The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1907-11-23

NOTICE f -
Until the banks Of the country resume the interchange Of business
with n another, We request that all remntances by mail be made in
postal or express money orders.
THE ooLDFIELD PUBIIsHrNG co,
Publishers Of 1.-THE News
PRICES MUST COME DOWN

"HE PEOPLE II Southern Nevada are again indebted to the Las Vegas and
Tonopsh railroad for a material reduction in freight and passenger rates.
The Las Vegas and Tonopah, better known as the "Clark" road, has
been in operation only a few months, but in this short time las ut the
rates twice to Los Angeles both in the freight and passenger schedules
The first cut made a change of about Is per cent and tho new ratem makes q
further reduction Of s per cent or MORE making a full reduction of % per cent
over the rasp prevailing whom the Clark road entered the ned.
within the past few days. the Boraxs Smith road. more properly known az
new rout through to Los Angeles This road, running in connection with the
Tonopah, Goldhed an Bunrog road, has made a tut Of about 20 pm cent in the
passenger rat from Goldheld t Los Angeles Whereas the fare has been about
$25, it is nov about $40.
It begins to look al If the era II reasonable freight rates for the desert
towns has set in. For . time it appeared as If there had been made a combina-
tn among the various roads seeking oodhed trade and that or people would
not benefit from the competition Of lew roads as they had reason to expect But
now, happily, there seems to be independent action and we arr witnessing the
hopedfor revision and lower ates.
But lower freight ratesw will Tot benefit the people Of this camp unless the
merchants give the consumers a corresponding reduction on all commodities, and
this is lot what they have been getting up % this time. If merchants continue
to charge the exorbtant prices prevailing before freight rates were reduced, it
will lot profit the consumer a particle, but will only add to the profits of the
merchant
Granting that merchants arc doing business under extreme conditions in
Godned, it is q fact that the prices they maintain upon merchandise Of all kinds
is outrageous and tut of proportion to all reason. It is astounding and yet true.
that prices charged for produce and merchandise now, arr W greater than be-
fore the time II railroads. when freight vas brought into sodavile So miles away
by rail and ten frdghted to ooldheld by wagon Tho railroad and wagon rates
via sodavle wore then thought to be unreasonably high; but the consumer pays
more Tor his groceries, meats vegetables, ETC., now, whom there are W railroads
operating through to Godhed, than he did when there were 10 railroads at all.
And II can't " said to 70 the fault II excasuver railroad charges
It is time for the people OF this camp to take this matter of extortonate
prices in hand. They arr entitled to the benefits that result from the decrease in
freight ratesw which are being made right along by the railroads. Heretofore the
merchants have simply added this increment to their profits charging the same
prices as before It is right that on merchants should receive a reasonable profit
on their money; in fact the people will stand for more han a reasonable profit;
merchants begin voluntarily ITO lower their prices to conform to cheaper freight
rates. the Chamber Of Commerce should take up and investigate the matter and
throw upon 1t the lime light Of publicity.
The following shows the reductions made by the Clark road as compared
with III old rate: