The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-03-08

congress- AT tho time John n. Reagan had
up his Interstate commerce bill. IL was
proven that previous TO the great railroad
combination that there was not single
road that ran out OF New York CITY IN
any direction that charged more than n
cent II ton per milo on all through hsuls.
This rate waa made at the option of the
roads and was considered good paying
rate. THIS 81 sworE testimony before our
National legislature. and ~ evidence VI
the highest character, and this should for
ever settle the whole question OF freight
rates TO anyone who viii allow himself
% think In further proof of this fact
Testimony. the Texas commission very
well knows tho fitct that the Southern
Pacific has for more than Ave years hauled
cotton from Houston 10 New Orleans,
distance Of near 400 miles, for iS cents per
hundred pounds. and on many occasions
for less than ths. If the Southern Pacific
can haul 100 pounda OF cotton near 400
miles for II cents. cunt the TcNns roads
haul the 100 pounds of cotton 40 miles for
~ cents, instead OF 6S cents? This road
fixes this rate Itself. This Ia all II asks,
and the road thinks 4. good paying rate.
The commission well knows ;liat tho rail'
road running from Shreveport to Calves
ton. n distance OF near 300 miles, only
charges * cents per hundred pounds. IL
tha Shreveport road, which II an inter
state road can haul 100 pounds OF cotton
near 900 miles for ~ cents. can't the Texas
roads haul for less than q, cents. II Is a
fact that anywhere within lin miles OF
Houston that the Texas roads are allowed
by the commission to sign through bills
Of lading to Liverpool nj the same rate
that they charge for 40 miles in Texas,
for Instance. the roads sign u bin OF ladlne
at Waco for Liverpool by way OF l'osion
and haul the cotton 1000 miles by rail- 70
water fo- the same rate that they haul
II TO Houston from Waco. II Is seen in
this case that the roais fix inns fhte
themselves and na such they CONSIDER II
a paying rate. and n any one WIZ tnke
the trouble to figure out thia rate II win
be seen that II is largely less than cent
n ton per mile, and II II pays them TO maui
cotton from Texas to Boston at rate
that Is largely less than cent ton per
mile they most assuredly can do the same
IN Texas; and II ,hb ccmmisHcn would
force them to- do this IN Texas. II woulu
only cost a man ~ Waco ~ cents to get
his bale of cotton hauled to Houston. !
ask In the face of all these facts and iig-
ures, IN this wrougdoing or II II right Z
robbery under cover OF law. ny reference
TO the exhibits of the Texas railroad COM
mission IT will DO seen that the estimated
capitalized stock OF the 300 miles OF rail
roads In Texas IL something over 3iO2,-
10000 This inoludes the watered stock
which they set out Ms bonds. This IL the
. amount that they ngure freight rates upon
and that the people pay freight and pas
Henger charges ON. ] have already AhoWn
that all this 1000 miles OF road In Texas
| could be built for 5000 IL mile. II you WIZ
eliminate the watcrcd stock from them.
IT any one will make the calculation OF
5000 miles at {Gi0p per mile, which ~ the
actual cost II win be seen TO he Sd.OOpulD
instead Of 500 DOO.0oJ. II you take 80. =
600. which ~ the real cost OF the roads,
from siO2, 1000. which IL the report OF
the commission, you VIII see there Is s3is,-
10000 watered stock for the honest work
ing people 10 pay freight on.
by referring to the report OF the
| said railroad commission IL VIII be
seon that all the roads In Texas carry an
nually 100000 tons Of freight. IL your
| readers viii ask any merchant VINO re-
sides 10 miles from Houston what the
average freight rates are that he pays or
| his shipments on the railroad, he viii tell
| you that 60 cents TO g5 cents IL about the
| average rate on his whole stock. II you
viii make the calculation. 900 tons
| at s5 cents pee 100 pounds is slGa 900, 900. 80
| the annual freight on these Texas roads
\ Is very near half the amount OF the whole
| cost Of the building OF the road. inciudlnB
| the watered stock when you add 10 this
nearly 500 per mile for carrying mails.
and over so por mite for express. Il an
| nuaily amounts TO more than half OF the
| whole cost OF the roads, including the
| wntered stock. And " you take s5i.vDo.v1
| from the si69. 10000 OF freight collected on
| the 900 tons. you Will see that the
| roads have clear profit of sl0t,oOp,vu on
| this one item Of Income, which Is treisnt'
! They have an additional income on mails.
| express and passengcrs-- this ID over
/ and above the sl05. 900 900 OF profits.
The Texas Central has something over