The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-02

Western Reserve Medical College,
 Cor Erie and St. Clair Sts.
 Tel. Bell M. 401.
 Removed to The Merchants Bld.,
 34 Erie Street.
 Cleveland. O., March "A, 1904 Mir G. A. Park, Industrial Agent, Louis-
 vile. Ky:
 Dear Sir: In reply to your inquiry re- garding the prospect of the cement indus try in Alabama, with which l have been connected, 1 can only say that the plant will ship approximately 2000 barrels per day, or about twenty cars and will em- ploy about $50 men in the works.
 There is one thing which we have been noticing and which I would like some in- formation regarding, and that is, the az itation in Alabama regarding freight rates, and especially the interstate rates, which are the only ones which affect us much. When we purchased our prop erty in Alabama we had no idea that there would be any tampering with the interstate rates, and that it was firm ly fixed, and the one thing that we could Dc sure Ol, put l see lTOlH IeCeHt puDllCd- tions that that is not so.
 Will you please inform me as to what extent the views of MT. B. B. Conner, who has been so active in this movement, are accepted by the general public, we are little interested in the rates in the state itself. as they do not affect us but to a minor degree? In fact it is only the ef- fa0 uh hfon are of any importance whatever, as they are, by far, the great bulk of the ship ping business.
 It seems very surprising to us that the people of your great state of Alabama would accede at all to the views of a man who is seeking an office of that quasi judicial position of president of its rail- road commission. and pre-judges the mer- its of the case before hearing the entire testimony, and another matter which Is of great surprise to us. is that the good people of the state do not realize the tre- mendous factor of prosperity that the railroads are in building up the com munities with which they come in con tact. The entire success of a locality, such as you have there. depends upon the railroads and they are as much in terested in establishing industries along their lines and fostering them, as the people can possibly be who locate within their territory. If the local rates are re- duced, will not the loss be attached tc the interstate rates over which the state politicians have no control whatever and if so, will not the interstate shipper sim ply add this to his commodity as far as he can, and will not the burden of this fall on the consumer in the state of Ala bama, for here he can be assured of no competition as far as rates go. and thus the people of the state will eventually bear the burden entirely; but aside fl om this, we are extremely sorry to see the matter presented in this light and for po- litical purposes solely, and an interest of this paramount importance to the state, should be removed beyond the realm or politics entirely, and placed in hands which will deal with the railroads as well as the people-fairly, and to the greatest good of all concerned.
 We feel that 1t Is working against tfe best interests of the state to have this agitation brought up Tn thls way ana purely in political way. and that 1t Is working against the best interests of the state, and we feel that we must know what the outcome will be, before deciding definitely as to our future plans. for if the rates are to be the subject of every political asprant's claims, and this in an extremely biased frame of mind, we do ;.. t.o L. of such a condition which must necessa- rily result for the next attack may fall on us. if the politician deems 1t to his ad-