The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-04-20
RAILROAD EXACTlONS,

The American Grocer in its last issue
has very timely and truthful communl-
cation from the pen OF member OF
large New York tea and coffee firm. up
on u very important branch on this SUBJ
iect. We extract the following from the
communication:
Now, sir l assume that when char
ters were first granted to railroad COM
panies, it was with the understanding
that they were to be used tor the convey
ing OF freight and passengers from one
point To another. aud for no other pur-
pose, and ii that had been supposed at
the time their charters were applied tor,
that they were also to enter into the
mining OF coal, manufacturing OF Jun
Der. keeping of hotels, manufacture OF
railroad iron. passenger and freight
cars, making brick. and actively enter
ing into competition with industrial pur-
suits which Of right belong to the people
in their individual capacity. no such char
tiers would have been granted But What
do we see2 Nearly every railroad corpo-
ration in tho United States gradually
absorbing all the coal-mining. locomo-
tive and car building; many are owners
OF nearly every hotel along The route. 1T
which u passenger can stop, ana are
gradually absorbing many kinds OF BUS
mess, which it WAS never intended they
should engage in. 1t is useless to deny
the fact that herein exists a great dan
ger. and ii the people of this country
permit tn b. corporations to continue
these cnchroachlnents. private Industry
and enterprise will be- driven 70 the wall,
aud our al .izans will become hewers OF
wood and drawers OF water to these great
corporations We find to day nearly
every manufacturer who uses steam as .
motive power, bound hand and foot to
tour or i've huge railroad corporations
! who have been permitted to buy up near
| ly every acre OF coal land in the State OF
| Pennsylyania, and are pushing their
couauests as fast as possible into other
States. thereby placing the whole mar
ufacturing industries OF the country at
the feet OF these grasping aud greedy
monopolies. Now, sir. lwould ike T.
ask, II these encroachmcnts are permit
ted to continue, how long it will be be-
fore the individual industries OF the coun'
try will be completely At the mercy Of
] incorporated capital. which will render
the artizans and workingmcn. simply tn.
vassals of 4 power rs consolidated anc
soul.ess as the sun looks down upon.
Il IS idle u shut our eyes longer t.
the danger which menaces our labor in
,erests 10y reason OF = departure from tht
sound principle OF compelling all corpor
atoms 10 a,here strictly for the pur-
pos $ Tor which they were originally or
ganized. Let the people therefore de-
mand that these corporasions.oe remand
ed back to the single purpose of convey
Ing freight and passengers from point t.
point. and let the people themselve
mine the coal, smelt the iron. build th'
locomotives and railroad cars and keel
the hotels. and in = word. return to th'
old American principle ofentire freedom
and equality to every man. woman. ant
child in the United States. to earn thei
bread by the sweat OF their face, ant
q no9 allow an aristocracY in the form
h railway. or any other monopoly. priv
ileGee which place individual enterpris
lea0Eo1y at = disadvantage.