The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-21
NORTH TEXAS SITUATION
Little Likelihood Of Anything tangible Re.
sultine from Hearing
no ARTIFICIAL REMEDIES WILL AVAIL
TcxarlSnna ana Shreveport Must he
Recognired as Gateways soon
err or Later, 1t is Believed.

Austin, Texas. April 20.--Judging from
the way the different traffic men and rail-
road attorneys who have been In the city
during the past few days talked about 1t,
there Is little prospect OF anything tangible
resulting from the conference to be held
here on April "a, at which the North
Texas rate situation is to be considered
with view to arriving at peaceable set
Element of the troubles growing out OF
the low Interstate rates enjoyed by Tex
arkana and Shreveport. In the first place,
the opinion prevails that there is nothing
really feasible in the suggestion made by
Mr.. Goodwin OF the Santa Fe, out OF
which the call for said conference came.
Mr.. Goodwin oifhandedly proposed d.
vision OF the State into zones and was
probably very much surprised that the
commission took him seriously aud de-
clded to call the representatives OF the
southwestern lines together to figure on
giving effect to his plan. Divested OF
trimmings, this plan means nothing but
forcibie diversion OF traffic from the Hous-
ton and Galveston lines. and Mr. Goodwin
viii have hard time defending il when
called upon to do SO.
The truth OF the matter is that the
situation is one which can not be dealt
with successfully unless all idea of APP
plying artificial remedies Is abandoned.
Ie&arkana and Shreveport might as we'll
De recognized as gateways now as later.
for such they are and such they Will re.
mall. The lines entering Paris, Denlsou,
sherman and Gainesville from the North
VIII eventually have to place those towns
on parity with reXarkana and Sfrsve-
port, after which the problem will be easy
OF solution With all the gateways equal
lied in the matter OF interstate rates. 1t
will be simple enough to provide for the
movement OF freight within the State
without the cost OF bringing 1t 10 the
| gatewayS thus ell minatiEg every ee-
ment OF discrimination now complained
| Of.
Temporary expedlents have been sug-
gested such as making the local rate from
Texarkana to Paris fixed differential
above Texarkana. but this would not lit
the case as a ciamor for the application
| of similar ditferentials would mmedlateiy
arise from other towns and result in the
| framing of patchwork tariff which would
| OF dts own weight fall to pieces in the end
On the other hand the commission mas
been approached and asked to commit it.
self to policy of non-interference In case
Paris should succeed In getting itself fixed
ny the interstate lines as leAarKana mas
been, but 1t can not lawfully do so and
would be bound in such an event to en-
| terrain just such complaints against Paris
as have been filed against Texarksna and
| Shreveport.
! A reduction of the State carload rote
might prove a partial remedy, as in some
cases it would enable the reconsigning OF
| freight at Texarkana, but partial remedies
] are not what is needed So far the recog
milton of all crossings as gateways is the
best solution that has been offered, and
1t remains to be seen whether the commits
sion will have the holiness to adopt It
in the absence of something better adapted
to the situation.