Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-08-21
oMaHa's PLIGHT.
The Need of Railroads Which WIN do
the Fair Thing by the Expectant

The Need of Railroads Which WIN dt
the Fair Thing by the Expectan
Metropolis.
Omaha Bee: A local correspondent o.
the Bee, who adds the qualification oi
being a heavy shipper to that of being O
man of brains, writes that the only solu-
| ton of the railroad problem in Omaha e
interests is the construction of lines from
! this city to the northwest and south
west, owned by Omaha capitalists and
| operated IN the interests of Omaha ship
pers. He denounces as absurd the pro-
posal to boycott lines which iiscrimin-
ate against this city, because such a
move would shut our merchants out
from the only trade facilities which they
enjoy. There is sound basis of truth
in our correspondents argument. The
plan proposed would be the best if it
were at once practicable. Omaha capi-
talists, like all other investors, have
an eye single to the main chance. If
they built railroads, they
would do SO to make
money from the investment. The chances
are that such roads would not remain
long in the hands OF the original owners.
The Omaha & Southwestern was built
to afford the city an entry into the
southwest. Within u few Years it's con-
structors found it more profitable TO sell
than to hold, and it passed into the
hands of the Burlington j. Missouri.
The Omaha & Northwestern was con.
structed to afford an outlet to northern
Nebraska. Several years ago it was
secured by the Northwestern and has
since been used to beat out the brains
of Omaha trade. If the b. & M. and
Northwestern systems could be paral-
leled with assurance of good ptoiits on
the investment the move would doubt
less be one which would secure for this
city it's share of trade which it is quite
able to hold.
The construction of line from Oma
ha up the Elkhorn valley is, however,
feast bic and would pay we'll. AT pres.
ent we are completely cut off from that
section. The policy of the Northwestern
road is one of steady discrimination
against this CITY. Freight Agent More
house is its spokesman, and he leaves
no stone unpturned to divert traffic from
Omaha to points on the
main line further east. We
know whereof we assert when we declare
that freight has been laid down as
oheaply from Chicago to points on the
Elkhorn Valley line as they have from
Omaha. The system of rebates and
drawbacks has covered the operation of
this system of destroying trade with our
city. but it has gone on steadily under
cover of fair tariff sheet. Rates are
against our merchants. and with rates
a3ainst them eastern drummers held the
field. A direct line up the Elkhorn val
ley from Omaha would take nearly every
pound of freight from local shippers
who are justly indignant with the
attempts which the Northwestern has
made to shut them ont of their trade
territory. 1t could be built much more
cheaply to important points than a line
which would parallel the Burlington and
which if built would be equally
Welcomed by our merchants.
The suggestion of our correspondent
that final relief can only come from roads
controlled in Omaha's interests, hits the
nail on the head.