Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-13
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the attempt to do so was death to the
hen.
Under favorable conditions. indeed,
the carrier may demand and receive
more than a fair share of the profits of
production. Where such is the case,
when the State finds the producer makes
but ten per cent, while the carrier
makes fifteen or twenty per cent, it is
very easy and perfectly legitimate for it
/ 70 say to the company: The work you
DO can be done for less money; we will
pay you for your road what it will cost
to build such another, or you may keep
your road and we will build another" "
So the people are not helpless against
exhorbitant charges.
On the contrary, if the people set
the price, and set it too low, the conse-
quences may be graver. The company
has no option. 1t must accept the
price named or not run. II the rates
named will afford slight return on
the capital, existing companies may
continue to run, but no more capital
VIII encounter like risks. If the rates
will yield DO return, the road cannot
be run. Company and community. in
that case, are alike ruined. This ex-
pedlent seems to be too hazardous to
adopt, if better can be found.
Another expedient is to build dou-
bic track railway between the Mississip-
pi and the Atlantic over which anv par
ty may run trains, and all trains to
run with the same rate of speed.
This IS worthy of careful considers
ton.
The practicability of relief through
governmental action is being ascertain
ed by an able commission constituted
by recent act of Congress.
A third expedient, and the most i'm
portant of all, is that proposed by the
Senate Committee on Transportation
Routes to the Seaboard." F" That pro-
poses to open and enlarge several differ.
ent water channels between the Missis-
sippi and the Atlantic. We invite
your earnest and careful consideration
of that proposal 1t is asserted that
by An expenditure of twenty millions
per year for six or seven years new
channels may be opened which will les
sen the cost Of transporting the grain
product of the Mississippi valley alone
in the sum of S42, 100000 annually.
The figures are startling, but are far
from improbable. The expenditure
proposed seems large but compared
with the resources Of the people it is
trihing. The wealth of the nation is
not less than thirty thousand millions.
lie who has an estate Of thirty thous-
and dollars can not be distressed by
paying twenty dollars a year for six
years. Besides, a nation which has
spent three thousand millions of treas
ure and an ocean of life for peace will
not hesitate to spend $120,000,000
for prosperity.
But whatever may or may not be ex-
pedient to be done, this much seems
certain IF the National Government
is to do anything whatever to cheaper
transportation, only the Republican
party can be relied upon to do it. The
Democratic party has forsworn all such
labors. Long ago they determined the
Constitution would not permit the Gov
ernment to remove an obstruction from
a harbOr or river 1t is vain to sup
pose they will find now authority to
build: :cana!s or construct railways. But
we are not left in doubt as 10 their
present dispositions. Two votes given
during the past session, one in the Sen
ate on Mr. WINDOWS amendment to
the river and harbor bill, and one in
the House on Mr. McCrary's railway
bill, will prove, beyond all doubt, that
the Democrat. like the Bourbons, have
learned nothing good, even if they
have forgot anything bad.
Upon al these considerations, for all
these reasons, VIC think you should
send Republicans and not Democrats
to the next Congress. If you cherish
the deeds Of 1he recent past, and would
not see them undone if you respect
the present, and would not disgrace it;
Or if you have hope of the future, and
would realize that hope, we urge you
20 send Republicans and not Democrats
to the next Congress.
JoHN A. LOGAN,
u. CHANDLER,
\. III. CRAFGEN,
EUGENE HALE,
Gro. w. HEyDEE,
HENRY L. PIERCE,
j. VI. PENpLEToN,
Il. Fl. STARKWEATHER,
THOs. G. PLATT,
MARCUS L. WARD,
SIMON CAMERON,
WM. j. ALBERT,
JOHN I. LEWIS,
G. l.. COBB,
RICHARD w. WHfrELBr,
GEO. f. SPENCER,
GEO. c. MCKEE,
j. r. WEST,
Ii. S. BUNDY,
j. VI. THoRNBURG.
JOHN CoBURN,
y. z. CHGPMAN,
III. h. HAvENs,
s. B. CoNovER,
j. w. FLANAGAN,
JAMES WILSON,
u. w. HAzLEToN,
). D. HoUGHToS,