The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-05-16

bill enforcing the principle that raiirOads are
| pubic highways, and requiring RAILWAYS TO
MAINTAIN connections with all roads whose
tracks reach across Its own, and receive and
transmit all cars and trans offered over their
roads at reasonable maximum rates, whether
offered at such crossing or at stations along
their roads, and empowering the making OF
connections by municipal corporations FOR that
purpose, and for the public nse.
We have omitted the publication OF three
resolutions because they are in the nature of
complaint against the Illinois Legislature,
which 1t has not yet succeeded in devlsing laws
that cover the above provisions. 1t seems to
us tnat these complaints are not well founded,
for it will be task OF the utmost difficulty, If
indeed it is at all possible to enact the fore
going propositions into laws that Will stanc the
tests of the courts.
Our whole system OF jurisprudence needs re-
vision, for 1t works with such great uncertainty,
and justice Is comparatively so rarely done,
that often in plain cases long course of hti-
CATION ensues. Yet, IN England and upon the
Continent of Europe, where the judges are ap-
pointed by the government and are taken from
the mort eminent baristers, and where the ex-
ecution Of decree cannot be stopped or post
poned with the same facility as IN the United
States, it has been found almost impossible to
| force railway corporations to obey the laws.
We are afraid that the farmers who are now
so enthusiastic have not fully counted the cost,
and chat there ID every chance that after some
years of veXatious litigation the public mind
Will be wearied out, lose it's vigilance, and ac-
commodate itself to existing abuses. There
fore, whatever is proposed to be done should
be carefully matured, for it IS legal saill, sys-
tematic organization, and perseverance, instead
OF enthusiasm, whicn are required to bring this
great question to a satisfactory Issue.
We are very strongly impressed, moreover,
that the remedies which are suggested in the
above resolutions are not all that is required to
insure to the farmer the full value of his pro-
ductions and to the mechanic and workingman
the fruits of his labor. We believe that the
railways have been enabled to levy these ex-
torhonate charges. because the growth OF the
West and its productions have been so great
that the existing channels, by railway and water,
do not afford sufficient facilities for the speedy
transportation of the crops, lumber and general
merchandise offered for transport and necessa-
Legislature enact laws ever so stringent upon
the subject of freight and tolls, the railways
will evade them by making SPECIAL bargains
with express companies, and so delay the trans
portation OF goods that are shipped under the
Government toll rates, that shippers will be
glad to submit TO time contracts for the sole
remedy which the shipper would have IN case
~ ot tvnuI6 ha Ypt yiI
suit for special damages.
President Grant, viewing this question from
broader standpoint, has repeGtedly recon-
mended that increased facilities of communi-
cation be created by the enlarg ement Of exist
ing canals, and the construction OF others. In
support OF these recommendations the Michi-
gan Legislature adopted unanimously, at its
recent session. joint resolutions endorsing
General Grants improvement projects, and de-
claring that the early obstruction OF ship canal
would be great source Of relief for the rapid
ly increasing commerce OF the Western States.
and requesting the Michigan Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress to use their influence
to secure appropriations for the survey OF
ship canal from some point on Lake Michigan
to some point on Lake Enc or Huron.
ANOTHER valuable suggestion has recently
been made by Charles Fracis Adams. who has
studded the question with much care. 1t is
that sufficient number Of railways be con-
structed or purchased by the Government, or
! by State Governments for the purpose of as
certaning what the actual cost OF the transport
tation or freight and passengers may be; and
for the further object OF forcing the other
roads by sharp competition to reduce their tolls.
| This remedy does not exclude legislative action
for the regulation of railwry charges, and is
only suggested as a powerful means OF enfor-
cling obedience to the laws.
The project has also been mooted that the
Government construct two or three double
track trunk-railways through the Western and
Central States upon which, on the payment Of
and under suitable regulations, private citizens
can run freight trains along the road-bed upon
terms analogous to those by which boats are
moved upon the canals.
further method Of relief lies with tho far
meIs themselves, by emancipation from the ne
cessrry OF using the railways to very great ex-
tenr. Farming in our Western States chiefly
in raising productions in their coarsest form, as
wheat, corn, and potatoes, upon which the
charges Of transportation constitute necessarily
q very large per cent. of their intrinsic value.
Would it not be well therefore, il they would.
as far as possible. first convert their raw pro-
ducts to moro concentrated and valuable forms,
such as butter, cheese. beet sugar, WOOL beef.
and pork, and export these IN the place Of
wheat and corn? This method would augment
the fertility of their farmsand greatly reduce
the relative amount paid for transportation.
Another remedy Is the creation of home
manufactures and home markets. The farmer
who is compelled to send bushel of wheat
East to pay for ten yards Of calico or sheeting
is at an enormous disadvantage, because while
it costs him one hundred per cent to convey
his article to the manufacturer, the manufact-
urer does not pay more than two per cent. ad
valorem to place his article at the home OF the
farmer. This system of exchange Is necessar-
lily unequal, and can only be equalized by the
establishment Of home manufactures Of cot
ton, cloth, woolen goods, hardware, farming
implements. and all other articles that enter
into the consumption OF daily life.
When the convention on the first day adop-