The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-25

sioo freight on each. netted the shippers
ABOUT ~ and $50 per car. Those who
shipped last year did not ship this year.
OF course, as long as suckers grow there
may be some caught by the railroads, but
they are being educated fast by the out
rageous charges of the railroads
| OF course some early shipments brough,
good returns, but that was the result OF
| circumstances. The melons In the cars
| given above brought good prices in the
| market---in fact, fancy prices---and the
raisers would have been satisfied with
haif OF II, but 1t would seem like the rail-
roads wanted to confiscate all of 1t.
Ihere was nothing the matter with the
melons on the market but there is some-
tning the matter with paying si63,50 freight
on Two cars of melons and the raisers get
| ting Sl9.72
What is true of Gonzales is true of other
sections OF the State. Some shipments
nave paid good returns, others disastrous
and discouragng. The blame lies at the
door of the railroads in not giving astiving
rate 1t is safe TO say cars are hauled
down from those sections loaded with
wheat and other stun at one fourth the
rate. Why this discrimination?
Diversiication will not amount to a hill
of beans in Texas as long as the railroads
the hghwayman. We have law against
railroad robbery, why not have one against
people robbery? The action of the high
wayman who holds up train is no moro
dsgracefnl than the charges cited above.
One has the semblance of legality. the
other is outlawed, is the only difference
between them.
Let the papers of the State that have
been crying diversification until they were
black In the face turn their batteries loose
on the outrageous charges OF the railroads.
The people will raise the stuff when 1t
can be placed on the market for reasonable
returns, but they will not raise the stuff
to be coniscated. This is plain talk, but
every man who has had anything to do
with the truck business in this State this
year knows 1t is true 1t costs no more
to haul car from Texas than 1t costs to
haul one to Texas. Let the papers quit
talking out of one side of the mouth and
with every line Of diversiication written
demand that the railroads meet the pro-
ducers half way. Every paper published in
the truck raising sections, If they will in
quire, will find what has been the expe-
rience of Gonzales shippers has been the
experience in the main of shippers in their
section.
What is true in the melon shipments is
the same in the express shipments.
Let the light be turned on that We may
see what great barrier is standing in the
way of the development of Texas. Texas
has the soil that will produce the finest
vegetables in the world. She has the eli
mate that will enable her to place the
products of her soil on the market as early
as any section. She has the producers not
afraid of work, honest, economical, pains
taking and with heads full of gray matter.
They see where the substance they are
raising is going to and who is receiving
the reward that should be divided with
them. Why should not Texas be great!
Let the Galveston News. Houston Post,
San Antonio Express and other leading
papers of the State turn their attention to
securing just and reasonable freight rates
and the diversification will follow. The
farmers, as well as other classes, will do
that which brings them reasonable re-
turns, but they will not and can not ems
gage in any industry that proves unprofit-
able through discrimination.
The Inquirer has as kindly feeling and
just regard for the railroads as possible,
but the development and progress OF the
State demand that they consider this end
of the line and give the producers the
liberal rates that will make diversification
possible. 1t is a hand in hand business.
1t is not sided. The welfare OF one is
the welfare of the other.
Let the railroads and express companies
do what they should and you will see
Texas blossom like a rose
Confiscatory freight rates to market is
the barrier to Texas greatness
We have a State and National railroad
commission but these bodies do not seem
to be doing much except drawing their
doing things they ought not to do
and leaving things undone they should do.
Turn Texas loose and watch her grow.