Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-12-18

tirntion reveals the fact IN advance
OF any action in. the premises that u
Oalvestons demands are compiled
with the state and the commission
Will find themselves defendants In AN
other injunction suit.
This statement IL not actuated by
any desire to coerce or frlghten any
body into anything. but careful inves-
tlgution into the subject has revealed
that the railways have virtually made
up their minds In advance of any ad-
verse action which would result in 80
radical reduction In cotton rates that
they will fight the movement to the
bitter end. And this is the way they
View IL.
Cotton rates from Texas common
points % Mississippi river points Is 10
cents per 100 pounds on the compress-
ed staple. while to Galveston, about
one-half the distance, the rate is 90
cents. According TO the Galveston idea,
the rate to that port should be made
about "a cents, which would represent
the proper proportion of the through
rate to Mississippi river points, dis
tanco considered.
This would appear as reasonable
proposition. but there Is another side
to it--with bristles on II.
The rate 10 the Mississippi river
points represents the result Of much
dellberatlon and Is an adjustment of
the situation that has proved salts
factory to all interests. Any change
in Texas rates at this time would ne
ccssarlly involve general shaking
up Of all the lines extending TO Mig
sissippi river points and eliminating
In an utter Generalization OF condi-
lions. which at this time seem per-
fectiy satisfactory to all interests, eN-
cept those OF Galveston.
\ point strongly urged by the rail-
ways In this connection is tile contrast
between Galveston and st. Louis, for
Instance, MS distributing points. Gal
weston now has three trunk lines,
while St. Louis has Eve reaching into
this territory. There st. Louis roads
bring a large tonnage into this terri
tory, and IN order 10 ohvlnte the return
haul of empty cars. they have made
the cotton rate what 1t il for the sake
OF traffic In each direction
The moral pointed by this as appll-
cable to Galveston Is that competition
between lines is the best all round
regulator OF rates, and when Calves
ton sends MS much tonnage into the
territory In controversy over as many
lines as emnnate from St. Louis,
then there might be an adjustment Of
rates on the present basis figured up
on by Galveston.
Yet another point made by the rail-
ways In support OF their side Of the
controversy is that the price of cotton
Is not affected by the route II takes to
market. The producer gets just as
much for the staple II It passes out
to market through the port of Que
bee as IL It sought an outlet through
Galveston. This matter OF state and
local pride is most excellent sentl-
mcnt. but railways are business IN
stitutlons and are out after de stun"
Another point urged against the Gal
weston idea Is that should 1t prevail
there IL no assurance but that Cal
weston Interests would soon force the
delivery of all cotton through that
pois at Liverpool instend OF accepting
1t ut interior points, as at present. In
evidence Of the dangers from practical
monopollzatlon the operations OF the
Galveston wharf company are cited to
substantiate the contention.
And yet railways, pointing to the
evil effects OF monopoly, must strike the
average beholder as something new
under the sun,
The result OF that Austin conference
will be awaited with a great deal OF
interest.