The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-11-24
Railroads and the Farmers.

N8uFOuuS anu the TuIWcIss
In his admirable address before the
Minnesota State Fair, Col. William Il.
Villas spoke Of the immense benefit which
the Western farmers have derived from
the railroads. He said:
Before railroads were devised there
was no extensive freight communication
but by water. And that was valucless
unless conveniently accessible. From
this, the agriculture Of past ages gath
cred around the seas md lakes, or lined
the rivers margin. It girt the Mcditcr-
rancan and made famous the valley Of
the Nile. The unwatered world of the
interior was left to the wandering no.
mad or the forest barbarian. Ii was
the unknown region full Of mysterious
terrors. The great Hercynian wood was
the home of beasts, brute and human !:
the latter ever the impending peri, and
finally the destroyer OF the civilization
of the world. The reserve corps Of bar
barism lay back on the plains Of
Russia and Tartary, which nollrished
the fierce savages who could live Oil
equine flesh and caro,,se on the milk Of
mares. So, too, water communication
was slow and tedious, even when nc
cessible. That il true, especially Of
inland navigation. 1t is weeks by water
from st. Paul 10 New York, though the
MD Of steam be invoked; and III Northern
climes that avenue is available for but
half the wear. Your magnificent wheat
fields would mostly lie unbroken, farm
ers Of Minnesota, had not the invention
aud enterprise Of other men, stimulated
by your demands, laid the doutle-lined
highway to carry the freight-car laden
with your precious berry to the sen the
Indian would still be master Of the Ter
ritories of tho West. Your lands derive
their value, your industry, its reward
your homes, the Injuries, and many Of
the comforts they exhibit, from the
railroads Of the continent.
In the beautiful language Of that noble
lover OF human liberty, once the pride
and ornament Of Wisconsin's Supreme
bench, the lamented Byron Paine,
Railroads are the great public high
ways Of the world, along which its gi-
eantic currents OF trade and travel con.
tinually pour-highways compared with
which the most magnificent highways Of
antiquity dMindle into insigniticance.
They are the most marvellous invention
of modern times. They have done more
to develop the wealth and resources, to
stimulate the industry, reward the labor
and promote the general comfort and
prosperity Of the country, than any
other and perhaps than all other mere
| II. n frlara
probably not . man, woman or child
whose interest or comfort has not
been in some degree subserycd by them.
They bring 10 our doors the productions
Of the earth. They enable us to antici-
pate and protract the seasons. They en-
able the inhabitants in each cline to en-
JOY the pleasures and Injuries of I'LL.
They scatter the productions OF the press
and literature broadcast through the
country with amazing rapidity. There
is scarcely want, wish or aspiration OF
the human heart. which they do not in
some measure help to crafty. They
promote the pleasures Of social life and
Of friendship they bring the skilled ply
sician swiftly from a distance toattemd the
sick and the wounded, and enable his
absent friend to he present ut the
bedside Of the dying. They have more
than !. allied the fabulous conception Of
the Eastern imagination, which pictured
the genii rs transporting inhabited pal
aces through the air. They take train
Of inhabited palaces from the Atlantic
coast, and, with marvellous swiftness,
deposit it on the shores that are washed
by the Pacific seas. In war they trans
port the armies and supplies Of the Gov
eminent with the greatest Of celebrity,
aud carry forward, rs it were on the
wings Of the wind, relief and comfort to
those who are stretched bleeding and
wounded on the field of battle"
But, while We do them justice, let us not
forget there are doubtless many faults
to be corrected and abuses to be re-
formed in the administration of these
highways. Corporate powers and COR
porate values have advanced with more
rapid step than the invention Of our
statesmen and law makers. The agency
oil the corporation is comparatively
modern, and, like the agency Of steam,
is mi zhty power. Unless snbdued by
proper appliances of law sufficient to
control il, We are liable to disasters in
furious to our welfare, as the accidents
which sometimes befall the train are
destructive Of life.
But must not pro,ract this weary
hour to discuss this problem foreign to
my subject. Important Us it is, We need
not fear it. The railroad, rightly used,
is the friend Of the farmerand the whole
people. 1t is the paramount interest Of
it's owners that it should SO remain.
They dare not make it an enemy, and
when We reflect that single invention
the steel rail-has reduced the freight
tariff 40 per cent, We may trust some
what to time and genius to relieve the
inconvenience, and continue to enjoy
its blessings with composurc.