Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-04-22
The TRanspOrtasiou Question.


W III you permit working farmer,
whose entire interest is identified
with yours, to address to you a word
Of warning?
A crisis in our affairs is approach
ing. and danger threatens.
You are aware that the price O.
many Of our leading staples is SO low
that they cannot be transported t.
the markets of Europe, or even to oul
own sca-hcard, aud leave a margin
for profits, by reason of the excessive
rates Of transportation.
During the war, but little atten
ton was given to the great increase
In the price of freights, as the price
Of produce was propor,ionably high
but we look in vain for any abate
ment; now we are obliged to accep
}ess than half the former prices fo1
much that we raise.
We look in vain Tor any diminutio1
i'll the carrying rates to correspond
with the rapidly declining prices o
the means OF living, and of material'
for constructing boats, cars engines
and track but, on the other hand
We see total ignoring of that rul'
Of reciprocity between the carrying
and producing interests which pre-
walls in every other department o
trade and commerce.
Does it not behoove us. tnen, to in
quirc earnestly how long we can stant
this descending scale, on the on'
han /, and the ascending, on the other
and which party must inevitably ant
speedily so to the wall :?
l by no means counsel hostility tt
the carrying intercst-it is one of thu
producers best friends but, like The
fife that cooks our food and warm.
our dwelling, it may also become thu
hardest Of masters. The fire tiene
laughs as he escapes from our con
r. ], and in an hour licks up ant
sweeps away the accumulations o
years Of toll.
Many of us are not aware of the
gigantic proportions the carrying
interest is assuming. Less than
forty years since the first railroad
fire was kindled on this contil ent
but which now, like mighty conilagra
ton, is cracking and roaring over
every prai; lie and through every
mountain gorge. The first year pro-
duced Is miles /; the last, 5000.
On the same mammoth scale gees
on the work Reorganization and direc-
ton. By the use OF almost unlimited
means it eaIists in its service the
finest talents OF the land as officers,
attorneys, agents and lobbyist, gives
free passes and splendid entertain
ments to the representatives Of the
people, and even transports whole
legislatures into exceeding high
mountains, showing tn m the king
doms OF the world with lavish prom
Uses of reward for tealty and support;
witness It's land grants and franchise
secured from the powers that be, such
as no similar interest ever acquired
in the Old World.
In E;lrope every corporation re-
iep- Is franchises to the crown
", ain specified time, while here
li,ies are more secure than the farm
crs'' warranty deeds.
Do you say that You are out Of
debt and can stop producing when
it does not pay?
tell you, my friends, that the
carrying interest, with its present
momentum unchecked, will soon
acquire tie power to tax your unin-
numbered possessions into leaseholds,
and you and me into tenants at
will.
l fancy l hear the responsibilities
things are so but what can we do?
Rather, my friends, what can we
not do? What power can withstand
the combined and concentrated
force Of the producing interest OF
this republic But what avalls on,
strength if, like Polyphemes in the
fable, we are unable to use it for
want of eyesight ? or, like a mighty
army without discipline, every man
sighting on MS own hook ? or, what
is sti worse, reposing in fancied
security while the DeHlahs of the
enemy have veil nigh shorn away
the last lock Of strength? In this
respect we constitute solitary excep.
ton, every other interest having
long since protected itself by union
ard organizations.
AS a measure calculated to bring
ali interested, as it were, within
speaking distance, and as stepping
stone to an efficient organization, !
propose that the farmers of the great
Northwest concentrate their efforts,
power, and means as the great
transportation companies have done
theirs, md accomplish something,
instead of trittering away their efforts
in doing nothing.
And to this end, l suggest a con-
vention of those opposed to the
present tendency to monopoly and
.xtortionate charges by our transpor-
tation companies, to meet a Blooming.
ton, Illinois, on the Goth day of April
next, for the purpose of discussion
and the appointment Of a committee
to raise funds to be expended in the
employment OF the highest order OF
legal talent to put i'll form Of report
and argument an exposition Of the
rights, wrongs, interests, aud injuries
with their remedies) of the produc
ing masses of the Northwest. and
lay it before the authorities Of each
State, and of the general Government
Congress is now in session, and the
Constitutional Convention of thi.
State will then again be convened
Farmers, now is the time for action
HENRY G. WHEELER.
II