Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-15
The Question of Cheap Transportation.

The National American Cheap Trans
pOrtation Convention, at its recent session
in New York City adopted the following
resolutions:
WHEREAS The productive industries of the
United States plantation and farm, mine and
factory. commercial and mercantile, are not only
the sources of all our national and individual
wealth. but also the elements which our very
national and individual existence depends; and
WHEREAS, All national products are the fruits OF
labor and capital, and neither labor nor capt. al
will continue actively employed without an equiya
lent measurably just and
WHEREAS, Great national industries only SuS
tanned and prospcred by the interchange Of pro-
ducts Of section Of country for those of another
and
WHEREAS, The existing rates Of transportation
for the varied products of the Union from one part
of the country to another and to foreign countries
as well as the transit cost of the commodities re
CURED i'll exchange are, in many instances injurl-
Gus and To certain interests absolutely destructive,
arising, i'll part at least, from an insutfcicncy Of
avenues; and
WHEREAS The great national want of the nation
to-day is relief from the present rates Of transit up
Oh American products: therefore,
ReS0ited That ii Is the duty of the hour, and the
mission of this Association, to obtain from Con
Gress and the different State Legislatures such egis
laton may be necessary to control and limit by
law, within the proper constitutional and legitimate
limits, the rates and charges of existing lines of
!ranepOrtatlOn to increase, where practicable, the
capacity of present water ways. and to add
such new avenues. both wafer and rail as our i'm
menscly increasing internal commerce demands, 50
that the producer may be justly rewarded for his
honest toll the consumer have cheap products, and
our almost limtless surplus find foreign markets at
rates to compete with the world.
RfS05ted, That cheap transportation, both OF per
and property. being most conducive 10 the
free movement Of the people and the widest inter
change and consumption of the products of the
different parts of the Union, Is essential to the well
fare and prosperity of the country.
Resotr6d, That constant and frequent association
OF the inhabitants of remote parts of the United
States Is not only desirable but necessary for the
maintenance of homogeneous and harmonious
population within The vast of territory.
ReS0lred, That the best interests of the different
parts Of the country also demand the freest possible
interchange of the industrial products of the varied
climates and industries Of the United States. that
brcadstutfs, textile fabrics. coal, lumber, iron,
sugar, and various other products, local in their
production. but general in their consumption, may
all reach the consumer at the least practicable cost
of nsp0rtation and that arbitrary and unnec-
essary tax levied by the transporter and above
a fair remuneration for investment il burden
upon the producer and consumer, that it il the part
OF wise craftsmanship to remove.
ReSOtged, That certain leading railroad corpora
tlOns of the country. although chartered 10 sub
serve the public welfare. and endowed with the
right of eminent domain solely for that purpose.
nav" proved themselves practically monopoics and
become the tools of ayariCious ana INSCRIPTIONS
capitalists, to be used to plumber the public. enrich
themselves and impoyerish the country through
which they run.
Res0iced, That many of the railroad corporations
have not only dsrcgardcd the public convenience
and prosperity but have oppressed citizens bribcd
our Legislatures. and dctcd our Executive and
Judges and stand to-day most menacing danger
to American liberty and to republican govern
mcnt.
ResOIrEd, That the present system of railway
management, having failed to meet the just cX-
pectaiiOns and demands Of a lOngSuffcring people
must be radically reformed and controlled by the
strong hand of the law. both State and National,
and the railway corporations compelled to perform
their proper functions as servants, and not a. mas
tiers, of the people.
ResOEred. That to this end we invoke the aid of
all far-mindGd men in all States of the Union in
excluding from the halls Of legislation, from our
executive Offices and from the bench, all such rail
way officials. railway attorneys. other hrcnga.
who prostitute public office to the base of pri-
waite gain.
Res0ired. That leaving the different sections and
interests that desire cheap transportation to work
out the problem in such manner they may deem
best. earnestly invoke their careful c0nsidera-
ton their energetic action, and their resolute will
in regulating and controlling rates of transportation,
and in giving remunerative wages to the producer
and cheap products TO the consumer, untaXcd by
uncarncd charges for their carriage.
ReS0Ired, That we invite the people of the various
States to organize subsidiary associations State,
county and town, to cooperate with the National
Assoca ion; that the power to accomplish the
purposes desired rests absolutely with the suffering
millions. Relief is within their reach and control
United action and the near future will give. as GER
tain il is needed, for all time and the GOOD of all
the true solution OF the probl, of cheap transport
fat