The Forrest City times., 1894-11-16
and Departure of Trains.
FREIGHT DISCRIMINATION.

Railroad discrimination in the mat ter of freight rates on cotton and cot ton seed from, and against, Forrest City, and in favor of other shipping points; which discrimination operates to the disadvantage and detriment of the commerce of Forrest City, and the financial distress of cotton producers. has aroused the busl1ess men of the' community, and they will take some proper steps to overcome these ruinous conditions.
 Forrest City is centrally located in prolific cotton district, with every nat ural advantage for the trade of St. Francis, and portions of Lee and Cross, counties. Ostensibly, by reason of shipping facilities ibeing located at the junction of the Little Rock & Memphis and the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern railroads) prepared to lead in highest prices paid for the staple pro ducts, she is absolutely at the mercy of the railroads, and by reason of lower freight rates given other points, car not compete with buyers at these points in prices they are paying for the cotton which naturally belongs to this market. Henceit is, that cotton raised within two miles north of Forrest City. is being hauled to Colt Station and even to Wynne, and cotton two miles South of us is going to Bonair, Haynes and even Marianna, distance of 9 miles. None of these points having competing lines of railroad, and yet enjoying freight rate which enables buyers to pay quarter of cent more for cotton than can be paid by the merchants of Forrest City, where there are two railroads, shows, upon it's face, pooling of rates or combination of some kind between the railroads, which will eventually ruin the business of Forrest City.
 A bale of cotton is now worth about S2l. The freight per bale to Memphis, only 45 miles, is Sl 50, which is about 7 per cent of it's value. The same bale can be shipped to Little Rock, dis tance of 90 miles for Sl 55, and when compressed, shipped thence to Mem phis, 135 miles, for S1. The rate from Brinkley to Memphis, 70 mics and from DeVals Bluff, d greater distance is said to be less than the rate from Forrest City.
 The Little Rock S Memphis railroad makes these rates and they seem to be masters of the situation, and the Iron Mountain railroad, while it takes cot ton destined for Memphis, from north and south eff Forrest City at less than Sl.5O they dare not recieye Forrest City cotton for less than Sl.50 for fear the Little Rock & Memphis will cut the rate from Little Rock, thus causing them great loss. Hence the blame is put upon the l.. R. x NJ. road, and the merchants have no grievance with the Iron Mountain, which they believe would give them a lower rate if they dared.
 The freight on cotton seed is even more unreasonable. it being S3 per ton to Memphis, while the price of the seed is but s5 per ton. The rate to Little Rock per ton of seed is only $1.S0
 These unjust rates and discrimina- tons are foisted upon the shippers here Ard all competition is off between the ftiroads, which are otherwise con sidered and to all outward appear ances are, at deadly enmity" with each other. and would willingly annihilate each other if they could
 Under such unjust rates and ruinous observation-disclosures the railroads are dis advantage rather than a blessing to this community, and if we would save the business of this city, we must take united steps to secure quiteable and just treatment. A pike to Madison,