Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-08-07
rHE RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1873.
cheap TRANSPORTATION.

The farmers of the West are not the
onlv parties who are interested in the
,rsnsportation question. 1t affects the
consumers of the East to nearly the same
oytent in the aggregate, that it does the
PRODUCERS in the West, but is felt less by
Nc than by them on account of the great
or number to bear the burden. One of
the principal objects of the ''patrons of
irdnstry." or farmers oranges, is to
oJopt means, by concerted action, to
lessen the cost of transportation yet we
end that the reasonable rule is adopted
nv them to allow sufficient compensation
for the carriage of freights, to not only
nav all running expenses of transporta-
tion lines, but also enough to pay fair
interest on the cost of construction and
equipment. What they protest against
j. that the capital stock of railways
sbould be watered one hundred or more
npr cent by an overissue of stock for
speculative purposes, and they be obliged
IN subtract from their hard-earned sub
stance to pay profit on fictitious stock,
or pay some villain a royalty on his I'M
scrupulous cunning.
We notice within day or two some
merchants in New York, have been in
consultation upon this all important
question, of cheaper transportation with
the West, and they seem to be politi-
clans as well as traders, and they at once
proceed to apply the general remedy for
all ills with that class of people, and re-
solve THAT the time is at hand when, if
no other remedy is offered, the govern
mcnt must run the railroads or be run
bv them" 1t is one of the anomalies of
a free government for people to seek to
cure all social ills by legislation and gov
eminent Intervention. We may legis-
late until the crack of doom. and we
shall never bring about moral, social,
or economic reform in that way. 1t is
the active spirit of christianity that we
need, permeating the whole fabric of
our social institutions, and guiding all
commercial relations. The government
aow tries TO do too much, and has too
much machinery for doing what is not
within its province, and its efforts to
control and manage these questions of
tho business life of the people, which
are no more the province of Il govern
meut than the provisioning and clothing
the inhabitants of the country, are what
has opened up the splendid avenues for
corruption and dishonesty among officials
of which we hear SO much COM
plant of late. When this trans
portation question is settled, it will be
by other means than legislation or State
intervention.
We think that when this matter has
been fully discussed, and is understood
in all its bearings, the producer at one
end, the consumer at the other, with the
transportation line between the two,
they will see their best interests in such
mutual concessions as will do manifest
Justice to all. BY lower rates there
would naturally be an increase of
amount of matter to be transported, and
the gross income would be about equal
with that produced by the higher rate;
but if the holders of railways will not
do justice by the people, then the remedy
of establishing parallel lines exists and
may be used. The proposed mode of
adjustment by making railways and
canals, government property, to be run
by government officers, is dangerous and
is not feasible. We have too many gov
eminent places of profit to be filled now
for the good of the country, and large
system of government transportation
lines, would increase the army of Office
seekers, enlarge the patronage of the
government, already dangerous prero-
cation, and open new avenues for cor
ruption and fraud. We deprecate all
measures looking to government inter
yention or legislative action on this
question, as we believe that nothing but
establishment of the laws of trade
and the breaking up of all unnatural
combinations by the moral power of a
united and organized people, can be
available in giving relief from the OPP
preston of corporate mOnopolies.