Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-11-26
RAILWAYS.
The Cotton Belt Road was
JuStifiable.
THERE EXISTS OTHER REASONS
FOR ITS ACTION.
NOT DIFFEREN T IALS,
BUT ANOTHER SKELETON IN THE
CLOSET WILL SOON he
LAID BARE.
The Matter VIII De Unmarked Mt
Next Meeting of Southwestern
Passenger Committee.
NOT DIFFERENTIALS,

There were no new developments In
the Cotton Belt situation yesterday
with reference to It's withdrawal from
the Southwestern Passenger commit
tee. on account OF the refusal OF that
committee to grant the one dollar diff
ferential asked for on ST. Louis busi-
ness.
Local Cotton Belt people Informed
The Gazette representative last even
Ing that there remained an unpub-
iishcd version Of the situation. which
when made public. would serve to
Justify the action OF the road In the
eyes Of the public at least.
Just what this phase OF the situation
Involves Is not known, but II is pre-
sumed to be In some measure attrib-
utable to the actions OF some other
line also in the association. The Cot
ton Belt will make this feature known
at the meeting Of the committee called
TO take action on the withdrawal no
tice submitted by the Cotton Belt.
This notice OF withdrawal from the
association was given on November
g, TO take effect In ten days from date.
This will sever the connection OF the
Z, IL there Is no modification of exist
ing conditions.
The opinion was expressed yesterday
that December would mark the dis
ruption of the association, as with the
Cotton Belt eliminated from the agree
ment the Texas and Pacific and Katy
could not AFFORD to maintain the tariff
II the Cotton Belt went under 1t.
The Santa Fee and Rock Island are
not vitality concerned In the situation
II the other lines should adhere TO the
agreement. Under the terms of the
agreement which put an end to the
recent rate war, the st. Louis business
via Kansas city was cut on by the
agreement to apply local rates to that
route. This makes the rate to St
Louis Via Kansas city over either the
Rock Island or Santa Re s2i.lj. as
against S2l.i0 via the Texas and Pa
cific, Cotton Belt or Katy.
Consequently. neither the Rock Is
land or Santa Fe are concerned se-
riously with the present situation un-
less there should be an utter abroga-
tion OF the agreement and return to
the conditions that prevailed prior to
the time when the truce was patched
up
At this time no one can determine
what course the matter will ultimately
take, and II depends on the next meet
Ing OF the Southwestern passenger
committee. II the other lines are con-
tent to maintain the agreement with
competitor for st. Louis business on
the outside and acting independently,
the matter Will have to adjust itself on
those lines.
II the Cotton Belt is able to estab-
llsh the complete justification OF Its
action In the premises, as the assertion
70 made VIII be done, then there may
be shaking up of some OF the other
lines responsible for the situation.
1t was suggested yesterday In local
circles that there could not be much
difference in acceding to the Cotton
Belts demand for a differcntial and
permitting II to go outside the assoria-
ton ana make a rate below the tariff
The situation II an interesting one.
and developments are awaited with in
terest.
"confound these railway comblna-
lions and agreements. anyway" said
well-knoMn citizen on the streets
yesterday. They are Illegal and detrI.
mental to the public interest any way
you take them. Right or wrong. I say
hurrah for the Cotton Belt, even n It's
action only results In cheepenlng the
rate to st. Louis 81.
81 have Travelled to 81. Louis over
this road. and believe the article In
Sundays Gazette did the line some
thing OF an injustice. While II IL true
their own mileage Is n little longer
than some OF their competitors they
take uelr ST. Louis passengers into
that city from Delta over the line Of
the Missouri Pacific. and they possess
the advantage on this end OF being the
short line to Texarkana, where The
passenger can take the Iron Mountain
IL he wants to.
In point Of time and equipment the
Cotton Belt stacks up with the best Of
them, and think an apprcclativc pub.
nc should recognize their effort To re-
duoo the rate. whether SUCCESSFUL or
not That Is my policy and l believe Il
Is the correct one"
The Cotton Belt practically controls
the Memphis gateway into Texas. and
" Is from that source that comes the
greatest amount OF Texas business.
They are In n position TO act pretty
Independently, and seem to be fully
aware of tho fnct.
II Is presumed until there II n mcet.
Ing OF the Southwestern passenger
committee, the public will not be made
aware OF the true inwardness OF tho
situation $50