The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-13

products extending along Broad street,
Twenty-fourth avenue and Fifth street
would have made you think you were in
Kansas or some far western state.
If our present commission would effect
rates from every hamlet in Alabama to
their nearest common point it would be a
great help to the farmers as we'll as the
railroads.
Excepting cotton. very few farm prod
ucts move to the common centers of Ala
bama for distribution.
The railway commission could address
circular letter to every railway agent
In Alabama as follows:
What farm products are predominant in
your section?
Give names of seven or more most
prominent planters In your section who
have made success in farm products.
Give nearest two or three cities or
common points which would afford a
market for products of your farms.
II satisfactory rates were made both
for car lots and less. what farm products
do you think that planters In your sec
ton could be induced to plant for the
markets of Alabama?
To what extent, in your opinion, would
the farmers of your section use these
rates, if effected 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 Alabama railroads
tariffs to small points have?
Would 1t not crush the local farmer so
he could not sell the products of his
farm and tend to do away with the rails
inc Of IA
A large majority of people think all
moneys paid to a transportation COM
pany's hands, never thinking that
great portion goes to connections beyond,
of which goods were received.
Rates are usually divided upon a mile
age basis-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 1t 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.
Each division manager takes pride in
showing that his road has been success
full, and when the profits of railroads
cease in Alabama, then will railway
building In our borders cease.
The Age-Herald says the Seaboard Line
is to spend ten million dollars building
into Birmingham.
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 It 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 Is to IS miles apart as the older we'll
developed railways of Alabama.
We have just such a case with the
Mobile and Ohio railroad and we do not
kick because its tariff in some instances
is higher than the Alabama Great South
ern railroad, because it is a new line
and its territory undeveloped.
Tuscaloosa under the kind treatment
of her two railroads has grown from
small way station which paid the Ala
bama Great Southern railroad for its
passenger service $500 monthly until 1t
is now a business to this same rail-
way between $4,000 and $1,000 monthly.
Would the railways do anything to
crush such town. which is now ninth
in size in the state Of Alabama and
both passenger and freight business
growing daily?
I want to see railways built in Ala
bama every few miles and also want
to see them profitable to the owners who
invest their money with us.
l never fail to encourage their build
ing and subscribe to every survey that
comes along hoping to see them con-
structed.
We have two grand trunk lines, but |
I hope some day to see the old Louis |
vile and Nashville railroad within our |
city for it is surely the ''Pennsylvania'
railway of the southern states.
Many a young man in Alabama re-
members with pleasure, the great hber-
ality of the Louisville and Nashville rail-
road TO the graduating class in geology
Of the University of Alabama and the
annual excursions given them over the
Birmingham mineral district by your line
to assist in its developments.
Railroads are great educators and up
build the country which they traverse,
so let nothing lie done to stop their
building.
If such unreasonable resolutions as
were passed at Birmingham could be
done by business men in cool moments,
what could be expected in the excitment
Of political elections.
From the oppression they speak of
one would think that J. p. Morgan could
take every locomotive in Alabama and
lock them in some safety deposit vault
in New York city on Wall street.
If he could, would 1t be policy for 1t |
to be done? No, we have the railways
with us. managed by good men and we
want to see them succeed and have
more of them.
Reactions and panics may infest Wall
street but we have the railroad with us
and they bear profit to the owners. our
country will go unmolested for years to
come
I hope that others will look at the
birmingham associations actions as I
do. for they simply want to make $50
to 200 miles radius as Birmingham's ter
ritory to the detriment of all other small
interior towns.
These, sir are my reasons for being
with YOU in this fight for the right,
although have many words to ex-
press myself TO a man whom / have
never known, and who has never solicit
ed me to write, still If you think it
would induce others to think as myself
YOU are at liberty to publish any or
all of it.
Anv man who has such a kind heart
in him as to help the old Confederate
Soldiers Home" by sending young ladies
all over the state selling tickets to Bob"
Taylor's lecture at Montgomery has the
Individual right to express himself when
his company is attacked In a vicious
manner.
I will state that the young ladies who
called upon the writer were not to be out
done. when informed that I had already
bought a Bob Taylor ticket
One Of them informed me that 7 was
of such size (240) that It would require
two seats for me. and I Immediately
bought two more much to their amuse-
ment.
pathar than take i'm an unjust fight