The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-11-25

little opportunity IOf cOmpetltloI
and hence they have eYerythin
their own way for a time at least
But their enormous gains soon ex
cite other men of means to inves
in the building of new road, i
with no other hope at least Of shar
ing the gains. But when capital i
once placed in road it remain
fixed there and can not be diverte,
at the pleasure of the owner to SOM
other enterprise when he finds tn
latter likely to pay better.
1t has often been argued that the
building of a new road is of grea
benefit to the country in which i
is built. This is no doubt in {
measure true, and in some cases
such an investment may be the
very best possible, as when the one
already in operation is not able to
meet the demands of business upon
it. Then not only are the people
benefited by the immediate distri>
button Of so much capital in the
shape of wages, but tt investment
Itself keeps so many hands con-
stantly employed and at the same
time profits are accruing and ready
for new investment. Then other
advantages also arise from the
fact that new areas are opened
up and brought within the
pale of civilization, and so on. But
too often railroads are built where
they are unnecessary, and merely
for the purpose as stated before of
sharing the enormous gains of the
rival road. Here then is a sheer
waste of capital, which might have
been employed in developing the
natural resources of the country,
and thus have proved of incalcul-
able value to the people as whole,
if it were not for the excessive
greed of the first organized company,
which rather than be satisfied with
more reasonable gains, and for al
long period Of time in the future,
would prefer to crafty their present
Unsuitable greed for wealth, though
they know they must suffer for it
after a while.
Now, when tive roads are in the
ield We naturally conclude that
competition will bring down freight
rates, but to our disappointment we
soon discover that where one road
lid very well, two cannot expect to
'ealize large profits at reduced rates
he consequence is, they must or
yanize a pool, and thus establish
'ates which, when only one CON-
)any was in existence, might havel
been lowered without any danger!
put can not now be done without
njuring one company or the other.
High rates are almost sure to be
hus permanently fixed, at least
until the local trade of one makes it
ielf-sustaining. so that it can afford
@ compete for larger share of the
business in common. A third road
coming in under such circumstances
Is these would only tend to make
matters worse.
AOnOpOlies IN the woelen manu-
acture were at one time established
n England, and succeeded ID doing
much good by fostering this indus
ry for a time; but it was
lot long before they did much
nore harm than good tol
he consumers, as they were
bliged to pay much higher price
or an inferior article made at home :
han what they would have to pay L
or the same imported from France
r Belgium. But in addition to this
be workmen became not only mat.
entive to their business and care
.ss Of improving themselves, but
t the same time treated their Gus Il
omers insolently, knowing that
hey had everything their own way. L
o when only one railroad crossed !
be continent the officers and en- {
loyees were too unaccommodating {
o do even their best customers any !
lver, and too insolent to pay any 6
tte1tion to their just complaints, i
nd this conduct, strange as it may f
Gem, was carried On almost to the I
cry day when a new road was {
sady to receive orders for freight.
low, how polite and obliging, and /
ow ready TO grant y on any favor, a
ven without asking it. Why they t
i'd not exercise a little foresight. a
nd thus commence this course a
ear or two beforehand, or at least
month OF two, seems hard to COM
-obord i