Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-09-13
Speech OF GOVERNOR MOVES,
AT ATHENS, OHIO.
SATURDAY, AUGUST, 2srd, 1878.

AT ATHENS, OHlOs
SATURDAY, AUGUST, 23rd, 1873.
The political canvass of 1878, in Ohio,
was formally opened at Athens, on the
23rd ult. Speeches were made by Gov.
Morton, of Indiana, and Gov. Noyes, of
this State. The meeting was large
one-about 5000 persons being present.
AS Gov. Noyes discusses questions of
State as well as of national concern, we
take it for granted that most of our
readers will be interested in his speech.
We copy from the Cincinnati Gazette,
The following extracts:
RAILROADS AND THE FARMERS.
There is widespread feeling existing
throughout the West and North Vest
among the producing masses that rail
road corporations, by the consolidation
of capital, by the combinations of man
agement and the GENERALIZATION of au-
thority, are exercising for their own ad-
vantage an undue and pernicious influ-
ence upon the business interests of the
country. This feeling is less prominent
in Ohio than in the great grain growing
States further west, for the reason that
we are rapidly becoming manufacture
ing State, that we are nearer the great
markets and that we have several COM
peting lines of railroad leading to the
East. But there is dissatisfaction among
the people of Ohio.
E,n,, IL " pan,,s ID o,l,aol M,rno1
for 1874, l gather the following sum
mary of statistics, detailed statements
of four hundred and twenty-five roads
being given in that work. In the Uni
ted States there are
Miles OF railway. y............ 57323
Cost $5, loS, ,123Uof
Cost per mile. ......l. 55,116
Gross receipts. ............. 473,241 O56
Operating expenses. 307, ,4S6 6S2
Net earnings. gs............... 165, ,754 ,3I3
} Dividends paid. ............. 647l8,15l
'Total number of miles in operation,
e7,lO4, of which 6,42z were built last
year. Some made no returns, others re-
| fuse information. The total earnings
are $ll 900, 900 more than the receipts
in the United States Treasury, and the
net earnings, $4s, 100000 more than the
government interest account. The to-
tai cost is $9OO,000,0o) more than the
national debt. Ihirty-three thousand
nine hundred and thirty four miles have
been built since 1863"
This statement is startling, and indi
Gates the power which, by united efforts
could be eXerted in our State and ma
ton. 1t is well known that certain great
railroad combinations have for years
controlled the legislation of severa
States in all matters affecting railroad
property and the profits thereof. 1t i
feared that this influence is becoming
More and more extended, and more po
tent; and that, unless speedily checked
it will endanger the permanent welfar,
and prosperity of our whole population
do not share in the apprehension enter
tanned by some, that railroads and thei
officers, or any other aggregations o
wealth and talent, are likely TO subver
or materially cndanger the liberties o
our people. Injustice and exaction will
be tolerated until they reach a certai
point, and then the evil will be swep
away with a releutless purpose and
strong hand. In country and under
government like ours, the people are ps
tient of eXtOrtion and wrong only unit
it presses hard upon them; when ono
aroused, they throw off their burden
! with determination and vigor
Railroads and all other corporations
are the creatures of legislation, derivin
their privileges from the people, and r'
sponsible to the people that the right
= so acquired shall be used for the accon
mediation and benefit of the public. Th
contract implied in agrant to and al
= ceptanee of charter by railroad co
poration is. in return for special priv
N ieges it shall so use its authority as
? promote the comfort, convenience, an
material prosperity of the power thi
e. grants the charter, namely, the peopl
" IT. railroad company seeks to viola
N this agreement, it would be strange Il
to deed if there were no authority, an
IN where, to restrict and control it. Th
"a such power exists, have no manner
houbt, Our trouble has been, and
likely to be, not so much with loc
roads, having their termini within Il
: limits of single State, as with Il
}. through trunk line, extending far aero
. the country, aud holding charters fro
- q number of State Legislatures. VIII
r, is everybody's business is nobody's.
. lno whole one State can control 9
y whole line, no ones attempts to eontr
any part; and so the railroads do as th
v please without let or hipdrance In t
\ first place, i 3 have no doubt that Co
gEess, under the authority g srsgpl.al
Of tcommerce between ethe States has Il
e ana ample power Re- Ok rates Of tran
i. }sportstion, andsto make such ether reg
issisas d ID ssks ooaEtss cs'l lissties ;vSa