Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-26
& TIMELY WORD.
IFrom the Lake Geneva HERALD, Cyis) June 22d

IFrom the Lake Geneva HERALD, Cyis) June 22dl
Chas. Dudley Warner, in Har-
per's Monthly for June, touches
upon the hostility of western legis-
Iatures towards railroads. The
article is timely, because if the at
titude displayed in the past is
continued for any length Of time,
it will certainly tend to drive away
capital from the western states,
that would naturally find lis way
into railroads. It IS right and
proper that capital should receive
its due profit, but it must be con
ceded that the railroads Of the west
have not prospercd as they should.
The Interstate law has reduced
the earnings and has vastly de
preciated the value Of a number Of
western roads, while hostile state
legislation has brought many west
ern roads to the verge of bank
suptcy. And yet tie law makers
and politicians Of Iowa and Ne
braska are clamorous for further
reductions aud are seemingly recl-
less Of the wide spread injury
their selfish demands are bringing
about. Mr.. Warner has a world
wide reputation and his.words are
worthy Of consideration. He says;
at is difficult to understand the
attitude Of the Western Changers
and the Western Legislatures
towards the railroads, or it would
be if we didn't understand pretty
well the nature of the demagogue
the world over. The people are
everywhere crazy for roads, more
and more roads. The whole west
we are considering is made by
railroads. Without them the
larger part Of it would be unhabit-
able, the lands of small value, pro-
duce useless for want Of market.
No railways, no civilization. Year
by year settlements have increased
i'll all regions touched by railways.
Land has risen in price, and freight
rates have diminished. And yet
no sooner do the people get the
railways near them than they get
hostile TO the con2panys. Hostility
t. railway corporations seems to
Be the dominant sentiment in
Western minds, and the one most
naturally invoked by any political
demagogue who wants to climb up
higher in elective office. The
roads are denounced as "monopo-
lies"-a word getting to be APP
piled to any private persons who
are successful in business-and
their consolidation is regarded as
standing menace to society.
OF course it goes without say
ing that great Corporations with
exceptional privileges are apt to
be arrogant, unjust and grasping.
Especially when, as in the case of
railways, they unite private inter
ests and public functions, they
need the restraint Of law and care
full limitations Of powers. But the
Western situation IS nevertheless a
Very curious one. Naturally when
capital takes great risks it is en-
titled to Proportionate profits; but
profits always encourage compc-
titlon, and the great Western lines
are already i'll war for existenc.
that does not need much unfriend2
" legislation, t. make fatal. In
kzct, the lowering of rates in rail
way wars has gone on so rapidly
Of late years that the most active
granger Legislature cannot frame
hostile bills fast enough TO keep
pace with it. Conso iIation is OBJ
jected to. Yet this consideration
must not be lost sight Of; the West IS
cut up By local roads that could
not be maintained, as they would
not pay running expenses if they
had not been made parts Of a great
system. Whatever may be theI
danger Of the consolidation svs-f
TEN, the country has no doubt
been benefited by it.
The present tendency of legisla-
ton, pushed to its logical con
clusion. is towardsa practical con
ascation Of railway property; that
IS, its tendency IS TO 50 interfere
with management, SO restrict free
dom OF arrangement, SO reduce
the rates that che company's will !
with difficulty ,continnc. operations.