The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-01-02

ton.
Let us admit that these charges are not
exhorbitant; let it be granted the roads cannot
10 Justice TO themselves transport at much
lover rates. 1t is obvious beyond question
that 10 or IL cents per bushel is but beg
carly pittance, considering the labor, the
capital, waste Of material, &c, necessary TO
make the corn crop. What ia true Of the
profits Of corn, as effected by the rates of
transportation, is measureably true Of the
other staple cereals and live stock shipped
to ,ae sesboard. Yet upon the production
Of these commodities. thousands and AT nu-
ally increasing thousands in these Western
States are dependent for support. The pres
ent corn supply Of Nebraska awaiting q
market, ia estimated at something over one
hundred millions of bushels; there IL a vast
quantity Of corn in Kansas holding back for
better markets. This great accumulation
OF corn, represents the resources acquired by
labor and capital, Of tens of thousands of
good citizens who have families to support,
taxes TO pay, social standing to maintain,
farms to keep up" and without something
to lay by for the inevitable rainy day.
When prices are down to such unremunera-
tive figures, then their labor becomes prac-
tically, eerfdom. Then their status a.
members of society, a. citizens of the State,
az responsible Municipalities in all the "di-
verse Relationships of civilized State" BE-
come degraded, and the degradation IN.
creases as the material unthrift to which il
il owing, continues.
Meanwhile We go on building rail-
roads, Costly public buildings, pretentious
cities and towns at terminal and intersect-
ing points of travel. No place above the
grade of hamlet il without its Newspaper,
and our newspapers of all sorts unite in one
thing. however much they differ in every
thing else. They unite in extolling what
they are pleased to regard as the unparell-
ed development OF the country. Develop
ment is the great central fact paraded with
20 much glamour and persistency. But
the, cost Of this develoment-the immense and
burden Of state, municipal and private In
debteduess; Indebtedness that must be paid
only by years of wasting toll, OF never paid
at all to the shame and the decentralization of
those who are responsible; the wreck of pri-
vate fortunes; the continual robbery of la.
Dor by grinding corporations; the hardships
and priva,ions of frontier life; the disap-
poip'nents ard hope-wrecks-all this is
kept out of view as much as possible in the
general rejoicing over development.
1t took the creative processes millions of
ages to create these vast e1panses OF terri
tory. Must they needs be settled up in a
day? Is it not possible that even develop
ment may be overdone, premature, over
stimulated?
Now, as to the pertinency ofthe remark re-
speeding corporations particularly railroad
corporations-which ! cited At the outset Of
this article. 1t is a sound principal of polit-
ical economy that mutually of benefits be-
tween producer and consumer depends upon
thetwo being brought re asonsbly near togeth-
er. 1t is the policy of the railroads to have
producer and consumer as widely sepera-
ted as possible. Upon this policy they act
in inducing thousands, by exaggerated
representations of the country and the
prospect, TO try their fortunes on the re-
mote frOntiers. They have lands to sell,
and more over they know what the emil
grant himself comes to know-though gen.
orally, when it Is too late-that they will
be in pos;tio to pocket the most of the
proceeds of his labor in charges for trans
portation to remote markets. In this, the
railroad interest is purely selfish. In this,
the absence of the soul is demonstrated.
More clearly demonstrated in this, than in
the transportation rates about which there
is so much complaint, and which do in
deed absorb the Lions share" of the west
ern farmers products. 1t is claimed by the |
freight companies that their rates are as
low as they can afford, and it does not seem
convenient for the champions of the Grange.
Board Of Trade, and Legislative or Con-
gressional committees to controvert the claim |
with the necessary facts and figures. 1t is |
stated without question th1t of the billions |
of money invested in railroads in the Uni
ted States but a small part is yielding
anything like a fair per centage Of profit.
The right of the railroads to "live" must be
admitted whether in the exercise of that
right they can afford to "let live" is ques-
ton which seems to be an open. though i'm
portant one, as bearing upon the case under
The hardship is great nevertheless, and
in what way, if any, is relief to be obtain
ed State Legislatures have made laws
to regulate freights and tariffs. Congress
has been exercised in the direction. A bill
is now pending in the lower House which
proposes to put an end to certain unjust
as between local and
through tariffs. In fact the peo-
pie are disposed to look to legislation as
the only means of salvation from these al
legged extortions. But it must be said that
legislation to the extent it has already been
tried, has not proved an altogether suffic-
lent relief, and in dealing with difficulties
growing out Of adaptations of purely bus
mess character, has not legislation general
y proven to be q fertile and mischevious
actor?
1t seems to me We should seek remedy
more logically and directly suited to the
Evil. There is too great geographical sepa-
'stion between producer and consumer.
That is the substantial difficulty. Dwellers
IN the Eastern seaboard and in Europe pay
Is for our food products at the current rate
n their market. We get the price les the
,os. of transportation but little is left.
We buy the products Of Eastern and for
ign factories, and food commodities of
oreign production, paying first costs plus
profits and thousands of miles
# freightage No wonder that under such ,
system We find it difficult to make ends
meet. What We need is . greater diversity ,
# productive industries in our midst. As
,esrly az possible those who buy food
hould be next door neighbors to those who
produce it. That would render us self sus-
aiming and independent upon railroad
ransit and middle men.
1t may be reasonably assumed that one
,erson Who comes here with the capital and
intent TO open mandatory of anything
Il line ofthings which the people need, and
which they are obliged to pay tribute to
abroad lines and manufacturers in other
'tates in order to obtain. is more to be
relcomed as a valuable accession" than .
ozen or more corners who have no capaci-
y for anything but farming and no pur-
,ose except to add to our acreage of Guilt
ated lands and to our great and increasing
of farm products.
In this view OF the case look upon such
manufacturing enterprises as l see at Leav-
nworth, Lawrence, Fort Scott and other
Kansas towns, "a among the most hopeful
Inquiries Of the future. That is the kind ,
( enterprise that We should do our utmost ,
n all practical ways to foster, if We would ,
resenily rise from our difficulty to the ,
tars. ~. A. B."
Loring, December @, 1873. /,
lawyer MisAiFecseA Zeal. d
Eureka (Nevada) Leader.I IL