The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-07-25

roads and railroad earnings. In the Now lug
land States there is one mile OF RAILROAD 10
every 100 people in the Middle States one
mile OF railroad to every 1872 people; IN ten
Northwestern States. one mile OF raiiroau "
400 people. The disproportion according 10
assessed valuation OF property, and according
TO production, is still greater against the Wes'-
ern States. In view of these facts, the west
ern people, in order to make their ra'lroaus
paw. must pay higher freights per lnhapitaht
and per ton than the Eastern people
"There are other facts Of Importance to the
farmers oranges. There is no class OF freight
so illy able TO pay heavy rates Tor ifeisht as
raw products, such as agricultural produce
which have TO go far to find market and
which, being produced largely IN excess OF the
active demand keep their prices generally
moderate. On the other hand, there are no
articles better able to pay freight charged
han manufactured goods which are IL ready
demand. and which do not have to so far to
ind az active market. The State OF Illinois,
which is mainly al agricultural State, naturally
complains most bitterly OF high freight charges,
since corn and other coarse grains, OF which
she produces an enormous amount, can, least
OF all commercial articles, afford to pay heavy
charges. Or the other hand, Michigan COM
plains least OF the Northwestern States, since
her manufactured articles, OF lumber, wood
iron. copper, etc., find an active market in con-
,iguous States. and can best afford to pay
railroad freghts. while they furnish home
market for her farmers. The State OF Michi-
gan, with a small comparative population, has
al enormous railroad development. The map
OF tho State already resembles a gridiron, on
account OF It's numerous railroads. Ii tue
market OF Michigan farmers for their produce
wac only to be found IN the far East, and If
the State bad no manufacturers, and all these
roads had to be supported by the farmers alone,
their burden would be the most crushing one OF
any State II the Union. But the manufactures
OF the state bear 1t with comparative ease, 80
that new roads are being continually projected.
In this State there Is now in operation one
mile Of railroad for every Three Hundred and
Ninety people. Three Hundred and Ninety
people in Michigan, have to support a mile o.
railroad whereas. il the Middle States, Eight
Hundred people support mile OF railroad
The people OF the Eastern States are richer,
per inhabitant, and financially better able to
suhpor, railroads, than we are; 80 that their
burden, per valuation, according to property,
is less than one-fourth az much as ours. The
statistics show that in spite Of the higher rates
for freight and passengers in the West, the
railroads pay much smaller profit in the West
than in the East. The New England roads.
with their low rates, earned on an average
over twenty-one per cent OF their cost last
year the Western roads, with higher rates,
only little over thirteen per cont"
These facts SHOW that agricultural States feel
as an intolerable burden o load which manufac-
turing States carry with ease aud that those
States are more prosperous and sound, hnan-
ciaily, where agriculture aud manufacturing
are most evenly balanced. II Illinois had the
same proportion Of manufactures that Michigan
has, her farmers would be relieved by home
market, and would not be crushed, as they
claim to be, by railroad freights, or by dullness
OF far-distant markets for their produce. On
the other hand, If Michigan had no manufac-
lures, her farmers would now be complaining
as loudly al those Of Illinois,"