Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-09-13
ASHTABULA, OHIO, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER l3, 1873.

pronounce fair and equitable, under the
contract implied by the charter. In my
Judgment, therefore, the simplest and |
probably the most satisfactory way 10 |
remedy the evil complained Of, would |
be to have the whole matter disposed OF |
by Congressional enactment. Mr.. Shell
labarger of this State, introduced such
measure into the last Congress, and
when the Ohio Legislature was asked to
strengthen his hands by resolutions fa-
vorin9 the bill, the Democratic members
put themselves solidly against it.
But it might happen that Congress
would fail in this duty, under influences
such as have been known heretofore
sometimes to affect Congressman. What
then2 In such case, undoubtedly the
State Legislatures which granted the
charters would have powe to provide
remedy. 1t is certainly matter within
the province of the people, to elect such
members of the State Legislature and
of Congress as can be trusted to do their
whole duty, and with intelligence
enough to know what that duty is If
the people themselves are careless and
Indifferent as TO The character of those
they elect to represent them, they have
no right to complain.
One cause of dissatisfaction has been
the lack of uniformity in the rates of
transportation. Many railroads are ac-
customed to transport passengers and
freight for long distances, between their
termini, at a much less rate per mile
than is charged for intermediate points.
The reason is obvious. Between the
distant points there is generally compe-
tition, and consequently cutting of the
rates to secure business The rivalry is
often SO great as to leave no margin for
profits, over and above running ex-
penses. In order, therefore, to secure
dividends for the stockholders, this loss
has to be made up by excessive charges
for shorter distances, and between
points where there are no competing
lines. This evil ought to be remedied
But in my judgment, there is a great
er wrong than this. mean the little
Credit Mobilier organization, inside the
railroad corporations, composed wholly
or for the most part of the officers of
the company, who under the name of
Fast Freight Lines, or other designa-
ton, contract with themselves, realize
enormous profits, and enrich themselves
at the expense of the stockholders or the
public, or both. Such organizations
ought, if possible, be prohibited by law,
and the officers of railroad companies
should be prevented from specializing
out of the trust positions they occupy
at the expense of the people who are at
their mercy.
Among.the ways proposed to secure
cheap transportation, is the opening up
of the great national highways-the
rivers and the lakes. These being i'm,
proved and connected where necessary
by canals. The improvement of the
Ohio and its tributaries is certainly
worthy of our efforts. Whether CRANE
canal, or system of water communica
ton, reaching to the ocean, would bring
:, us in Ohio return equal to the cost
8 has yet TO be demonstrated.
5 There should be no indiscriminatt
: and wild crusades against railroads.
/ They should be encouraged and allowed
fair compensation for the capital invest
!, ed, and the risk encountered. The,
= have been, and will continue to be, o
|
9 should simply not be allowed to abus
o their privileges, or to oppress those the.
. were intended to assist. What woul'
: the great State of Ohio have been to
. day without the introduction of raj
! roads? We want more and we mus
= have them. We ave all anxiously wait
= ing for the completion of that gram
enterprise, the Cincinnati Southern Rail
, road, which is to open up to our fan
> mers, mechanics and merchants the rea
:, DIV markets of the South, now complete
80 ly cut off from us. The products of on
u coal fields and iron mount aims must b
4 brought nearer to purchasers anxious t
;s buy. Our rapidly increasing and swii
10 =, growing towns and cities must be put
: easy communication with the trade Gel
! tiers. The farmers in the agricultur;
- districts must be able to. reach wit
, their produce the mechanics in th
>. town. AS the cities grow, the countr
i. thrives. The most reliable of all ma
&c kets is the home market, and it will nc
~ be many years before the Ohio farmt
&C can sell all he raises at fair and remune
n ative prices, within the limits of his ow
in State. We already import wheat IL
~ home consumption. Soon We shall wal
corn and other articles of food. N
q many years hence the question with I
~ will be not where the farmer shall find
II market and how he shall get the
40 cheap rates of transportation, but no
no we shall increase production to supp
" the local demand? The science of a
"a riculture will be studied and practict
20 until the earth shall yield her bounti
g, fourfold to the thrifty, intelligent, pre-
Is porous and happy laborers in the field
m. There is no.war between the farmer al
Le mechanic; there ought to be no contli
,c- between capital and labor. Each shou
,r. help the other, that all might prosp
Vi together asa f
70 FARMERS CLUBS.
nd Politicians have looked with more
lat less concern upon the organization
lie. farmers clubs in the Western State
tie lest by some possibility they may her
in after be used for or against some asp
w. ing statesman am free to say can S
lat no reason why such associations. shop
of not be formed We have legal and me
is ical, ministerial and trade association
cal and why not farmers as well? ha
he confidence that the agricaltuFists are