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

The American Grocer in its last issue
has very timely and truthful communi-
cation from the pen of a member OF q
large New York tea and coffee firm. up
on y very important branch on this sub.
iect. We extract the following from the
communication:
Now, sir. assume that when char
tiers 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 il that had been supposed at
the time their charters were applied for,
that they were also to enter into the
mining OF coal, manufacturing OF lum-
Der. keeping Of hotels. manufacture OF
railroad iron. passenger aud freight
cars, making brick, and actively enter
iny into competition with industrial pur-
quits which Of right belong to the people
in their individual capacity. no such char
ters would have been granted But what
do we seep Nearly every railroad corpo'
ration IN the United States j. gradually
absorbing all the coal-mining. locomo-
tive and car building; many are owners
OF nearly every hotel along The route. at
which u passenger can stop. and 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 great dan
ger, and ii the people OF this country
permit tn SO corporations to continue
these enchroachments. private industry
and enterprise will be driven TO the wall,
aud our al tizans will become hewers OF
wood and drawers Of water to these great
corporations.I We find to day nearly
every manufacturer who uses steam as .
motive power, bound hand and foot to
four or i've huge railroad corporations
who have been permitted. to buy up near
| " every acre of coal land in the State OF
Pennsylyania, and are pushing their
conauests as fast as possible into other
States. thereby placing the whole man
ufacturing industries Of the country at
the feet OF these grasping and greedy
monopolies. Now, sir, lwould like ~
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 1t the mercy Of
incorporated capital. which will render
the Artisans and workingmen. simply the
vassals Of 4 power as consolidated and
soulless as the sun looks down upon.
1t is idle to shut our eyes longer t
the danger which menaces our labor in
terests 10y reason OF departure from the
sound principle OF compelling all corpor
atoms to aahere strictly for the pur-
poses tor which they were originally or
ganized. Let the people therefore de
msnd that these corporationso De remand
ed back to the single purpose of convey
,, ing freight and PASSENGERS from point t
point, and let the people themselves
mine the coal, smelt the iron, build thu
. locomotives and railroad cars and keel
the hotels. and in . word. return to III
old American principle Of entire freedom
, and equality to every man. woman. ant
: child in the United States. to earn thei
hrona BY the sweat Of their face, AMI
81 nllow An aristocracY in the form Q
M nninu1Ds or any other monopoly. priv
! 49, which place individual enterpris'
- ! disadvantage.