The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-04


Galveston in the matter of rates.
proposition TO establish maxi
mum of II 1-2 cents in common point
territory for the transportation OF lum-
Der.
A proposition to apply the millet
seed rate to less than carload ship
ments of COW peas.
A proposition to abolish the ''re-
turned shipment" privilege on agricul-
tural implements authorized on GER
81 tain lines of railroad.
The question OF adjusting the switch
ing charge to be paid by railroads at
Fort Worth.
The meeting was we'll attended, there
being large delegations of railroad attor-
neys and traffic. men, lumber men, com
press men, ship brokers. the chairman OF
the Texas Car Service association ana
others on hand,
The first subject considered was that or
lumber rates. Letters from Mineola and
other points were read favoring reduc-
ton of lumber rates, among them being
several asking that the reduction be made
to apply to oak as we'll as TO pine and cy-
| press, and others asking that cypress be
placed on the same basis as pine. In
1 CAPABILITIES In existing lumber rates we're
| complained OF also. On the other hand,
there were letters from the Sam Allen
| Lumber company and the Texas and Lou
/ isiana Lumber company of Houston, pro-
/ testing against changing the present adj
1 iustment, with which satisfaction was ex-
| pressed.
There was a letter also from General
Freight Agent Leith of the Midland, VINO
argued that as the price OF lumber has IN
| creased there is no necessity for reduc-
ton in rates, as the commodity is better
than ever able TO bear the existing freight
charge.
General Freight Agent Conner OF the
Fort Worth and Rio Grande wrote In the
same strain as Mr.. Leith.
From Southeast Texas mill men there
we're number OF protests against dis
turbance of existing adjustments, supple
mented by figures illustrating the disad'
tyantages which such disturbance would
entail A communication from the mill
along the Houston East and West Texa
railroad objected TO the adoption of a
mileage tariff and asked that the blanke
or group system be maintained II any
changes in rates are made. The Beaumon
lumber manufacturers likewise opposed
the mileage proposition, as well as thos
along the Lufkin branch of the Cotton
Belt The lumber manufacturers on III
main line Of the Cotton Belt were OF tn
) same opinion.
The reading OF the letters above referre
to having been concluded, Mr.. Lovett
the Southern Pacific asked that the com
plants upon which the proposed reduc
ton was predicted be read. This reques
: developed the fact that the contemplate
Z change had been suggested by letters re
ceived from time TO time from North
: Texas and that the subject had bee
: brought up for hearing pretty much OF tn
commissions own motion,
John H Kirby OF Houston, on behalf c
, the Beaumont lumber manufacturers, pro
. tested against an abandonment OF blankt
: rates, and said that the simple propositio
to disturb the present adjustment, which
satisfactory had disastrously affected tn
lumber business by injecting an elemer
: OF uncertainty therein which had resulte
: in a curteilment Of orders which would B
held back as long as the matter was pend
. ing Speaking for the Gulf, Beaumont an
/; Kansas City Mr., Kirby said that 1t wa
: unable to stand the slightest reduction
lumber rates, and that IL the commisslo
should establish differential OF IL cen
against 1t on lumber ms contemplated
: the tariff proposed the road would have
i 10 out of business, as the mills along Il
!, line would be shut out of at least half II
: markets in which they can now compel
/ He did not believe that the consume
! would profit one cent by a reduction
/, lumber rates. In his opinion the lumb
!; dealer would be the only beneficiary.
: William Weiss of the Beaumont Lumb
!, company said he did not care what Il
3 rate was just so all the manufactures
n were on an equal footing. He called a
!. tention to the fact that the North Tex
+, short Leaf pine manufacturers already e.
Joy an advantage In freight rates.
Asked by Chairman Reagan as to Z
charge that individual purchasers can n
buy lumber at the mills the same as dea
ia ers, Mr.. Weiss replied that individual ca
purchasers could buy from the mills, b
" that the mills were wholesalers and we
? not out hunting individual customers.
l. was business with them and 1t was ma
IS ursl that they should prefer to deal wi
to persoss whom they knew and of whose r
IN sponsibility they had knowledge, the saI
Is as Wholesale grocers or dry goods men
a, other jobhers do.
n Mr.. Goodwin OF the Santa Fe said
al had been listening for some reason for
Il. reduction OF lumber rates. but in vain.
Of Here Chairman Reagan lnterjected IL
AZ the commission had received many pc
IN tons for a reduction, but that as usu
OF the petitioners were conspicuous by III
q absence
a Continuing, Mr., Goodwin read hgur
q showing the great increase which has
the past twelve months taken place In
- cost OF railroad construction material
support OF the proposition that the ra
a roads are in no position TO stand agbitrs
reductions in rates Referring to
course pursued by the commission sill
its organization, he said that for the p
nine years a persistent and inhexible
duction OF rates had ensued. No railrs
] manager is so weak minded, he assert
as not TO realize that the prosperity OF
property superintended by him Is Inter-
pendent upon the prosperity OF the ter
tory Tributary thereto. but the prosper