National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-16

the distribution Of these and the great
variety of other commodities necessi-
tates vast amount Of transportation
Eleven States occupying the Mississippi
valley send to market annuallya surplus
Of its cereal products equal to 800, 600 900
bushels.
To cheaper the carriage Of that single
commodity by the amount OF only ten
cents per bushel is saving of thirty
millions to the people.
Various expedients have been sur-
gested for lessening the cost of trans
portation. In some of the States It has
been proposed to place railway fares and
freights under the control Of the State.
The objections to that expedient are so
serious that it should not be embraced
if better one can be found. This coul-
try is so new, so raw, and so undevel-
oped, the demands for capital are so
many and so urgent, that any policy
which would tend to drive capital from
us should be avoided if possible. The
state Is but the aggregate of the people
in the State.
The people are the purchasers of trans
portation.
The railway companies have trans
portation to sell.
The law also holds railroad eomnanjes
70 De common carriers, and SO bound to
carry for all when the price is paid. It
Is now a mooted question whether that
price shall be named by the companies
or By the people-the sellers or the pur-
chasers Of the article. Which Of these
two parties is legally authorized to fix
that price is probably determined by the
laws under which the several companies
are organized; but which of them can in
ract fix 1t Is different question.
1t is manifest that if the COMPANY be
allowed to fix the price they NAV de.
mand too much. Vendors of all com
modities are very apt to want all thew
can get. On the contrary, if the people
or their agents fix the price they NAV set
1t too low. Purchasers are very ant to
want commodities as cheap as they can
be had. 1t is not probable that either
party to the transaction would, ALWAYS
hit upon the exact equivalent. The con-
sequences Of mistake would probably
be found most injurious, if made by the
people. If the company makes the mis-
take, and charges too much, no one is
obliged to employit. The producer does
his own carrying before the railway Is
built. He has the perfect right to do so
after it is built. So, every company is
compelled by the laws of trade. even II
law is silent, to carry products
cheaper than the producer can carry
them, or he will not have them to carry.
The company must also carry them at
profit to the producer, else the product
will cease. The farmers Of Iowa will
send no wheat to Chicago, unless the
roads will transport it at prices which |
will yield profit to the producer.
The carrier must earn money for the |
producer as we'll as for himself, else he
will soon have nothing to carry. 1t is
IS absurd for the railways to demand |
more for transportation than the pro-
iucer can afford to pay as it was for the
nan in the fable to endeavo- to get two
golden eggs each day from his hen-the
attempt to do so was death to the hen.
Under favorable conditions, indeed,
he carrier may demand and receive
more than fair share of the profits of
reduction. Where such is the case,
when the State finds the producer makes
nut ten per cent, while the carrier
makes fifteen or twenty per cent, it is
Tery easy and perfectly legitimate for it
o say to the company: The work you
10 can be done for less money; we will
'ay you for your road what it viii cost
o build such another, or you may keep
our road and we viii build another.''
70 the people are not helpless against
xorbitant charges.
On the contrary, If the people set the
rice, and set it too low, theconsequences
nay be graver. The company has no op-
ion. 1t must accept the price named
T not run. If the rates named win af-
ord a slight return ON the capital, ex-
sting companies may continue to run,
ut no more capital will encounter like
isks. If the rates will yield no return,
he road can not be run. Company and
ommunity, in that case, are alike
uined. This expedient seems to be too
azardous to adopt, If better can be
ound.
Another expedient is to build double
rack railway between the Mississippi
nd the Atlantic over which any party
layrun trains, and all trains to run with
he same rate of speed. This is worthy
careful consideration.
The practicability of relief through
overnmental action is being ascertained
y an able commission constituted by a
,cent act Of Congress.
A third expedient, and the most i'm
ortant of all, is that proposed by the
enate Committee on Transportation
outes tothe Eeaboard. y That pronosez |