Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-12-30

We are very thankful to our friends for their
liberal patronage In the past, and in the future
we shall do all In our power to merit the same.
\ NEW PROBLEM--BAILROAD cor
SOLIDATION.
Scarcely a week passes without the
announcement Of some railroad sale
Every such transfer increases the
power Of ont; olling corporations,
which are mostly the property of one
Or two individuals. The business of
the country is dependent upon cheap
transportation, aud the public sl,r;nks
from hav ng lis material welfare
placed In the hands and at the mercy
of m%onopolists. 1t feels that rail-
road combinations are being made
who e ultimate outcome cannot he
forecast, anti fears that however much
one monopoly may outrival another.
there will be common interests, and
that through comparts and compro-
misses they may levy almost villa even
tribute they please u,on industry.
In considering this new phase of rail
road development there are several
things to be borne in mind, the first
Of which is, that so far rrilroad man
agement has not given satisfaction.
1t is q we'll established fact tia,
neither producers, nor Constructs,
nor shareholders, nor the cities,
townships, counties Or states that
have assisted railroad development
have realized their anlicipations.
AS originally organized, extending,
at most, cross single common
wealths. the inetficiency of short
roads as interstate-tarrIers was soon
demonstrated. This led to COOPER
alton along lines Of transportation,
until under contracts, agreements,
compromises and pools, TRANSFORMING
state control. power was gained to
impose higher taxes on industry than
any of Our governments wnnld have
dared to legal zrd. Under sncii COM
binatiOns excessive fares and freights
have been at times demanded, and
unatural and arbitrary directions
impaired to trade-rurrents. Without
openly eini,arking in politics.. these
corporations have also obtained grants
siid defeated legislation designed to
curb their ~rapacity. The second
thing to he considered is the evident
existing necessity for Improvement
In railroad management AS a gen
eral rule. his country Is not favora-
bic to mnnopolists. Sooner or later.
almost ali that use money in that way
come to grief. At the same time the
railroad consolidation. that il being
consummated has its root in desire
for important achievement mt which an
unusual and extraordinary accumnla-
ton Of capital has rendered p 'ssitle.
Tie third thing To he borne in mind
is, that Individual ownership of long
lines o. transportation need not I've
prcjndicial. Indeed. it would seem
that the immense sums siake,l uvoi,
the sue essfnl management Of gigan-
tic highways. extending i'll some in
stances nearly, if not quite ac,oss tile
continent. and in oilers contemplate
ing access to the trade of distant
nations, would he a sufficient guar
antec that their owners would not
injure interests upon whose prosperity
their own welfare and safety de
pended. A fourth matter to lie on
sidercd is, that the constitution has
entrusted Interstate commercial reg
ulaiion to the general government.
and that when congress takes that
question seriously in hand, which
will be done as soon rs the public
interest is dangerously assailed, it
will be discovered that a few me
can neither control Or rrsist its de-
creos. It may not be easy to point
out JUS, how state legislation may hc
supplemented without violation oil
existing vested right. But that sd-
dition 10 our laws will be made, and
i. will then he seen that the STATES
have not. as is now claimed. and
cannot, if they would, surrender a
particle of their inherent sovereignty
to corporations, and have. therefore,
power TO treat railroads as common
carriers. The intervention OF IS
many cooperative organizations rs
there are states to he crossed, cannot
b 1t be vexatious and dilitorv, and il
the present movement Is successful,
it will probably lead to The voluntary
surrender OF existing charters and
the acceptance of II new II with
properly considered provisions and
limitations. At all events. railroad
management is now likely to reach
its highest possible condition of per-
fiction. The men at the lead of the
new move are wise, experienced and
e~n,rrprising. and will Don discover
and secure what is needed 10 iInpart
prac.Icai efficiency TO what has been
undertaken.
Next Saturday is New Vars day
On that dty we for give all OF oui
enemies, After IL O'Clock Saturday
~ s.~l.o 20 all hack ,