Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-08-07

people; they ak fvr cheap access
To the Eastern markets. Thus far
they have contenIed themselves with
an effort 10 reduce the fare. and
freights on existing railways, and
have succeeded 10 limited extent
in securing some change in railway
tariffs. Butitis-till doubtful wheth-
er the railway manager. will not he
able 10 render these changes altogeth.
er useless. The railways hold the
chief lines Of traffic. Within five
years their trade has more than doub-
led. The three great lines are over
burtfened with the amount Of bust
mes. offering. They already carry
the larger share Of the food Of the
..a..e..s and no legislative action can
enable the New York Central. the
Erie, or the Pennsylvania roads to
supply the wants OF the West. or
prevent them from extorting from
the farmer a tariff sufficient 10 con
sumo his profits and leave him in
perpetual Indulgence.
The Congressional committee who
were appointed 10 examine into this
important matter have, we believe.
given IL careful attention, and their
report viii no doubt contain much use
full information "a well a. some sug-
gestiOns as TO the best method Of
satisfying the wants OF the farmers.
But the real difficulty is apparent TO
every one. The three railways are
unable or unwilling 10 carry freight
cbeapiy; il is certain that they seize
upon their opportunity to extOrt
large sums from the community.
I When the canals and rivers are
open, they lower their rates nearly
one-balf. But no sooner does the
frost Of winter stop the travel on the
water-courses than the railways adj.
vance their prices, and force the
people TO pay for the support Of a
plain monopoly. In summer the
cost OF carrying bushel Of grain
from Chicago to New York Is about
twenty-five cents; in winter, forty
two cents. The fact Is undisputed;
the deduction clear. When they
have no rival the monopolies put
their own prices on traffic, and when
they fear competition they consul,
the interests Of the public. But it j.
plain that no Improvement or en-
lsrgement Of the canals can prevent
the railways from ruling the cost OF
transportation for nearly half the
year, and from placing what re.
straints they please upon the course
of trade.
Private competition has evidently
failed to give relief to the farmer or
to the consumer Of food. The rail
ways combine whenever the canals
cease to interfere, and it follows,
therefore, that the only way Of es.
Gaping from the monopoly is either
to provide a new means Of commune
cation or to lower the H. Of exist.
ing railways by Legislative interior.
ence. But even could this last means
be applied, 1t does not seem that the
existing lines are capable of supply
ing the wants of the business com.
munty. They have already more
freight than they can carry, and with
the rapid growth Of the Northwest
their inability must every day beome
more apparent. We are told by the
Raitnny Journal that the lines of
railways have grown too rapidly for
the wants Of the people, that many
have long been incapable OF paying
dividends; but this statement Il
evidently wholly untrue as to the
great trunk lines between the East
and the West. Here the wants OF
the community have plainly far out
grown the means of travel, and
should the Congressional committee
recommend the building OF new
freight line from New York to Min
nesota, IL will do more to satisfy the
wishes Of the farmers oranges than
In any other way. Legislation has
failed to give them what they need.
The great railways laugh ut the out
cries of the people. No competition
can help them. 1t Is the national
government alone that has sufficient
strength to save the community from