Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-11-29
~~v 49,
N " N w
tuItcjdQ I0hhlrC Are
BY Establishments

The Gazette has heretofore called at
tention to the determined action Of
outside jobbers In the effort to regain
lost vantage ground in Texas. Since
the adoption of the car load and less
than car load rate last June. the bulk
of the jobblng business in Texas has
been transacted by Texas jobbers,
greatly to the chagrin OF their outside
brethren.
Appeals have been made to the
Southwestern Traffic association for
the Inauguration OF n rate between
Chicago. Kansas City st. Louis, New
Orleans and Texas points that will put
those tobbing points again In possession
of the cream OF Texas business. But
so far their efforts In that direction
have only been attended with disap-
polntment.
st. Louis appears to be the most de-
ternined factor In these efforts, and
as stated In the Gazette of few days
ago, the chairman Of the st. Louis
freight bureau announces his intention
of carrying the matter before the inter-
state commerce commission, In the hope
OF having the rates into this state on
car loads and less greatly reduced.
Pending these efforts, however. and
while awaiting developments, these
thrifty tobbers are resOrting to every
known expedlent and device to tempt
Texas buyers to those markets
The Gazette representative was re-
Gently permitted to inspect oonnden.
tial letter sent out by prominent st.
Louis jobber to Texas business man,
In which II was offered to defray all
his expenses to that city and return IL
he would only agree to purchase q
stipulated amount of goods and ship
them from St. Louis to Texas via IL
certain system OF railway,
Now II IL perfectly legitimate for tho
st, Louis jObbcr to beur the travelling
expenses of the purchaser of goods.
wares and merchandise from
the uttermost corners OF the
earth to that CITY, II
he desires 10. but an interesting and
pertinent query which naturally sug.
gests itself Is. why this stipulation that
the travel and shipment OF goods must
be by certain line or system OF rail-
way2 II can be readily understood
why thore should be a provlso as to the
quantity OF goods to be purchased
that IL. " the Jobber Is really defraying
the expenses.
But the fact that there must be nm
iron cad agreement to travel and ship
the purchases over certain line Of
railway adds colorlng TO the suspicion
that there is another party to the deal
There must he d reason for this stlpu-
latlon and the thought that most
naturally suggests Itself to tho obseIy-
Ing and inqulring mind IL that some
lines of railway are parties to the stu.
alton as q means OF whipping the down
around the stump, While they are to
all lntents and purposes holding out
against urgent entrcaties to reduce
rates TO the point whore there can be
successful competition with the Texas
lobber, they are Indirectly contributing
to the Establishments worked by the
outside clement, and IN this way equn.
llZing conditions as much as they dare.
While st. Louis appears to be the
principal scene OF action In this re.
Hpect, operations are not confined to
That city by any means. New orleans
Jobbers " possible. are Just little
more open and equally ms determined
In tho exercise OF similar blnndish.
ments. II Ia presumed that Chicago
and Kansas City jobbers are not one
whit loss energetic than their st. Louis
and New orleans brethren, for they
are an unit in a common cause against
the Texas Jobbers.
So far as is known the Texas Iobbors
view the situation with that com.
placency born OF realization OF the
fact that the Lord and tho Texas com.
mission are on their side. And while
the Indications clearly denote nm ultl.
mate clash between the state and In.
terstate commissions. they feel TINT
having right on their side thew are
thrice armed against the onslaughts
OF the enemy.
That the state railway commission is
bulwark OF protection of Texas in.
terests Is fully apparent and appreoia-
ted. The fate OF numerous Texas In
dustrlcs which came In contact with
these outside influences and were
forced to succumb prior to the advent
OF the commission Is too fresh In the
public mind to admit OF doubt on that
score.
Under the new order OF affairs, Fort
Worth, Dallas. Waco, Austin. San An
tonic and Houston have grown in
prominence as 1obbing points Calves
ton once proudly arrogated to herself
the distinction OF being the Jobbing
city o. Texas, But conditions have
changed as the wheels OF progress have
sped around until today there 10 no
1obblng point In or out OF Texas that
has anything like a monopoly OF Texas
business.
Fort Worth Ia most fortunately
situated In this respect, her peculiar
advantages covering quite large
territory. But Fort Worth does not
consider for an instant that she is en-
titled TO any special privileges. She ia
content TO enter any and NIL territory
with her most determined competitors,
and when It comes TO n showdown, let
the business 20 whore the greatest nd.
vantage can be obtained. That Is the
only sensible view TO take of the mat.
ter. and Il is commended to the prayer
full consideration OF this foreign ole
ment whose disposition appears to be
that OF forcing measures
II Chicago, Kansas City. New Or
leans and St Louis iobbers believe
that Texas business Is so desirable that
they can not slumber for thinking OF IL
why not end the strain by moving down
bodily Into Tcxasg That IN the enslcs,
and quickest method OF adjusting these
conditions. There is plenty OF room
and a welcome In Fort Worth for every
mothers son OF then, II they will only
embrace the opportunity.
GREAT PROBLEM SOLVED.