Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1881-10-06

RAILROAD SPECULATIONS

| we are much In the same position
with other journalists of the north
west, who stand up for the rights oil
the people Of this fast growing country
independent Of the speculatin Z
schemes, Of the railroad interpretations
In this we are left only tointer what
will be done 10y these corporations by
the occasional signs which they hang
out as programmes of future policy
We all see, and hear, and read enough
to draw pretty correct conclusions up
on the prominent fact, that eastern cap
italists, including American, German
and English, have formed and still form
ing into companies, for the purpose of
making ample provision to supply the
great north west with railroad facil-
tiesies at as carly day as practicable.
We do not expect this as being done
by reason of tho charity which these
capitalists have towards the people.
They oil seek an investment Of their
money where the promise is greatest
and surest to gain for them the best
interest, and tho north west has be.
come so far developed as to warrant
its being ono Of the most productive
countries in the world in all the great
articles that enter into commerce, each
OF these companies is striving with the
others to have predominant prestige
over the others in furnishing means
Of transportation Of the productions of
this country to the markets Of the
world. On the one hand Willard and
his hackers seem to be struggling to
corral ON paper at least, as many of
the practicable routes for railroads
and steamboat lines, as possible, in or
der, to bluff other companies who
might otherwise be induced to come
this way with their capital and build
roads and establish steamboat lines.
The Willard interests are expanding
much capital and pushing their pro-
jec.ed railways with much vigor, and
there can be no denial of the fact that
Wizards energy has given great i'm
petus in railroad building In the north.
west, and that by his dexterity he
has astcnished Gould, Vanderb 1t,
Crocker and ether magna,cs
by his bold dash at the capitalists of
the east, aud the success he has had
with them. But while all this has
been done what yet has been done to
assure the people Of this country, that
in case ofhis controlling all the roads
Of the north west, they will not be-
come a grievous yoke upon the nccks
Of the people, by reason Of tho cxorb-
liant freight and passenger charges.
We want something more than rail
roads under one Management to relieve
Us from our bottled up condition.
What matters 1t to the producer how
many railroads there are, if they will
not carry their products to market, ex-
ccpt at such rates as will not leave
the farmer any margin for his toll.
The principle that the producer must
be taxed by the carrier, all that he can
submit to is not the principle
that will furnish relief to our people.
But il is tho principle that seems to
govern oil monopolists, or those who
have tho exclusive carrying business Of
> country to perform. Hence. conccd.
ing to Willard and his co-workers all
that belongs to them, the interests Of
the people demand that other CON-
panies be induced to build competing
roads and competing lines of steamers,
and that there be extended to them ev-
cry facility, encouragement, and prop
er rights of way by the people. So
that if the prime cost of shipping our
wheat to sea board is not more than
i've or six cents per bushel we shall
not be compelled to pay "a cents or
let it waste in our graneries, or rot in
our fields. II the Q. r. & N. Com
pany can make million and half
per annum, ON an inve tment Of four
Millions in the carrying business on
he Columbia river, then another COM
pany surely ought to be able to make
! third or half that amount Of capital
,nless the Willard company own the
people as much as they own their lines
# transportation, and q half or
bird Of that profit ought to be