The Weekly Caucasian

AND THE HIGH RATE COMBINATION.

The following communication should have appeared last week, but was unavoidably deferred:

LEXINGTON, MO., March 24, 1873

ED. Caucasian: Some one over the signature of "Lexington," last week, published a long article, in a local print, on the subject of freights, and pitches into the railroads and steamboats, pretty heavily for an alleged combination to advance the rates to a ruinous scale. The writer is entirely correct in his position as to the outrage upon the business men of Lexington inflicted by this advanced tariff but his article does the Pacific road great injustice, in charging that road with being responsible as the instigator of this exorbitant and outrageous advance. The writer of this has taken the pains to inquire into the matter, and he is satisfied that the Pacific road is not only not to blame nor responsible for this thing, but has through its officers opposed it, and is still endeavoring to have the rates reduced to a fair figure. This new tariff was gotten up by the St. L., K. C. & N. R. R. and the Packet company, and the Pacific road did not come into the arrangement until forced to it. The Pacific road can and doubtless will carry freights as low as any other route, and it is to the interest of the business and moneyed men of Lexington, to throw everything they can over that road. Lafayette county has several hundred thousand dollars invested in it, and if we expect to realize any benefit from that investment, we must do all we can to make the road a paying one. The Pacific company is now disbursing hundreds of dollars daily in Lexington, by shipping coal, which no other road can or will do. By this road there is no river to cross and no ferriage to pay, which is a great item both to the receiver and shipper. I am satisfied that the officers of the road are willing and anxious to do everything in their power to afford full and ample facilities for freights to and from Lexington, and will carry it as low as the lowest, but while the North Missouri road and the Packet company insist upon this increased rate, they cannot carry it for less. I am no advocate of railroad monopolies or impositions, but the blame should always be laid where it belongs, and justice be done all parties, and I am sure that no one will be more ready to do this than "Lexington." I shall give my business to the Pacific road at all events,

JUSTICE.

A portion of the iron lands near Ironton have been leased by a St. Louis company who expect to begin operations soon.