The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-30
GRAIN RATES IN RUSSIA.
Roads Charge AZ Cents per Ton
PER Mile.
THE FARMERS ASKED FOR REDUCTION
TariR They Propose would nr,r.
the Earnings Down twenty
Millions per Year.

Inc Russian farmers, like our own
have been complaining bitterly of the very
low prices of grain and live stock. and
like some other farmers they have been
trying to get the railroads to help them
out That they have suffered there is no
ooubt, and as many of them are deeply in
dent' Improbable prices for farm pro-
duce mean ruin to them. A statement Of
grain prices in different Russian markets
IN different recent years recalls tho figures
In our Western States In the times when
the farmers were said to be burning their
corn for fuel
In Samara, in the Far East" OF Eu-
ropean Russia, which is similar to our
Far West In being distant from the
markets for its surplus, rye, which was
worth from "a to 80 cents bushel in
1896, ~ to 40 cents In 1887, and rs to As
GENTS In 1890, would bring but 3 cents last
jury; at the same place wheat ranged from
80 to 81 cents last July, against SO 10 81. so
IN 1851; and these were by no means the
lowest prices, the reports of the minister
OF finance showing that in extensive dis
.ricts In the East and Southeast rye would
brlng only from II TO 10 cents bushel. and
south of that place, the price was often
lass than II cents even.
IN MOSCOW near the close OF 1895 great
convention OF Russian farmers was held.
at which 1t was resolved to petition the
government TO reduce the railroad freights
on grain and live stock to 0 Oh kopek per
pood per verst, which is equivalent TO o42
cent per ton per mile. This petition was
respectively and carefully considered by
the authorities, who reported very fully
upon the probable effect of such a change
when they rejected the proposition. This
detailed statement of the reasons for
adopting or rejecting policy which at
iects large part of the public might,
by the way, be initiated with advantage in
some countries which boast OF being more
enlightened and more attentive to public
opinion than the Russian empire.
The report says that three Investigations
OF the Russian rates have been made since
1887 and that in 1898 the grain rates were
thoroughly revised and very carefully
systematized with regard to their perma-
nent effect The rate proposed by the
farmers would reduce the earnings of the
railroads by $2O,oO0oo0. seven eighths Of
which loss would fall on the State treas
ury, and one-eighth on the stockholders OF
the private railroads. Some of the rail
roads would lose their entire net earnings.
This loss could not be made UP by raising
rates on other freight nor by an increase
in grain shipments in 1894 1t would have
required the shipment of 1900 millions of
bushels at the proposed rate to make up
the sum earned at the actual rates in
stead of the 419 millions actually carried.
And We're the reduced rates adopted.
doubtless SO much grain would be thrown
upon the market from distant districts
that prices would fall still further. The
actual tariff, adopted in 1893. raised some
rates and reduced those for long distances.
but made the aggregate earnings from
grain slightly smaller The report con
tains table OF the rates for different dis
tances at the actual and at the proposed
rate, showing that the reduction for long
distances would be so much greater than
for short ones that the effect must be to
change greatly the values of lands, in
creasing them in some places and reducing
them in others