The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1877-04-21

meet the cost Of building such rCads--so far
as they are built by the General Government,
the matter can be so arranged as really to
cost the people or the Government nothing.
II is simply, adopt the plan which YVES adopt
ed in the constitution of the Isle Of Guernsey
Market HOuSs, which Is simply issue In pay
ment thereof a legal tender paper money
Let Il remain ia circulation as money during
the 30 years, more or less, which may be re-
quired for the road to reimburse its costs.
4 he money issued To build II Will then have
been wiped out redeemed-and the country
be the owner ef valuable work without cost.
We suggest this idea as way Of arriving at
cheap transportation some time In the future.
Your committee would recommend the
passage of a law which shall enable townships
and counties to construct, own and operate
III they ehoose) lines Of railway or tramways,
through their respective territories, to con-
meet with the lines built and owned by neigh
honng towns and counties. These lines may
be operated under the immediate control and
/ direction of the township or county authori-
ties, or they may be leased by them. The
rents arising from such leases would be more
than sufficient to pay fair rate OF interest
on the entire cost OF construction and equip
ment, and TO create a siukiug fund which at
the end Of twenty five or thirty years would
meet and cancel the principal Of such cost.
| IL Is a well demonstrated TACT that narrow
| gauge roads can be built, aud equipped with
a moderate amount OF rolling stock. at pres
ent CO st Of labor and material, at from 81, coo
70 81. 900 per mile. TINS Is pracli cally and
fully d11. astratcd by the cor struction, en-
glnecring ana equipment accounts rf the
Havana Rantoul 4 Eastern Railroad, of this
State Compare this with h. cost of con
struction with the Old lines Of railway in this
State. and OF the trui K lines leading to the
sea board and 1t viii ~ once be seen and I'M
derstocd that competition created will
work out tile most salutary, vital and impor-
Jant reforms in transportation between the
producer Of the West and the grain markets
u the sea board and manufacturing centres
OF the East We need no. remind the farm
ers Of tins State that such system of i'm
proving our highways, would he greatly aided
by the taxes levied upon existing railway
property within reach Of assessment. By
means OF tn character VIC can approach a
solution Of he all-important question as to
whether the railroads Will control the com
merce of our country, and make 1t subser-
Went to its purposes, or whether railroads
shall be made the auXilliaries OF that com
merce. 1t is to-day a question of National
Importance, and of far greater significance
than even railway managers and capitalists
are willing to admit
On the subject of our Railway and Ware
house Commission, your committee posi-
tive and unqualified 10 the opinien that the
Commission should be continued. and invest
ed with additional power and authority. We
regard it as one OF the NEST useful branches
Of our administration If State affairs, and we
take pleasure in submitting to you a statement
sof the eNpe. SEES Of the Commission during the
past tyur years We are glad to bear evil
dence to It correctness, setting Alright
many of the false impressions which have
gone forth IN this regard. Reference is had
70 the statement ITSELF the publication Of
which is recommended. The total expenses
Of the Commission Tor four years and two
months. is $50, 4O4, or an average Of SIS, 1913
per year, which is less per anuum than the
salary of one of the railroad Presidents Of
TINS State liz is the opinion II your com
miJtee that the people u this State can well
afford TO pay the expenses Of such a commits
siun. Ii affords us pleasure, on this one oc-
casion, 70 bear evidence to the high character
ana honest purposes 81 the present Commis-
sIoieTs and of their earnest efforts IN behalf
Of the people
Your committee wouli recommend the APP
pnintment Of a staudii committee 10 act on
the matters herewith connected between this
time and the next annual session OF the Asso-
Il on.ss--
"a Of which IS respectfully submitted.