The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-06-25
DISCRIMINATING FREIGHT RATES

The railroads, it seems to us, are
blind TO the fact that Atlanta is worth
more TO them than any seaport city
of twice its size, for all goods COM
ing in and going out of Atlanta must
be hauled by the railroads, and they
have to make no "divy" with any
steamship or schooner line. AS it is
with freight so it is with passengers.
II is all grist for the railroads, and
everything must pass directly through
the railroad hopper. Every interior
city is a "cinch" for the railroads,
and why they foster the building up
of seaport cities at the expense of
the interior cities is one of the mys-
teries in the railroad transportation
problem that it is impossible for us
TO solve.
On what principles of right or equi-
ty this is done we cannot comprehend,
unless it is based on that text of
scripture which says:
For he that hath, to him shall be
given: and he that hath not, from
him shall be taken away, even that
which he hath"
The rate from Savannah on certain
articles to Nashville, Chattanooga,
Memphis, ETC., is II cents, but to At
lanta, a much shorter distance, it is
80 cents, the discrimination being
made against Atlanta because it is an
interior city, and is dependent solely
on the railroads for the transportation
of her freights, and in favor of Nash
vile, Chattanooga, etc, on the ground
that they have water transportation.
On certain articles the rate from
Savannah to Atlanta is Is cents, and
from Atlanta to Savannah, on identi-
cally the same articles the rate is %
cents, the discrimination being made
in favor Of Savannah simply and sole
ly because it is a seaport city, and is
not dependent entirely on the rail
roads for her freight.
Atlanta carried her grievance be-
fore the Georgia railroad commission, |
but her prayer was turned down by
that body. the vote standing on the
two against the unjust
and unequal discrimination and three
for perpetuating this preposterous
outrage.
The grounds for not giving a lis
tening ear to the prayer of this grow
ing city was the fact that Atlanta
continues TO be prosperous under
these discriminating rates. Don't T!
that jar you! Yes, sir, three full
grown men make this startling propO- |
sition and continue the iniquity.
1t does not seem to enter the era
NUNS of these three men that Allan
ia is growing despite these frightful
and were it dead |
that there would be none to make
these complaints.
Philosophers agree that men easily /
believe what they want to believe.
This observation seems to apply with
special force to the Georgia railway
Another reason given by the ma
jority members of Georgia's railroad
is that the rate to Nash
Vile. Chattanooga, etc, is largely
controlled by river transportation
the very injustice of which Atlanta
complains and takes the pains TO
point out.
Why give to those cities which
hath and deny to those which hath
not? Why not place the interior cit
es on an equality with the river and
seaport cities? Why not let every
ub stand on its own bottom? Why
lot give every city an equal chance
N the race for commercial empire?
Surely it will not hurt a railroad to
luild up an interior city.
Another reason given for the wrong
III uCOASAOu W NAle OtOA SD idlll Odu
is that the rate is rea-
'onable by comparison, not with sea-
DOrt, but with other inland cities.
Does not the Georgia railroad COM
mission know that every interior city
s suffering from the evil effects of
hese cruel exactions and discrimina-
ions?
Discriminating freight rates against ,
Interior cities and in favor of river !
Ind seaport cities is the greatest
question now before the American :
PEOPLE, and must be fought out to a {
inisb.
Nothing is settled until it is set !
led right. and, like Banquos ghost. ,
his question will not down. s
The interior has the numerical /;
strength and must settle this ques- +
ion by carrying it into politics and '
hanging the statute and fundamental I
avs, if change in them is necessary. r
o right this great wrong under which +