shortest haul by the
Florida roads should not be more than
5 cents. The averave rate should not
be more than 123 cents. A reduction
of only u cents per box would mean
a saving of $685., 800 to the growers of
Florida on crop of 100000 boxes.
And oranges are only one item. Take
other fruits, and vegetables, and lum-
Der and phosphate, and the field crops,
and add the saving that could be made
all around, and the direct producers
of these articles would be several
million dollars better off each year.
And it would not end with the pro-
ducers of articles sent off as freight.
1t would enlarge the trade of the
merchants; it would help many a
debtor to pay his debts who is now
getting deeper every year, and his
payment would enable others to pay,
and SO the improvement would go on
to the enrichment of all classes and
all people.
How long will the present condition
OF things last? Just so long as the
people will permit it, and no longer.
1t will last until railroad commiss-
ion with ample power to inforce it's
DEGREES bids it cease.
But such wholesale reduction would
wreck the railroads. Would it? 1t
might wreck their extravaganza. 1t
might make them economize-and
there is certainly plenty of room for
economy. 1t might reduce a few
fancy salaries, stop few private cars,
but neither the people nor the roads
would be the poorer for this. The
railroads are throwing away hun
dreds of thousands of dollars every
year on free passes. Why is this?
They rarely give more to any man
than they hope to receive. What
pay do they expect from members of
the legislature and state officials Z?
What pay do they expect from the
thousands of private individuals who
never pay dollar in railroad fares, an
yet ride at pleasure all over the state {?
They approach men with courtesy
whom they would not dare approach
with an offered bride. The intention,
however, is pretty much the same
There is not a state in the Union
where so large number of passengers
ride free as so ride IN Florida. The
roads give transportation to the in
fiuential, and make it up in excessive
iiCAShb CudlS co OuG Vi the llldSSeS Ol
the people. The railroads of Florida
could save hundreds of thousands of
dollars every year by cutting of the
free pass nuisance if they would.
When they cease to throw away
money in this manner they can talk
more consistently about the dangers
of railroad commission.
And then there would be less talk
about the appropriateness of the rail-
road business if the roads We're not
bonded far in excess of their value.
Their managers try to pay interest
and dividends on twice and thrice as
much as the roads are worth, and
when, after paying interest on bonds
that represent more money than it
would take to construct and equip
their lines, they fail to pay handsome
dividends to the stockholders, they
talk about the unprofitableness of rail
road investments.
The people of Florida can redress
their grievances. If they fail to do so
they should cease to complain. They
have no one to blame except them
selves.