Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-11-03
DEMOCRATS ASK TEXAS RATES.


Bent Murdoch recently printed
story showing that freight rates ON
cattle from Kansas points to Kansas
City were much lower than Texas
freight rates on cattle shipments. A
member of the Federation jumped on
him claiming that his comparison was
unfair. Murdoch asked the Federator
what would be a fair comparison.
1.-THE cattle rates into Wichita from
Kansas points compared to cattle rates
in Texas" said the Federator. "You
dare not print that comparison"
A Murdoch never takes dare. So
Bent went 10 work. And what he
found paralyzes the argument Of the
Federator. Here it Is:
"Well, we dare to tell the truth
when the truth is of public interest,".
Friday we called on Agent Wood, of
the Santa Fe here, and got some fig
ures on cattle rates into Wichita; and
as we have the Texas rates, we give
q few comparative figures for the ben
eft of our readers and to further
prove that Kansas does not demand"
the Texas Railway law. From E Do
RADIO to Wichita is 80 miles. The tar
III rate on cattle from 81 Dorado To
Wichita Is 61h cents an hundred
pounds. From 80 miles out Of Fort
Worth into that town, or from 80
miles out Of any other cattle Market
in Texas. the cattle rate is 81 cents
per hundred pounds. From Peabody
to Wichita is 81 miles. Cattle rate. 63s
cents per hundred. For the same dis
lance, over any road in Texas to any
point in that state, the cattle rate Is
9 cents. From Douglass to Wichita
is so miles. Cattle rate 5 cents In
Texas, for the same distance, 1t is 10
ents per hundred. From Longton,
Kansas. to Wichita is 81 miles. Cattle
rate, II cents. Same distance in Ter
as 21k cents. From Kinsley to Wich-
tia is 144 miles. Cattle rate. IL cents.
Same distance in Texas. Is cents.
From Dodge City to Wichita is $50
miles. Cattle rate. IA cents. From
any point in Texas, same distance, the
rate is TN cents an hundred. From
Coolidge, Kansas, to Wichita is 297
miles The cattle rate is 1871 cents
per hundred. From any town in Ter
as to any other town in that state.
the same distance, the cattle rate il
20 cents an hundred pounds. And there
you are. Texas has an arbitrary rail
way lava distance tariff Kansas
has a go-as-you-please, or competitive
tariff rates. Kansas railways make
their own rates In competition with
each other. The above comparison
only furnishes another illustration Of
the effect of arbitrary or uncommer-
cial rate mak1ag methods as against
when free, or unrestricted competition
has its sway, which results alike In
all lines Of business, to the profit Of
the trade or consumer, rather than
to the railways. The faliacy of look
ing to the Texas method of infiexible
rate making as a psnacea can perha0g
Judge David M. Dale and associsqA
by pointing to what obtains in c0n-
nection with the rates promulgated by
tho commits sioners on lumber, which
furnishes about the heaviest manufac-
ture2 tonnage Of that state. It is sur
prising that the railway earnings On
lumber transportation by one Of The
main Texas trunk lines yields II on
the average, IL mills per ton per nike;
which, however, 10 not regarded a
the lumber transportation by the SANE
line into Oklahoma and the Indian
territory averages but mills; an9to
Kansas but Z mills per ton per mile.
Any one familiar with the fAmihca-
tons Of competition can readily IN.
derstand the endless difficulties to be
encountered Is between the railroads
in an endeavor to secure paying Tatss
or in other vords harmonic their b.
terests On the rate qeesuon. The
Texas law is arbitrary, mechanical,
while the Kansas rates are commsr.
cal, elastic and therefore coaform %
the requirements Of business. No,
Mr.. Kansas Voter, Kansas does not
demand" the Texas railway law, 4
be no more clearly demonstrsted than
viii discover vhea. the baIl6ls are
counted In November.
And finally, and for good. The cat
de rate per ton per mile. In KAnsAs,
over the Rock Island railway, covering
% shipping points, from "A miles 70
lb5 miles, into St. Joe o. KanHn CITY.
Is .01ssA The cattis rata PER ton -
mile covering the aame distances and
Dom any point N Tezns OFur any
TEXAS railNAE Il .oisT7. Ana thia, 4
seems - ~. shoul1 forSFer ssttla ~
0oSu1oA Il KAnnns cattls - e
eonpegM win Tuzas easlls fsfR-