Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-04-22

cost much less than the preceding year
The general and financial manage
ment OF the penitcntiaries has been
marked By humanity conservatism and
ability. For the past year there was
an average increase In the number OF
convicts OF 2lS the net increase OF re-
ccipta from all sources including pro-
duets Of the state and share farms.
the industries OF tho two penitentiaries
and receipts from fnrm contracts and
railroad leases was $5l.952-S0 and yet
expenditures were comparatively re-
duced. The appropriation out OF tho
general revenue was not used. there
was q cash balance on hand April !
Of s91.I75.74. and the penitentiaries are
more than seif-sustoining. An earnest
effort has been MADE to reduce TO the
minimum the competition between con-
Wet and free labor In manufacturing.
as well as increase revenue, by increas-
Ing the number OF convicts In non-com-
petltiye empioyments. like the sugar In
dustry. and accordingly there was an
Increase OF 80 men thus employed for
1895. as compared with ls9f, and 232 for
1886, as compared with 1895.
The railroad commission has rem
dered valuable and conspicuous service
during the year. Aside from the gem
eral duties performed In preventing
discriminaions correcting abuses and
inequalities, aud enforcing the stoci;
and bond law, Il has been Of great val
nc In the past year It made eleven
commodity tariffs. fixing the freight
rates on them, and adopted the rates
of freight and classification on general
merchandise. With tho exception OF
lumber. tho rates upon which seem not
60 be complained OF. It has now e5tap-
liahed partial rates On everything with
IN Its authority, and general rates nave
been fixed on the great bulk Of arti-
Giles. The cotton tariif became opera
tive September |, 1894 The general
merchandise tariff. which involved
gr,at labor. went into effect August 9,
1895. on the former there was re-
duction IN iaiss OF IS cents per bale,
and on the latter, as well as most 9TH
ers. there was an average substantial
reduction, Since June 20, 1873 greatly
reduced rates have been established on
many important commodities, such as
agricultural implements, farm wabons,
canned goods. feeders and condensers,
cotton presses. beams, columns and
girdars, nuts. rlvets and bolts. wash
ers, hay bale ties. cans and canes,
stoves and stove ware, wooden ware,
iron castings, apples and vegetables.
saddlery. furniture, horse and mute
shoes and packing house products.
The commission ras made for me
the following approximate estimate OF
freights by operation OF all thrills from
January 10, 1895, to April 1. 1896:
On cotton of the crop OF iS94-5,
5i7,S0O bales at 20 cents..... l36.950
On cotton OF the crop OF 1866.
1,5t0i00 bales at Is eenta.... 81. 900
on frelghts other than cotton
for i-2 months at the rate
OF $4,000 per annum.... 80. $4,000
Total. -. ......... .....si, as4. $50
Since Il was organized in 1891, though
enJoined from acting much OF the time
By the Federal court, the commission
estimates that II has saved to the
people by reduction OF rates s3,i59,6OO.
The commission is an agency to fix
just and equitable rates between ship
psrs and railway companies stimulate
the movement Of commerce and destroy
the banefui practice Of rebates, spec
ial rates and favoritlsin 10 persons and
places. The establishment and publi-
cation OF rates, with other regulations.
tends to prevent rebates and special
rates, and the annual reduction by ST.
49,. $50 is evidence of the reduction OF
rates to an equitable basis and the eff
cacy OF regulation by the commission.
its organization opponents of
the commission urged that in connec-
ton with the railway stock and bond
law 1t would arrest the building OF
lpuuH anu ItduNt lit " III
degree on the contrary,
1t was SISTED that legitimate railroad
would be ENCOURAGED and
by reduction Of rates a greater freedom
of commerce would obtain and the tom
mage of the roads, as well as the rev.
enues, would be Increased The opera
tion OF the commission tends strongly
to support the last view. During the
past year there was a net increase OF
main track mileage OF 1877 miles, which
was the greatest Of any state in the
Union For the period ending June 3d.
1895. the gross amount Of freight car
ried by Texas roads Increased 2,905,7s5
tons, or 1875 per cent; the gross amount
OF revenues from all sources Increased
So 1870 .6t1,4a. or 1913 per cent. and the
net earnings increased 81, 33l. $50 or &c. 80
per cent The business of home mer-
chants and manufacturers has unques-
uonably been encouraged ami increased
and this Is recognized by a resolution
OF Texas jobbers adopted August g.
1885 II Is well known that In the main
funds for the construction OF railroads
are obtained from abroad and the Ia
vorable reception of this legislation
there IL shown by the following from
the London Engineering Illustrated
Journal for February:
The new legislation has been OPP
posed on the plea that the effect is to
and the investment OF capital in this
class OF security. But as matter OF
fact the legislation, which has been in
force for four years. tends to encourage
Investment, as II insures the carrying
forward OF lines which have prospect
OF Taffic and at fair cost for con-
struction, dlsoouraging speculative
lines, such as we have incidentally re-
fcrred to. Moreover. It insures very
reasonable rates OF freight 1t Is
tho guarantee which Is given by the
legislation that Is necessary to reinsure
The investing public In ali the states
railways"
EDUCATION.
No more important subject can claim
your attention than that OF education
Volcing the opinion OF mankind, the
constitution declares that the general
dinuFion of knowledge Is essential to
the preservation OF liberty. II also de-
clarcs. rs do tho platforms OF all polit-
ical parties In this state, that the free
schools shall be maintained and sup
ported for period OF not less than six
montha In the year. Tho schools are
supported from Interest on bond invest
lnents and land notes, and general and
local taxation. When the present ad-
took office on January IL,
1895. the schools were being maintained
for only four months in the year and
the general tax rates for school pur-
poses was l2 1-2 cents on the 500. At
The end OF school year. August 81 1894.
there was q deficiency OF 1888. 1850 In
In EHfla .a.I o.. a.. 4. a