The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-13

not (since the negro vote is eliminated)
want majority, If not all, of the Com
misioners elected from their own dis
trict since it has the largest voting power
If they could effect this they would en-
croach upon territory all over the State
of Alats ma and smaller towns would be
overridden. and forced to buy at high
prices from Birmingham.
1t seems to me they are asking the pep
pie of Alabama to do an unreasonable
thing and to come IN TO help them tie our
hanos.
Their emissarie5 are going over the
State talking about few isolated cases
Of shipment of produce into Birmingham.
l dare say that If the case mentioned
here of a car OF potatoes, Carrollton to
Biz birmingham, was in a proper manner re-
ferred to our present. Commission with
the request to the three lines handling
it, some reduction would be made in the
tariff charged
A great many people file complaints
with the Commission which refer to In
ter-State business over which the Ala
bama Commission has no control and
unreasonably complain because the Com
mission cannot do what the laws of Con-
gress expressly forbids
The abuse heaped upon our present
Commission is like jumping on country
parson for not preaching as well as the
city pastor
We do not try to help the Commission.
which we should do.
Wherever there is business enough to
justify 1t the railroads are glad to make
a rate between two points that will keep
this or that industry moving on their
lines.
1 was never more forcibly struck with
bf exih nT In op MT
we had three agricultural exhibits ut
Sheet Fairs in Tuscaloosa.
To look at the long tables of farm pro-
ducts extending along Broad Street. 18th
Avenue and Fifth Street would have made
you think you were in Kansas or some
far Western State.
=: our present Commission would effect
rates from every hamlet in Alabama 90
their nearest common point II would be
a great help to the farmers as well as
the railroads
Excepting cotton, very few farm pro-
ducts move to the common centers Of
Alabama for distribution
The Railway Commission could address
a circular letter to every Railway Agent
in Alabama as follows:
What farm products are predominant in
your section?
Give name of seven or more most prom
inent planters in your section. who have
made a success in farm products.
Give nearest two or three cities or COM
mon points which would afford market
for products of your farms
If satisfactory rates were made both
for car lots and less what farm products
do you think that painters in your section
could be induced to plant for the markets
of Alabama?
<t.ko
the farmers of your section use these
rates II erected and shown to be profit
to them?
With the replies to such questions In
hand the Commission would have data
upon which to act.
Now the Birmingham people admit that
they have very low rates from the West
on all farm products; what effect would
the lowering of the Alabaml railroads
tariffs to small points have?
Would it not crush the local farmer SO
he could not sell the products of his farm
and tend to do away with the raising Of
farm products excepting cotton?
A large majority of people think all
moneys paid to a transportation COM
pany remains in that company's hands;
never thinking that great portion goes
to connections beyond, of which goods
were received.
Rates are usually divided upon mile
aga b1sis the farther off the point Is
from which it emanates the less the de-
livering line gets as its share of the de-
livery.
So it is to be seen that Alabama rail-
roads are more directly interested when
their local tariffs are attacked. for upon
this the profits arising to each division
are shown up at headquarters,
H. .-tA l.
showing that his road has been success
full. and when the profits of railroads
cease in Alabama then will railway build
ing in our borders cease.
The Age Herald SAYS the Seaboard Line
is to spend 100000 building into that
city.
Just the moment its rails are laid into
the city limits of Birmingham does 1t not
have to compete with the older lines of
railroads for business at same rates of
freight?
Then would 1t not be too hard on the
people who have furnished the money to
build said line to ask the same mileage
basis tariff rates to the arbitrary points
on its line (Which no doubt at first will
be fifteen or eighteen miles aparD as the
older well developed railways of Ala
bama.
We have just such a case with the Mo-
bile and Ohio Railroad and We do not
kick because its tariff in some instances
is higher than the A. G 4 r. r.. be.
cause IL is a new line and its territory
undeveloped.
Tuscaloosa under tho kind treatment Of
her two railroads has grown from n
small way station which paid the A. G..
s. Railroad for it's passenger service
81, 500 monthly until it is now business
to this same railway between 5000 and
$1,000 monthly.
Would the railways do anything TO
crush such a town which is now ninth
in size in the State Of Alabama and both
passenger and freight busineSs growing
daily.
want to see railways built in Alabama
every few miles and also want to see
them profitable to the owners who invest
their money with MS
never fail to encourage their building
and subscribe to every survey that comes |
along hoping to see them constructed.
We have two grand trunk lines, hut I |
hope some day to see the old l. and N. |
Railroad within our city for it is surely |
the pennsylvania" Railway Of the South |
ern States.
Many a young man in Alabama remem- |
hers with pleasure the great liberaNty |
of the l.. and \. Railroad to tho grad |
uating class in geology Of the University |
Of Alabama and the annual excursions |
given them over tn" Birmingham Mineral |
district by your line to assist in ats de- |
velOpment.
Railroads are great educators and up |
build the country which they traverse. |
so let nothing be done to stop their build |