Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1905-12-13

After many months OF weary wait
ing, striving and struggling, it now
begins 10 look as though the whole
salers and jobbers of New Mexico
were going to get a common point
rate from the Santa Fe and other
New Mexico railroads.
A movement is on among the west
ern railroads that enter Eel Paso to
take that city out of what is known
as the Rio Grande crossing group IN
which It Is now classed, and on the
basis of which freight rates are now
made to that city, and place it in a
new group, to be composed of Albu'
querque, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Dem
ing and other New Mexico towns.
If this is done it means that these
points in New Mexico will get the
same freight rates on car load lots
that lei Paso will get. AT present,
FL Paso gets the same freight rates
that apply to Laredo, Eagle Pass ana
other points where competition is
great, and as a result, these rates
are very much lower than rates APP
plying Il New Mexico points.
Colorado has the common point rate,
and as a result it is possible for car
load lots to he shipped from san
Francisco or Los Angeles to Trinidad,
Colo. at a rate actually cheaper than
the same car can be shipped to Albu-
querque. although, so to speak. the
car would pass right by /ne door of
! Albuquerque en- route to Trinidad.
If a New Mexico common point rate,
with Eel Paso as a base. is put into et-
feet by the roads of New Mexico, II
will mean a reduction Of at least 40
per cent in the present freight rates
on some commodities.
For instance, as the rate now ap-
plies. a car load of certain commodi-
ties that can be shipped from the
north to El Paso at the rate of fifty
five cents per 100 pounds, would cost
Albuquerque, Las Vegas or Santa Fe
merchants $1.10 per 100 pounds. With
a New Mexico common point rate,
this would be greatly reduced, and al
though It would mean a putting up
of the rates into FL Paso above the
present figures, it would also mean
the reduction of the rate to New Mex.
leo points.
That the wholesalers and jobbers OF
Ell Paso are afraid that this will come
| W DdHH, Is tNiutuNEu HUN luO lOllON
ing clipping from an FL Paso paper:
1T is proposed to place FL Paso in
= a group to be composed of Albuquer
: que, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Demine
and other cities, and take it out o.
the group in which it gets the same
rate as applies to Eagle Pass ant
Laredo.
There would he no objection tt
| 4g,f. .Ar. IL ,.,n1lr FNr +hn r,,A -,
, rather in the interest of stability OF
rates" But business men are in
| clined to believe that this high-sound
ing term has something ominous be
hind it and some Interior motive other
than stability
"The chamber of commerce does not
look with any degree of complacency
upon the proposed change. The mem
bers say they are satisfied to remain
in the Rio Grande crossing group
The committee consisting of e. Moye
J. A. Happier and w. S. Tilton, which
was appointed at the special meeting
Of the board of directors held Satur
day, to consider the proposition, VII
report at the regular meeting of the
board tonight, and II is probable thai
sOme action will be taken regarding
the proposed change.
The movement is one which will
be anXiOusly watched by all shippers.
Members of the Albuquerque Com
mercial club, when interviewed OF
the matter, stated as their belief
that while the proposed movemen.
now under consideration by the road!
running into Eel PasO, through New
Mexico, would mean an increase o
the freight rates into that city, i
could not help but he a benefit to the
jobbers of New Mexico, and espe
cially to the wholesalers and jobberi
Of Albuquerque and Las Vegas.
Mr.. Brown, manager of the /. b
Putney Grocery company, when asked
his opinion OF the matter, replied:
Il have not looked into the mattel
as yet and do not care to be quoted
on it until | have studied the sub
iect."
Mr.. Arnot, of the Gross-Kelly com
pany, could not be found, but It Is un
derstOod that the jobbers Of Albuquer
que, as a whole, seem to think tina
while the matter might work to tn,
detriment of El Paso, II could no
help but be of benefit TO the jobberi
of New Mexico.