The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-04-17
For The Eagle.
Railroad Bondage.

RIVERSIDE FARM. April ~, 1919.
Ed. EAGLE:-The man who chooses
agriculture as a calling and has to main
tain IN existence by inccssant toll, has
little time TO devote to the interests OF
the class to which he belongs, or to cope
with those who live by deception, spec
ulation and coincidence games" Ney-
crthelcss, when the sharpcrs are again
abroad in the land. using every effort
by fair and foul means to dcludc the
people of this county into assuming an
increased burden Of railroad bondage.
as one who has made this county his
permanent home and expects TO bear a
share of its burdens. feel in duty
bound 10 express myself through your
columns concerning the approaching
bond election.
From the tone Of the press. and the
childish arguments of the bondage clam
orers we are led 10 believe that the rail-
road millennium is about 10 dawn, that
the end OF '!pools; combinations and
extortion is nigh: lumber clO to Sl5
per thousand fuel for half its present
price: 81. Louis prices for ill our pro
ducts: land increased 50 OSLO per acre:
all this and more too, for The paltry sum
of &230, 900 and interest for score and
ten wears. j. this all that stands be-
tween us aud happiness, prosperity and
f'ecdom' Gracious. WHY don't they
they break the news to the people with
caution! Thi, reckless distribution of
such consumnate joy might upset their
reason. The transition might be too
sudden and extreme. The change ought
to be effected by q system of graduation.
In this way We might he abio 10 bear up
under the new order of things.
During the ''cra of imitation. cxirava
gancc and wild speculation" that we
hear so much about. we know that the
people of the West we're very reckless
in voting bonds TO railroads, and they
have been to some extent ju>titiablc in
doing so: but that time is past. and I'M
less we have made up our mind to re-
ducc ourselves to ID slate of scrvitude.
the era of railroad bonds nusi stop
where the era of 6o-ccnt wheat. a0-cent
corn and 2-ccnt pork begins. II one
half of our present railroad debt was
wiped out. il would require fifty per
cent. more labor TO pay interest and
principal of the other half. than would
have paid the whole ut the time we con-
tractcd the debt. u n,G.' be borne in
mind that $1,000 per mile, will require
more labor 10 pay il than $4,000 per
mile seven wears ago.
But suppose that no sacrifice will be
too great 10 make Il a rccompense for
the untold blessings which are TO flow
from this New Jerusalem" railroad. II
is going to be an exception 10 nil other
roads: il will be owned and operated
by new breed of rascals: no conf
denoe men" or '.pickpocket>" win be al
lowed Ia have any fist" in il. And
then two branches runai.a through the
western part of the county. What a
happy thought that was. You see il
will bc sure TO '.takc in all the flats"
But who is this mcndicant who is APP
plying for aid any how? l. he a tramp
Or is he one of the highwaymcn who
live by pluuder, while his hireling tools
are telling his victims that 1.-THE only
way to get money is TO earn it?" seei
BY o notice Of him in the Oswego Iade-
pendent that 30 j. Joseph Seligman,
'.chief Of the banking house of j. 4 W.
Seligman & Co.. of New York. and Se-
ligman Brothers. of London. and other |
European cities. Mr.. Selieman is al the |
presen, time head of the syndicate for |
the n!aciug of United States four per |
cent. boads, Il man Of immense wealth. |
and. with his connections, ALE TO COM
mand any amount OF capital that may
he required in any enterprise likely TO
be undertaken in this country" "Ouh.
Heap big chief" To whom does this
Chief Joseph" apply for aid in build
ing his railroads l. il HE penr, over
worked souls who are siiffned up ith
rheumatism and premature old age from
striving TO develop domestic industries.
battling with the forces of nature. and
susdains the wilderness? Who have
had to buy their land, ~ hqild houses.
10 make highways. to bridge s,rea,ns,
construct churches and school houses,
and Law the foundation of the State.r
that ii might be possible for railroads ga