, 1863-10-06
RAILROAD COMBINATIONS.
VIII tho Directors of the Galena Road
suffer Us to be SxElndleu?
Editors Tribune:

The TRIBUNE has invariably espoused the
cause Of the people. It has been swatch-
deg" sternly guarding the rights OF our citi-
zens, and often It has saved us from the
grasp Of aTarice. We are again assailed.
Your reporter was promptly at his post on
the End, thus again coming to our rescue.
The grain buyers and farmers On the line Of
the Ga1ena and Chicago Union railroad thank
you. Our interests and the interests Of Chi.
cago are identical. When We are injured.
you suffer- For years there has nothing su-
perTened that has had a tendency to impair
our mutual interests, until the recent consol-
idation Of elevators on the north side Of yonr
river, with, as we have every reason to be-
lieye, come Of the officers Of the Galena road,
Competition Is therefore at IN end, and ad-
santages accru1ng to Us when we could
choose our business men has been destroyed.
We have been astonished that for some two
years past the people On the line Of another
important road, hare quietly submitted to
the same class Of imposition. # they had
insisted upon their rights, this wrong would
rot have beea perpetrated upon us. But
their aequiescence has stimulated officers Of
If the people throughout the State are not
watchfal, the time is at hand when the grain
buyers md farmers will be called upon to
pour into the rapaclons hands Of few de-
signing men of your city, q large proportion
Of their hard earnings. We do not intend to
submit quietly. If ne are bound to contri.
butte for the support Of your citizens, we
wish to Eelect the objects Of charity. If the
officers Of the road are not properly remune-
rated, let their employers see to It, and not
have balances f1ched from US. We are deter
mined to exercise every lawful means to rid
ourtelves OF this grip upon our vltals. It Is
not our design to quarrel with the road, for
re do believe TINT but trio, OF perhaps
quattctte Of its officers are connected with
this nelartous scheme. Some We could
name, becauee Of their antecedents in
this same unho1y class OF operations,
A majority Of the directors are above any
thing OF the kind. They cannot be bought,
or humbugged when the truth is known. To
tuch ne shall apply ourselves in due time,
confidently and hopefully. In the meantime
wc ask them to come over their road and ask
us who're interests are ieopardized, and what
IL thought Of the combination. We can tell
them here our interests are aesai1ed; and We
know our interests far better than our assatl-
ante. The combination do not regard us, nel-
ther would they see If they could, where ne
are Et1nck. They told Jou that 1t Was imma-
tertal what charges are made upon grain In
Chicago, us It all comes ont Of the farmer.
What plea! There is one class Of commu-
nifty then, upon whom all a1e dependent, that
they are at liberty to srind1e. This must be
extremely gratity yfng to you farmers of ILL
nots! We bud better curt our grain every
where and my where, than submit to men
who thus unhesitatiDgly declare their pur-
poses, md hare the eftontery to carry them
into execution. Hea1e the only ones to sufferl
Wei, truly, you arc graceless set Of
mep. Cannot you devise something else
for one particular advantage !? Try,
Do -you imagine that We are to be
taxed $25o, GOO yearly, for no other purpose
thnn to pour money, into Jour capaclous
Guilt makes men uneasy. Il man commits
crime he Invariably fears the exposure and
penalty. Why has the Combination'' given
assurances ut computing points on the road,
that the buyers should not suffer In conse-
reason than that the stockholders Of the road
would inquire Why this loss Of business-it
once WINS ours, now 1t Is being diverted. The
transactions Of its Servants would not stand
scrutiny sgaln. They need not dread expo
suse. 1t viii come surely. These are peril
nent inquiries because We wish to learn to
whom in the future grain buyers are to ap.
ply for. losses. We have other ques-
tfons to ask. The time has not
arrived when the Inquiries can be
properly propounded- We are to know the
whole truth, It cannot escape us, and If In the
solution Of any problem connected with this
matter, ofleers Of another road are found i'm.
p]icated in like swindles, re shall pay them
cur respects. Farmers, let US take this mat
ter in hand. Grain buyers, be alive to yonr
interests. Together ne can accomplish much.
Electo1e, plant yourEelves fair1y and firmly
for the rights Of the people. You can have
all the Information necessary to show up this
outrageous scheme oppression. This COM
which brought down upon the TR1BusE the
anatheluas Of the same men who now seek,
with the aid Of men who should be our friends,
to hlch from us our substance.
Oct. 5th, 1868. FARMER.