El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-18
LINK AND PIN.


tions there will not be much of a rate
to reduce in q few days. The
Memphis will show q net loss of reve-
nue. of very nearly 81, ZOO per day as
compared with the normal rate. The
loss of the Burlin gton from Omaha
will not be so grert on account of its
shorter haul. This is one of the few
instances where the long line gets the
hot end of the poker.
The latest reduction of the Burling-
ton " ill make the rate from Omaha to
the Ohio river or packing house bust-
,, ness destined to the Southeast, IL cents
per 100 pounds, while the rate from
! Kansas City to Memphis on the same
| business will be cents, thus equaliz-
ing the differential of 6 cents. The
rate from tie Ohio river to Memphis
on the same business is cents per 100
pounds, which, added to the IL cents,
phis. That the rate will go lower
there Ia little doubt, as both lines are
in to stay to the finish.
Under the present rate the Burling-
ton will receive for its haul. Omaha
to St. Louis, 90 cents per 100 pounds
after paying the St. Louis bridge toll.
This is the assuming that the line from
its proportion, but If the Burlington is
standing alone, its proportion Is only
81 cents. There is we'll defined
opinion that a Southern line having an
Office in Kansas City and receiving
many favors from local shippers is
helping the Burlington to carry the
cut and working against Kansas City,
and at the same time soliciting business
from the local packers. In other words,
working Kansas City and helping
Omaha. The commercial interests are
investigating the matter, and If the
suspicion Is we'll founded it Is likely
there will be one less road represented
iu Kansas City.
The Memphis cut that will be made
will make the rate from Kansas City to
Memphis 9 cents per 100 pounds. This
will dwindle down to cents when the
bridge toll is paid. Bridges have q
toll must be paid. The entire cut
must be borne by the Memphis road,
as there is no division of the revenue
from Kansas City to the Mississippi
river
There are twenty cars of packing
house products shipped from Kansas
City to the southeast every day In the
week. This is a conservative estimate.
The average weight will be %, 600
pounds. Assuming this as q basis and
the rate cents per 100 pounds, which
will be reduced to 7 cents after bridge
toll is deducted, each car will yield
revenue of Sl7.5O from Kansas City to
Memphis. and twenty cars $3.50. After
the car mileage is deducted there will
be left net revenue of S156 40 for
hauling twenty loaded cars 4S3 miles,
and twenty empties like distance.
Under normal conditions the revenue
would be s47.50 per car, or $3.50 for the
total, yielding a net revenue, after de-
Quoting car mileage, of 1856 40, show
ing loss of 5000 per day.
A better idea of the cost of freight
rate fight can be CLEANED by referring
to the old fight between the Memphis
and Burlington on the same question.
The rate fell to cents per 100 pounds,
Kansas City to Memphis. Assuming
that the same number OF cars were
shipped every day the revenue on each
car wss ST. SO for a 485 mile haul: for
twenty cars the total was $3.50. When
the car mileage was satisfied it was
found that the Memphis had not only
done the busir ess for nothing, but had
paid $43.60 per day for the privilege.
This rate was In effect
forty days, which made
the Memphis pay out S1,744
for the privilege of doing.the business,
to say nothing to the cost of labor,
fuel, etc. Under normal conditions
the revenue for the time would have
been $50. 256. The Memphis not only
sacrificed it's legitimate revenue. but
paid out 81 ,744 in addition, making
total loss of 1872. 900, and people wonder
why railroads do not like to fight.
The Memphis will not be bluffed,
and with the help of Kansas City's
business interests, will win and save
the southern aud southwestern ter
ritory from Omaha poachers.