The times., 1882-08-11
LETTER FROM COLORADO
Special Co rrespondence.

Special Cs rrespondence.
DENVER, Col oRADO, July 27, 1882.
Leaving Washington about three
weeks later than his original schedule
time your correspondent fastened
through to this Rocky Mountain me-
tropolis without taking as much note
of the journey as first intended. 1t
was a great relief to get away from
the heat of the Capitol and from fol-
lowing the routine proceedings of a
dilatory and incompetent Congress
into the free air Of the West and
the rapid motion OF railroad train.
And it would have been still more
enjoyable had there been time to
spend few days by the way in leis-
urely visiting Chicago and the other
wonders along the route. Yet no
matter how rapidly one travels, if he
is of an inquiring turn, and ac-
customed to keeping both eyes and
ears open, he will see a good deal
and learn something of interest con-
cerning the country through which
he passes. Perhaps the most delight
full railroad ride the writer ever en-
joyed was that over the Chesapeake
and Ohio to Cincinnati-the new
route to the West of which we have
lately heard so much. The scenery
of this route surpasses anything to be
found east of Colorado. 1t is not
only picturesque, but in some in
stances grand, and the road is in
every way excellent, with all the inn
proved facilities which render travel
agreeable and safe.
But we will not set out to eulogize
the railroads in general, for many of
them do not deserve it, and they are
abundantly able to take care of them
selves. 1t is difficult 10 travel in
these days without observing the en-
ormous increase of this great interest
and imbibing in some degree real
izing sense of the importance the rail-
way problem is assuming in our polit-
ical economy. 1t is only question
of time when Congress will be COM
PEELED to abandon its present slothful
policy with reference to the various
phases of this subject and take up the
cudgel of legislation in behalf of the
people. While the railroads are
among the leading forces in the in
dustrial development of the country,
the power which they vest in the
hands of their controlling officials is
dangerous one, and the tendency to
consolidation and combination, which
is becoming greater year by year,
builds up monopolies which are the
natural enemies and oppressors of the
people. They yearly grow more in
different to public opinion and indie
pendent of the public welfare. The
total earnings of all the railroads of
the country for the year 1881 was
over $7a5,ooo,ooo, or nearly double
the total revenue of the United States
Government. Employed by all these
roads are over 1000, 900 men. The
power welded by the united corpor-
ations controlling such mighty force
and possessing such an enormous re-
venue will soon render them we'll
nigh independent of laws and of the
men who are supposed to make them.
The rapidity with which new lines
are being constructed, especially in
the West, is astonishing. During the
first SIX months OF this year over 5000
miles of track have been laid in the
United States, and it is estimated that
more than that number Of miles will
be completed in the other six months
so that the total construction for the
year will not fall much short of II, 900
miles. Last year it was o,35S miles.
There are now four through lines be-
tween Chicago and Denver, all most
complete in their appointments and
magnificent highways in every re-
spect. No fault can be on that score.
But one would naturally expect that
so much competition would produce
low rates as well as luxurious accom-
modations. Yet it does not. The