New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-29
A GRANGER'S VIEW OF RAILROAD MAN.
AGENENT.

.prrsrs OF THE PRESENT sYsrEM-THR RAILROAD
KINGS ARRArGNED-A DESCENDING STATEMENT
OF THE CONDITION OF THE CoUNTRY-A REMEDY
SUGGESTED.
TO me Bdftor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In this country the railroads are the
nrpcipal means OF commercial circulation AL the in
dustries of the dependent on their proper
use aud control II the railroads run for the benefit
OF the few the many to suffer Now 1t Is so no
tor,ous among all business that the roads are not
run or managed for the benefit Of the many that few
will deny it, II perfectly safe to assert that there Is
not great abroad the United States running from
one large city but run for the benefit OF
few managers and the favored terminal Cities The
intermediate and patrons are everywhere obliged
10 pay three times much for the same service
as the favored cities The natural result has been
the rapid growth wealth and numbers OF the few cities
and the destruction decay of the intervening towns
On this unjust policy towns that have every
natural facility for the production OF wealth Tor the
vast multitude who iahabit and surround them, are
grooming under depression of trade and stagnation
of every kind Of profitable industry TIE music OF the
hammers at the forge and anvil has ceased, and the
wheels of mills at slackened speed The capital
OF the country fed TO the great cities that enjoy the
benefits OF the many roads that in their inter
ests 1t found profitable to erect factories upon
the costly soil OF the great cities and drive the wheels
by steam. than the cheaper lands and abundant
lists cuDuiugy adjusted tariff for the benefit OF
themselves and their iavOrites.
1t costs the manufactures or merchant less to ship his
wares the wnoe length OF the railroad than part
o ItcOsts much 10 ship from the middle OF road
either from end TO the other The freight
from ocean is less than If carried half
This rule prevails without exception. The only equality
that exists in railroad charges equally all
patrons and attempt to obtain juster rule
is with ridcue insult by the numerous tribe of
railroad officials. Almost everywhere few men have,
by some freak OF fortune or more often by ingenious
and successful swndlug, become the lords of these
highways aud have combined to them for their
benefit aud the benefit Of few favOrite cities The
farmer has tolled behind the pillow and the reaper,
png up the golden harvests, In hope OF Transforming
his humble cottage into home OF beauty and enjoy
II he has failed the freseOed palaces of railroad
kings reveal the cause. The railroad kings borrow
countless millions at or cent in the cities, while
mechanic rarely get loan for 10 20
per THIS state Of things is the natural result of
GOOOo Vanderbilt his s0OOO0o0 Scott his $4,000 and
of railroad kings their s5O00O00 and $4,000
QOl Did plOw IL OF the s0ds OF the prairie Did
they OF the mOuDtains Did they fish ii out
OF the No; they seized the highways OF the
ton the pocket OF the traveller bale of the
merchant every sack OF the farmer has been added 10
their millions.
Good citizens observing this condition OF things
an XiOusly seek q remedy There to but
one remedy this evil The people must
tro the railroads of the land either by statute law
or by night OF eminent domain. All the avenues OF the
OF the nation must be brought under con-
troll OF bOnester and more unselfish legislation.
Every railroad DO forced regulate its charges by
amount OF labor 1t performs every mile Of trans
p0rtaOn should pay Its exact proportion and no more.
There difficulty In computing the Just amount L.
Netc- York, Aug. ls. 1874.