The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-26
The Result Of Railroad Legislation.


The action Of Gov. Taylor, Of Wiscon-
sin. in asking the Legislature to modify the
Potter law, it having been found delec'
tive in many points, gives great satisiac-
ton to the railroad companies in this city.
Gov. Taylor has up to late time been g
staunch advocate of the most rigid legisla-
ton in regard to railroads, and was elect
ed little over a year ago on the Granger
ticket. 1t is we'll known that, during the
last two or three months, the
Governor, as we'll as the Railroad
Commissioners Of Wisconsin, have taken
unusual pains to learn the workings of
the law, and its effect on the roads.
Several prominent railway men have
been before them, and showed them the
bad results that have followed the en-
forcemcnt of the law. The Chicago &
Northwestern Railroad, according to
statement by President Keep, has lost
no less than 25 per cent. of it's earnings
since the law has gone into effect, and the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul has suf-
fered nearly as much. These two lines
run through Wisconsin, and do large
by the law, or else their losses would be
still heavier. The losses Of the other
Wisconsin lines have been so large that
most of them were unable to pay the in
terest on the bonds falling due on the LIST
Of December and lst Of January. Suits
have already been brought against the
West Wisconsin, Wisconsin Central, Wis
consin Northern, and the Phillips & Col
by Construction Company. The other
Wisconsin lines, unless speedily relived,
will undoubtedly share the same fate be-
fore long. No new lines have been start.
ed since the law was passed, and those
already in process of construction as, for
example, the Wells road, the North Pa
cific Airline, and few others, have been
temporarily abandoned. The law has
been found to be entirely impracticable,
and to work just as much against the
pcopl whom it was intended to benefit
as against the railroad companies. 1t is
generally admitted, even by railroad men,
that laws for the regulation of railroads
are proper and necessary, but these Jaws
should not 20 further than the protec-
ton of the people against danger and ex-
orbitant charges. The regulation Of rates
for passengers and freight should, in the
opinion of the most expert railroad men,
be left entirely to the roads. Compcti.
ton between the various lines would reg
ulate this much better than any law could
do it. The people of Wisconsin have be-
gun to see this, and they are now trying
to have the law modified to such an ex'
tent as to make it benefit to the people
and at the same time i've the roads
chance to thrive and make reasonable
profits, so as to be able to pay the inter
est on the capital invested.
In Minnesota an effort is also made tC
modify the law, and make it more equi
table to both parties. The people living
along the line of the Sioux City & St.
Paul Railroad have lately petitioned the
Governor and Commissioners to allow
that road to charge the rates it used tt
before the law went into effect. This road
runs through comparatively unsettled
country, and was not able to run two
trains day at the rates provided by the
law. The people, rather than be thus in.
convenienced, proposed to pay any rate
the company should deem proper tc
charge, and hence their request to the
State officers.
The present western railroad laws have
deprecated railway property in the West
to such an extent that it is an utter i'm
possibility to borrow money for the con
strnction of new roads, or for the extern
sion of old ones. There was during thu
last year but one loan for the com
pletion of western road effected IN Eu
rope, and that was for the Iowa Pacifi,
railroad. But even this road has beer
compelled to stop operations, and viii