New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-06-20
ELASTIC RAILROAD RATES

The yield of alfalfa from older
fields in the Pecos Valley decreased
some years ago. Farmers at Bar.
stow Texas and Carlsbad, New Mex.
leo found that the application OF
$50 to $50 pounds of acid phosphate
fertilizer would about double the
yield. But the freight on commercial
fertilizers was very high, nearly as
much as the first cost of the fer
tilizer. J.. Brinker, at that time gen.
eral freight agent of the Santa Fe
Railway at Amarillo, was appealed
TO and he granted a very low rate
from points as far east as Memphis
and New Orleans. More than a
hundred ears moved in consequence
into the Carlsbad district alone.
When bids were opened for the
construction of four drainage sys-
ago, the bids exceeded the available
funds through the bond issues that
had been voted. The item of freight
on tile was an important item in
the cost. Leading citizens of Roswell
appealed by wire to f. p. Ripley,
president of the Santa Fe Railway.
Within a few days he had granted
an exceedingly low rate, making It
possible to let the contracts for this
construction.
The canning factory at Lakewood
began in a small way and found
a market in the Pecos Valley for its
entire pack of tomatoes. The bust
ness grew and in time had a surplus,
The rate out of the valley was too
high TO meet the prices of Baltimore
pack. Lakewood applied to the San
Ia Fe for relief. F. b. Houghton,
freight traffic manager and }. Brin-
ker, general freight agent, made a
personal investigation and opened
satisfactory markets for the Lake.
wood tomato in Texas and New Men
,eo through lower rates.
Many other similar cases might be
cited. But these are fair iliustra-
tions Of the attitude OF the railroad
managers in prewAr times towards
encouragement of industry.
The low rate on fertilizers into
the Peeos Valley was not renumera-
tive. But the low rate resulted in in
creased production of alfalfa. This
hANE INV toA u III
helped the community generally, and
increased the traffic of the railroad
materially.
The low rate on drain tile, granted
the Chaves county farmers, made pos
sible the reclamation through drain
age of many thousand acres of land.
The drainage has proved it's value
to the landowners. the communi,ies,
and the Santa Fe Railway.
The Pecos Valley is admirably ad-
spted to tomato growing. With this
industry established in any one loo.
atty, there must necessarily follow
an increase in population, more in
tehsive cultivation, smaller farms,
and therefore more business general
iy. The encouragement OF the cam
ming factory at Lakewood through
the opening OF markets for it's tomato
pack through lower rates was good
for the grower, the can.
merry, the community, and the rail
road.
Things have been different since
the government took over the rail
roads. The railroad administration is
. cumbersome affair and il takes a
long time to get results. The New
Corporation Commission can
rear witness that il took n long
to obtain the half rate on feed. Z
ingstuffs for the relief of the stock {
last winter. When Il WAS grant s
ID Il had plenty of restrictions ard ]
red tame attached. j
The stoctmen Of New Mexico have
a biz ,asL before th~-, - :
scahbies that are quite gen
.rsl in the Hoeks and herds Of the
tate. The C~ornprs'ior Com-i-.'o- @
las worked hard to obtain reduced