The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-01-14
Journal of Agriculture.


wish to call the attention of the
producing classes to the abuses of
the present carrying system, and to
suggest what l think would be the
best remedy. 1t makes little differ
ence to the farmer, who produces
grain, meat or vegetables, whether
the prices of his commodities are
high or low, so long as transporta-
ton companies adopt the iniquitous
rule of charging call the traffic will
bear" An advance in prices only
means an advance in freight rates.
Thus the benefits of high prices are
made to inure altogether to the car
rier, while the producer is defraud-
this can and should be remedied.
But how, is the question? Simply
by the Government taking charge
of the carving business, just as it
has taken charge of the mails. But
the question may be asked: How
can the Government do this? Well,
in the first place, the people will
have to discuss the question and
conclude upon some definite plan
of action, then demand from all
candidates for Congress solemn
pledge, or guaranty, that that they
will, by voice and vote, labor for
the execution of such plan. Then
if after their election, they prove
recreant to their trust and violate
their pledges, [ would suggest that
they be permitted to take "dissolv-
ing views" of their future greatness,
by looking up a sappling. When
we get Congress on the above, or
a similar basis, let them appoint
committee on transportation. Let
the committee carefully examine
into and report the actual cost per
mile of carrying freight, and enact
law that no corporation, or indi-
vidual shall charge above the rate
allowed by law, which should in
clude the actual cost and about the
same per cent of profit that is earn
ed by the other industries; and if
the present transportation compa-
MES conclude to discontinue bust
ness, then let the Government buy
their roads at a reasonable price.
after deducting from the amount
the various sums contributed by the
public toward the construction of
said roads. If they refuse to con-
form to the just and equitable rates
prescribed by law, and refuse to
sell their roads as proposed above,
then let the Government proceed
to make examples of one or more
of the main trunk lines, by building
competing lines of its own, parallel
thereto, so as to take their trade and
throw them out of employment.
One or two such examples would
be sufficient to bring them to terms.
Now, let the people demand this
without regard to party; let no
Democrat, Republican, Greenback-
er, or any other man go to Congress,
unless he is firmly pledged to side
with the people in the struggle for
supremacy between the railroads
civ tAS POOHiCs vi COuIS0, IN some
districts, the railroads own the PEG.
pie to such an extent that thew can
elect men who are openly pledged
to their interests. But our only
chance of success lies in making
them show their colors. Allow no
evasion, prevaricating, or lodging
the issue. Then, and not till then
will our wrongs be righted. Let
the people make up the issue for
the next campaign and not wait till
political rings come forward. with
great array of glittering generali-
ties and sentimental nonsense. which
can be read and construed to mean
anything or nothing, just as the
fancy of the reader NAV dictate.
No more special favors for corpora
tons and the sooner it is understood
the better it will be for all.
P. F. McCLosKRY.
Schuyler county, Mo-, Dec. II.
Twenty miles of rails have been
laid on tho GaOrc.;o Do1:c