The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-22

as an export point but could not under
stand why Kansas should have the best
oil Texas In the matter OF grain rates
through Galveston Individually. he had
no complaint to make against the rates re-
ierred to in Mr.. Hale's letter as ixed to
go into effect July l. Texas corn last year
SOLO for about "a cents per bushel, without
the export demand It would not have
brought more than 1917 or Is cents.
Frank Kel Of Wichita Falls WHEAT deal.
| err. testified that II was only under alb
normal conditions that the export demand
| fixed the price of wheat In Texas. Antici-
pated fair demand for export wheat the
| coming season. but Il was his opinion that
the Texas mills would absorb all the crop
/ az higher price than the export rate.
! Had frequently sold wheat in Wichita
Falls for more than he could have OBJ
tanned for 1t 10 Chicago. That last years
low export rate mad assisted in the prof
! table disposition of the surplus crop of
corn he had no doubt.
Commissioner Groseclose OF the Calves
ton Freight bureau testified that accord
Ing TO his information over ~ per Sent of
the 10000 600 bushels OF the corn exported
through Galveston last year was Texas
corn. Most of the 100000 bushels OF
wheat exported through Galveston came
from Kansas, he thought. A withdrawal
enabled this wheat to move through Gall
weston and the resultant diversion of this
tonnage to other ports VIII be followed
by an increase OF ocean rates out Of Gal
weston. Was satisfied that the 10 cents
rate from Kansas City was not profitable
TO the railroads but was of the opinion
that 1t had been forced by competition via
the Atlantic seaboard and that the South
western lines were compelled to carry 1t
to preserve the grain business which be-
longed to them. Should they refuse to
meet competition via the Atlantic ports
they would lose the business and Calves
ton would lose its prestige as grain
port There was not enough wheat ex
ported from Texas to cut much of figure
in the Galveston situation. as the Texas
mills consumed the bulk of the crop.
joseph Landa OF New Braunfels, rep
resenting the mllers stated that the
Texas mills consume 20, 600 bushels OF
wheat per year while the Texas crop will
this year not exceed 9,000000 bushels. The
Texas farmer he asserted. Is getting 10
cents more a bushe for his wheat today
than the farmer of any other State and
he saw no occasion for low export rate
on wheat. The low rate only enriched a
few grain dealers who did business but
two months in the year. he asserted, and
he thought the rate ought TO be raised in
stead of lowered. He had as warm spot
in his heart for Galveston as any one
else but Galveston was not the only peb-
BILE on the beach and other enterprising
towns were entitled to as much protection
as was the principal seaport In the State
Did not export -four because he could not
manufacture -four in competition with
the Kansas miller, who paid the Kansas
farmer less for his wheat than the Texas
miller paid the Texas farmer for his.
Mr.. Kaufman. a Dallas miller, gave 1t
as his ODiuiOn that willis Tpyas mi
are paying more now for wheat than ex-
porters, the putting in of low export
rate might result in an increase in the
price paid for export wheat but that this
would only be temporary.
The grain hearing having closed. j w.
Allen, general freight agent of the Katy,
stated to the commission that the Mallory
line in connection with the Pee Gee, had
put in low tariff of rates from New York
to Kansas City and Missouri river points
and said that the Katy did not propose to
participate In said rates, but wanted to
know If it could participate In them with
out bringing about a reduction of Texas
rates,
Judge Reagan replied that the commits
sion did not propose to be made a party
to interstate rate wars. but that II Mr..
Allen wanted reduction in the matter he
might formally apply for 1t.
The question OF the cut In the rates on
cotton ties from Chicago to Rock Island
and Fort Worth and Denver points having
been brought up, it was developed that the
| Texas and Pacific. the Southern Pacific
and the International had also decided TO
participate in the cut. The Katy and San
ia Fe representatives announced that their
lines would not participate therein.
However, Judge Reagan stated that un-
less the roads came to an understanding
in the matter at once the commission
would meet the cut with an emergency
rate. General Agent Keller of the Fort
Worth and Denver said that he would
cancel the rate by wire tonight and so
did the representatives Of the Texas and
Pacific but as there was no one present TO
speak for the Southern Pacific the matter
was left in the air and an emergency rate
in the premises is more than probable.