New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1905-11-25
ERIA, La, SATURDAY. NOVEMBER o5, 1905.

as are the benefits which this section
now derives from the present form of
administration of railway transporta-
ton, which is entirely in our favor.
Why, we have building at this mo-
ment one of the largest sugar refin-
cries in the world, simply because the
great central west and northwest can
be reached more cheaply through
New Orleans than through north At
lantic ports. But with government
control and mileage rates, New Or
leans, by losing her right to the rec
ognition of her claim to the advan-
tages of natural cheap transporta-
ton, would also lose all chance of at
tracting such enterprise in the future.
1.-The commerce OF New Orleans
has grown enormously in the last few
years. We export great quantities of
grain and import and distribute to the
whole tributary Mississippi Valley.
On account of the low rates New Or
leans is becoming n great coffee port.
Not only here, but through the whole
South are we expanding wonderfully
through the recognition which we re-
ceive from the railroads to our right
to the enjoyment of the natural causes
of cheap transportation. Federal con-
troll and mileage rates would put All
end to all this.
"I believe, too, that in it's timber
the South has a source of wealth
greater than gold mines, wealth
which will foot up to thousands of
of dollars. Northern forests
are nearly gone, SO that our lumber is
every day reaching to farther markets
up through the central and northwest,
holding forth promise Of the greatest
wealth that the South has ever known;
but mileage rates would seriously
cripple this lumber industry With
rates we simply could not
reach distant interior markets and the
South would find itself in the position
Of having to burn or let rot on the
stump such timber rs it could not it.
self use or export. In this line as in
all others, Federal control of rates
would deprive us of our principal
and trade aud commercial
development would be crippled
"No," concluded the Senator, Il
have studied this question with the
of the South in mind, and |
firmly believe that Federal rate con-
troll would be a blow to the South,
first through the mileage or distance
basis of rates which such control
would bring about, and second,
through the sectional strife which
such step would induce.
Mileage rates would deprive us of
just those advantages through which
we are increasing our commerce and
our markets, and would
take from the Southern ports their
natural right to the traffic of the great
Valley which under pres
ent conditions is coming to us, and on
which our future prosperity depends.
More than that, no rate making body
could help becoming the centre of
sectional strife through which Sec
tional interests would clamor for con-
troll. With such body there could
be no sentiment, no weighing OF con-
in the conduct OF the busi
ness of Interstate commerce. It would
be as cold as death. AS matters stand
now every railroad is engaged in de-
veloping and up building the country
which it runs, but with Fede-
raj rate making this would come to
an end, while in its place would de-
velop a sectional struggle for mastery,
the North Atlantic ports against the
South with all the strength of greater
wealth and population in favor of the
North ports. For these reasons be-
lieve that the prosperity OF the South
is dependent on a continuance OF
conditions through which it
is growing so rapidly. Federal con-
troll of rates in my belief would fin
ally deprive us of that chance for
supremacy which our
natural conditions and resource should
bring us. =