Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1913-06-22
APPEAL MADE To
PEOPLE OF TEXAS
TRAFFIC OFFICIALS OF ROADS
PROTEST AGAINST RE-
UuCTiON IN RATES


following address TO the people OF
Texas was today issued by commit
tee of the traffic officials OF the Tex
as railroads. Practically every cot
ton carrying road of Texas Joins in
the sentiments of the address.
The railroad commission OF Texas
has caller a meeting, TO be held at
Austin on July .. for the purpose OF
considering the cotton rates to pre-
vail in Texas. Az a basis for this
Hearing, the commission has set
forth four tentative propositions to
be- considered. The traffic officers
of the Texas lines have given their
most earnest, honest and careful con
sideration to these four propositions
aud the most accurate estimates that
can now possibly be made. based on
last years cotton movement, indicate
that under Proposition Number One
the reduction in the revenue of the
rlroads will be Approximately ST.
436, 900; under Proposition Number
Two the reduction will be approx
mately $97l.O0O; under Proposition
Number Three II will be approximate
ly $500, ,000; under Proposition Mum
ber -Four It will be approximately 81
100000, per year.
A linn Iut
duc'ion yill no' he offnei y" IN "
crease "a the ucean carr.cIB ra}os
and that II will not be neutralizcd
by market conditions. and that IL will
accrue 10 the producer in the form
OF an increase In the price he re-
ceiyes for his cotton. the significant
fact is that the individual producer,
who raises and sells ten bales of cot
ton, would receive total increase
In his returns OF sums ranging from
Sl.0O TO $500.
These figures display the very Sc
rious effect upon the railroads and
the comparatively Insignificant ben
eft 20 the producers. However. e.
should be remembered that the fig
ures given. representing the losses to
the railroads, does not necessarily
represent the sums which the rail-
roads viii De deprived OF the power
Of using IN extending and improving
their lines In the State. For illustra-
tion. a loss OF 100000 in revenue
means that the railroads cannot Sc
cure and eXpend Sl,000,000 because
10000 would pay 6 per cent inter
est on Sl,00O.000 for one year.
"Of the amount expended by rail-
roads In extensions aud Improvement
- per cent is paid for labor and ma
terlal In the State OF Texas.
There is not a railroad in Texas
which does not need new capital for
extensions and improvements. II Is
growing daily more difficult for
them TO secure new capital because
OF the unsatisfactory results OF their
operations.
This statement Is issued by the
representatives OF the railroads OF
Texas IN the belief that the people
who pay the freight and have the
greatest interest IN transportation
facilities should be made cognizant
OF the conditions which today con-
front the Texas railroads II Is true
the Commission has issued its notice
Of Hearing In conformity with the
laws and the Hearing will be- open
Ia all concerned. but these matters
do not ordinarily come 10 the atten-
ton OF the general public.
II Is our belief that the ques-
lions which the people must decide
for themselves are whether on the
one hand they desire rate reductions
which amount to comparatively little
TO the individual. while they mean
reductions In railroad revenues that
viii prevent the railroads from CIV
ing them that character Of service
which they demand and should have
or whether. on the other hand they
viii demand continuance Of the
present adjustment OF freight rates.
aud thus leave the railroads IN po-
sition 20 more nearly meet the neces-
stiles for more and better railroad
facilities
The railroads OF Texas. by
J l.. WEST. G.. r. A.. ". X. ct.
Ry. OF Texas.
J. N. GRIFFIN. G.. =. a. r. 4 r..
Railway. Committee