The farmer and mechanic., 1907-09-10
no FRIENDSHIP THAT KILLS


dent Finley. os the Southern Railway.
having written q letter 20 Nr. J =.
McCauslard. OF the Charlotte Retail
Merchanss Association. relative - tho
differences between tho people % the
South and the Southern ard other
railroads. Mr.. McCaGsland has sent
Mr. Finley reply tha; deserves the
careful thought OF thai and all
other railroad officials whose chief
interest ia North Carolina seems 10
have been 20 cart money out ot u
and repress its cities by d!scrimina-
tion In freight rates. Hr- AcCaus-
land expresses the belief tina, the IN
tere-:s OF the people and the railroads
are closely related. says passenger re-
duction does not interest the people
so- whom he speaks and then SAYS:
TT is a fact that Virginia merchants
have grown rich or their North car
oitna trade Railroads have 80 dis
eliminated against our state IN the
question Of freight rates IN favor o.
Virginia towns. that u has been I'M
possible for our commercial interests
to keep pace with the progress along
other lines Our people AS a rule.
are liberal in their views and take
pride in the prosperity OF their State.
And when they realize. as they must.
and 90. that no Jobbing houses can be
established and maintained within
the borders OF their State. that can
compete with towns in surrounding
States on account Of the fact that
they are Disseminated against in the
question Of freight rates, they cannot
be expected To look with favor upon
any railway or railways that make II
thus impossible for their commercial
interests to grow ard develop. as they
feel that they can and would. u gwen
an equal opportunity with the towns
Of other States.
'tIt is needless for me 10 call your
attention To the fact that the dis
tance from Northwestern shipping
points to Charlotte. \. G.. is about
the same rs 10 Lynchburg. Va. and
yet freight rates 10 Charlotte are
about double the rates TO Lynchburg;
while the rates from Southern ship
ping points to Lynchburg are about
half the rate charged 10 Charlotte.
although the nearest route from
SoI,harn shipping points to Lynch
burg Is necessarily through Charlotte.
while towns further South get equal
or lower rates from Eastern shipping
pointc.
Il call your attention 10 these mat
ters merely to remind YOU Of the fact
that it is an adjustment OF freight
rates that will give North Carolina
an equal showing and an equal out
let for the energies and industries of
her people The few merchants who
have had the energy to undertake the
iobbing business in this State are
compelled to maintain warehouses in
some Of the Virginia towns 70 he
used as a distributing point for their
merchandise. These warehouses are.
= aofy Cot nI Of
large and we think, unnecessary ex-
pense.
I'm conclusion, I desire to saw that
our people take a business view OF
the situation. and would not il they
felt that they were treated right do
pie the progress Of the Southern
Railway. But, they do not and can +
not esteem as their friend any rail- /
road, which by unjust and inexcusa Bile
makes 1t impossible
for them to develop their resources
and keep pace with their sister
States"
Much in line with the view Of the
so we'll expressed by Nr
McCausland, is the sentiment Of the
cotton manufa cturers os expressed by
President Miller. of Charlotte. at the
recent session Of the Cotton Manufac-
turers' Association:
The matter Of unequal freight
rates and freight discrimination is 50
bold and glaring on the part Of the
railroads. that every industrial inter-
est in the State is suffering great
loss. ] do not think this association
can take too strong a stand on thfs
question, such stand that the rail-
roads must heed the demands Of fair
less and justice from a patient and
long suffering people.
Our State has been blessed by
kind providence with all that goes 20
make us. possibly, the richest State
etc, extending as it does
from the mountains to the sea vast
wealth and resources yet unknown
and undeveloped, hampered and hin
dered in our efforts t. greater prog
ress and advancement by this unfair
and unjust system Of freight discrim-
ination. Our sister States. with their
gate ways are sapping the life blood
Of North Carolina enterprise and
energy.
The storm signal IS up-the rail
roads have already had ample warn
.ng Of its approach-they meet it with
law suits and iniunctions This pa
tlence and submission of the people
OF North Carolina will not always
and when the storm Of just
Indignation does finally break in its
fury the people will be found In COM
mand and the old Ship Of state will
be safe God speed the time when
\ orth Carolina will once again come
into the full possession of her own
we ask no special favors but we do
ASK and demand common rairness and
justice. EqualiZe us with our neigh
oors-ff gate ways are a modern
railroad necessity-then give Us the
gate ways and I can assure you.
mat no mater how fast the gait Of
Industrial development may be Tar
Heel grit and enterprise will ever be
FOUND in the vanguard
II needs be let convention he
called. with reDresentatiy es from,
every interest in the State-cOrnnoer
ciai, financial. manufacturing. aerj-
cultural. etc, put our position before
ne railroad officials, IN no half-heart
ed. apologetic tone, but boldly ana
1rmly assert and prove our griev
ances. and then in the name of ali tha
people. and in the interest OF everv
industry. demand thai this barnacIe
y freight discrimination be removed
/ dfsclaim any enmity or anirnosi+
oWards the railroads To the CON