The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-16
We DO 1T RIGHT

The law of supply and demand govern
them to large extent The present sys-
tenn of rates has been arrived at by years
of figuring, experiment and experience.
and do not believe they could be i'm
proved upon by the election of success
full laymen who might aspire to the
position of railroad commissioners.
1.-THE Louisville and Nashville Railroad
has always had the interest of Birming-
ham at heart. It put 100000 in the Ok
moor furnace every cent of which 1t lost,
but 1t demonstrated the fact that the
Birmingham district could manufacture
pig IRON 1t proved by putting its money
in the Birmingham rolling mill that iron
could be manufactured in this district
into the finished product It was the
first to declare that steel could be made
here cheaper and of as good quality as
anywhere in the world, and to prove the
assertion, put 100000 into the Ensley
steel plant. The Southern Railway Com
pany also put 100000 in this enterprise.
Encourage Development.
at is their policy to encourage and fos-
ter every kind of development and en-
terprise within their territory. 1t has
located thousands and thousands of
farmers within the state. 1t has an ex-
pert horticulturist in their employ to
teach the farmers the best and most
scientific method of producing from the
soil. 1t has established an experimental
farm. 1t has created a special depart
ment under the charge of experts to look
after the farming interests along their
system. l do not believe the mass of
people in the state are seeking change
from the present system. I believe the
farmers and the shippers of produce are
satisfied with the present conditions. /
know they are prosperous. l have in
mind man at Evergreen, Ala, who load
ed a car of tomatoes and received $1,000
net for them The Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad has had hundreds of
acres of cantaloupes planted in Alabama,
and these are being shipped by thous-
ands every day, at splendid profit, and
/ know of no complaint on account of ex-
cessive freight rates.
In fact, 1t seems to me that this agita-
ton is confined principally to few of the
retail dealers. And whatever concessions
| they might secure in the way of freight
rates would make no difference to the
people We would have to pay just as
much for a collar, or yard of calico, OF
a suit of clothes, or a bill of groceries
as we do now. 1t is true that the dealer
would make the additional profit of the
| difference in the freight rates, but he
would hardly figure this reduction into
| the selling price OF an article.
But" continued Mr.. de Funiak "as
| said in the beginning, it is matter In
which I am not officially interested, and
I speak my own views. have heard
very little of the subject outside of Bir'
mingham, and am inclined to believe il
is more of local agitation than other
wise Captain Falkner's interview the
other day was not made specially fol
| the Louisville and Nashville railroad
but for all the railroads entering Ala
bama. I believe that the more the ques-
| ton is discussed and the people under
stand the situation, the better satisfied
all will be with the present arrange
ment, and that the Louisville and Nash
vile and all the other railway systems
| in Alabama are not expressing the peo-
pie, but are their friends and desire
| to assist them in every way possible In
| the continued and lasting prosperity OF
| the State"