FREIGHT RATES AND MANUFACTURES rN COLORADO IT 



regions, and in modern times the East and the railways have had the 

 same interest in preventing the growth of manufactures in the western 

 states. That this interest has been in some degree effective appears 

 by a study of the increase of population and the movement of manufac- 

 tures toward the West in the United States. 



From 1850 when the domestic system of manufacture gave way to 

 the factory, the progress of manufacture toward the West has not kept 

 pace with the westward movement of population. In 1850, the centre 

 of manufactures was a little south of the middle of Pennsylvania, slightly 

 north and west of Harrisburg, while the centre of population was just west 

 of the eastern boundary line of Maryland, being thus considerably east 

 of the centre of manufactures. By 1900, the centre of population had 

 moved westward to a point almost south of Indianapolis while the centre 

 of manufactures was a little east of a line from Columbus to Toledo. 

 During the same period manufactures increased from $1,000,000,000 

 in 1850 to $13,000,000,000 in 1900. This shows a marked concentration 

 in the manufacturing industry. 



On June 23, 1870, the next day after the first locomotive arrived in 

 Denver, there was a meeting of the heaviest shippers to consider the 

 matter of freight rates. On the following day another meeting of the 

 same persons was held and a schedule of rates was agreed upon. This 

 schedule was presented to the superintendent of the railroad who replied 



on June 28 as follows: 



Denver Pacific Railway 

 Superintendent's Office 



Denver Colo., June 28, 1870 

 Fred. Z. Solomon, Esq., Chairman Business Men's Meeting, Denver, Colo. 



Sir: The proceedings of the meetings of the heaviest shippers of this place, 

 held in this city June 23 and 24, were handed me by your secretary, Mr. McDonald. 

 The recommendations of the meetings were presented by me to the proper railroad 

 officials, and the rates proposed by your meetings for carrying freights have been 

 adopted and will be published in a few days. These rates will apply to all freight 

 which has come into Denver over the Denver Pacific Railway since June 25, and 

 if any other rate has been paid, the matter will be properly adjusted upon applica- 

 tion to me at this office. 



Very respectfully, 



Your obedient servant, 



C. W. Fisher, 



Supt. D. P. R. R. 



