Evening journal., 1907-11-09
Saturday, November 9, 1907.
THE QUESTION on FREIGHT RATEs.

A T LAST the Board of Trade is manifesting
\ some disposition to touch the vital spot in
the commercial development of Delaware-that
is, the question of transportation facilities and
freight rates between this city and lower Della
ware. This subject also involves the freight rates
that our Delaware farmers pay in order to get
their product to market. 1t takes no wizard to
see that this is one Of the most important indus
trial problems that confront not only Wilmington,
but the State at large.
In times past the Board of Trade and in fact
every other public organization or body, has
shown a tendency to shy at this question. Even
organizations of farmers, other than the Grangers
here and there, have handled the subject with
gentle touch, if they could be induced to get
within seeing distance of it. The shrewd and
Rdroit managers of the railroad company have 50
completely influenced, if not actually dominated,
both political parties in the past that the ordinary
indivdual well as the political leaders would
speak easy when any question concerning trans
portation by railway would be mentioned And
there is no immediate prospect of a change in the
Rctual control Of public affairs.
But while the railroad company has had things
pretty much its own way in Delaware, il has on
all occasions shown marked disposition to listen
to protests and to hear and heed complaints. The
company has never acted peremptorily in reject
ing pleas Of the people and neither does it DEFY
public sentiment The difficulty has been that no
one has ever brought properly before the man
ayers Of the railroads that operate in Delaware
the real or alleged grievances of farmers or busi-
ness men.
The industrial future of Delaware lies in
very large degree with the Delaware Railroad
Company. This corporation, if it desired, could
make Delaware a garden spot for business and
agriculture If it would lend the helping hand that
it should give If it Joined in heartily with the
Board of Trade and the farming organizations,
both working with a single eye for the develop
mcnt of Delaware, how wonderful would be the
future of the State.
Delaware has been kind to the railroad COM
pany. Evidences of this have been seen on every
hand. The last important public move OF the
General Assembly was the appointing of com
mission TO revise the revenue laws of the State.
No one will contend that this commission is not
largely biased in favor of the railroad and other
corporation interests. In fact, the bias is evil
dent that it would be proper subject for jest.
The railroad devotces themselves must crack
broad smile when they glance at the composition
of that commission Hence there is no mmedi-
ate probability that the railroad companies inter
ests will be seriously impaired in Delaware
This being true would it not be wise policy for
the companies to see il there cannot be an adjust
ment Of freight rates in Delaware so that the dis
ordinations so clearly brought out cannot be cor
rected and Wilmingtonans given freight rates
which will enable them to do business with lower
Delaware and at the same time Delaware farmers
be accorded rates so that they can compete with
the agnculturists of more distant points. II is
no encouragement for Delaware farmers to see
truck hauled through their State from Southern
points and delivered into the CITY markets At
much lower rate than the Delaware growers OBJ
tam There IS no advantage in being near the
city markets If the transportation tribute levied
places the nearby producers on the same level
with those at far greater distance.