New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-21
RAILROADS lNp TIE PEoeLE.
TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT oR TIE ILLINOIS
CENTRAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES TEhFEREScE

TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT OF TIE ILLINOIS
CENTRAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES aTEhFERENcE
NOT EXPERIMENTATION OF POOLS.
w. K. Alderman, president Of the Illinois
Central Railroad Company in recent conversation on
the subject Of railroads with TRIBUNE reporter sara
1.-THE feeling among the railroads in my section OF the
country is q very friendly one Men have prohted Dy
experience and since the great railroad war OF 1876
between the Baltimore and Ohio and the New-York
roads, there has not been serious cutting OF rates The
public ia certainly served much better when uniform
rates are maintained do not think the Granger move
ment quite strong It was because 1t has taken
the railroads all this tine from the panic OF
1878. The Changers we're the cause Of the panci
they brought 1t upon themselves and they
have suffered the consequences Now they
want to try II again. why let them do it. They certainly
did not benefit themselves by such absurd opposton
In the first place. all practical railroad men Will tell you
that 1t utterly impossible to make one castron rue 70
govern the railroads of State Take. for instance our
road. At one end we shovelling snow and at the
other we are picking strawberries. Under these elf
cum stances you draw train as cheaply through
snow bank thirty feet deep youcan through straw
berry 1eldi Then. again. We are paying q day LOT
labor In one part and 90 cents In another Again. we
pay S5 ton for coal In one place ana
81 in another Now, how absurd TO make one
law to govern all these different clrcumsances AT the
best It is poor plan for the Legislature TO NEEDLE With
railroads because the members do not understand Wnat
they are dealing with Lawyers do not understand rail-
road matters. never knew or heard Of lawyer WHO
was successful a manager The farmers have oniy
one idea-that something somebody Is expressing
them At one time II Is the elements at another the
railroads. and at another the locusts. They will con-
regate and discuss their supposed Oh
being at home mending their ploughs
Pools and consultations not made 70 injure tine
publicD Mr. Alderman continued. They are arranged
30 that the work be done In more satisfactory
manner An extensive line Is brought under one man.
ageuient The corporation Is made more responsible
Merchants can deal with 1t directly and get more salts
faction than they can where there half dozen little
corporations concerned In the transportation OF one bill
OF goods tell you the public does notunderstand what
pool is People suppose It IL to increase rates, when
instead II 10 really intended TO maintain living rates.
Nothing has surprised more than the statements
recently made by Judge Black That man in his
position should give such rash utterances to the world
unsupported by facts, is certainly remarkable. TIA
misfortune for the people, His statements will be re-
published In all the Granger papers in the West and Will
be read while actual facts as given to the world py
| Commissioner Fink and other experienced men who
know what they are talking about viii not be seen be
cause these papers viii not publish the other side He
ieOpardEes the of the workngmen OF ihs aoun-
try II his ideas the ideas that he has recently made
public were TO DO carried out, IN Illinois would be
obliged TO cut down 70 the very Tinim nm Now IN our
Sy The railroads, and 10000 Indirectly employed.
Depending upon tbese men s Of course large numpsr
misery that would necessarily follow. IN 1873 Nth US
everything was paralyEed because eapallss Deeame
eoStTol the railroads The railroad ntoreI OF this
tremendous thing and 6aa PETER ,ss sS
want the country 20 be prosperous. ,.,,,,. 4.
what do you think the mania for building roads Is
do not anticipate the crash that many do from this
but the fear Is not so much FROM OVERRIDING from
| legislative interference.