Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-10-14

estimate Voguely the influence which raj
ways have had on the States development
In 1S50-two years after Wisconsi
became State-the census takers foun
a population of 305, 900, or 6 to the squar
mile. There were then three "railwa
men" in the State, and forty thousan
farmers, with improved lands amountib
to one million acres. and above the sam
number of acres OF unimproved, the aver
age value of both together being less thai
ten dollars az acre. The aggregate
wealth of the State in real and persona
property was 100000. or less thai
Sl4O head. In 1870 the number c
persons engaged IN agricultural work il
the State was 100, 1000, of whom 1O9, ,OO(
reported themselves as farmers and plant
ers. The aggregate population exceeded
,O55,O00, or 20 to the square mile. Tht
value Of the farms, now showing nearly
SIX million acres Of improved lands. had
increased in ammount from less that $50,
900, OOO in 1850 to over $500, 900, 900 il
1870. From lees than ten dollars al
acre, the average value of the farm land
improved and unimprovej. had increased
to more than S25 an acre while the ag
gregate wealth of the State had swelled te
$500, ,OO6,0 600 and over, or an average oi
S665 to each individual. In the mean.
time the three railway mcn of 1850 had
multiplied thousand fold and 1926
miles Of railways had been constructed.
v should like to see an honest Gran.
gers estimate of how much of this enor.
nous increase in wealth and' population
has beehive will not say produced, but
made possible by the railways which
have been so oppressive C?) to farmers
while they have brought, in towns and
cities. manufactures and markets, without
all which the richest farmer in Wisconsin
would. We fancy, find little encouragement
in his work.
Have the millions invested 10 railways
brought corresponding reward to those
who furnished them? IL justice, they
should; in reality, they have but little
more than held their own. This result
was not unexpected. In sparsely settled
countries railroads are built. not for pres.
ent but for future profit. If for years
they pay their current expenses, they do
we'll. 1t is only after the country has be-
come thickly settled, and the connected
points important, tina: they can hope for
profits commensurate with those of other
branches Of industry. That the roads af-
fected by the Potter law, namely, the
Chicago and Northwestern. and the Chi
cago. Milwaukee, and st. Paul, have nev-
or yet been able to earn fair income on
tie capital invested, is well known. At
such stage, to have their receipts arbi-
trarily cut down 25 per cent is, to say
the least. not encouraging to such enter.
prizes, or calculated to impress the stock
holders with high appreciation Of bucolic
wisdom and honesty.
By skillful management, and with a
great reduction of working expenses, the
companies may be able, with the help of
through traffic, to sustain themselves and
pay the interest on their bonds; but the
outlook is not encouraging. Already a
large amount of rolling stock has been
withdrawn, the speed of trains will have
to be reduced, and second class coaches
substituted for first class. Whether the
through traffic can be retained in connec-
tion with the new arrangements remains
to be seen. 1t is more than likely that it
will be largely diverted to lines running
through other States.
If the farmers only were to suffer the
redex consequences of this sudden set
back of the progress of their State, there
would be fewer to deplore 1t. But they
will not nor will they be the FIRST to feel
it. The mcrchantile, manufacturing, and
numbering interests may be Frustrated be-
fore the farmers begin to discover the
mischief they have wrought-assum.
Ing, Of course, the United States Court
aflirms the validity of the law. and it re-
mains unrepealed; but the penalty will
DO none the less certain because delayed.
The farmers have been chiefly benefited
by the rapid devslopement of the country;
by arresting its developement, they will
be the heaviest losers.
ii am doing a good enough business
without advertising" No doubt you are
Io;ng reli eno,i oh for your preseut needs,