The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-09-05

6SueQ ny Uuc AuCOno LIZ
fishers, Winfield, Kansas. 1t con-
tains seventy-fve lively pieces, all set
TO old familiar tunes, that every
BODY can sing. Price only 10 cents,
or 81 10, per dozen, postpaid. 1t is
a daisy, and no mistake. Every alh-
ance secretary should at least order
a sample copy 1Oc.) and thus seefor
themselves.
Passenger Rates One Cent Mile
The National Tribune:
The movement for an immediate
and radical reduction in passenger
rates all over the country should
begin at once, and everywhere. Nor
should there be abatement OF the
agitation so long as any railroad
presumes to charge more than one
cent a mile for carrying a passenger
any distance Anything beyond
that is extortion-is robbery OF the
community.
In European countries no more
densely populated than our states
east of the Missouri, the railroads
have found it very profitable to
carry passengers at much less than
one cent a mile, and it will be the
same in this country. Railroads are
built much NOR, cheaply here than
there. Two great elements of con-
struction-cost-right OF way, and
ties-are much cheaper here than in
Europe. Excavations, rails, rolling
stock, and equipment are not much
higher, while fuel is much cheaper
here than in any place in Europe
outside of England.
But were every item in the cost OF
building and running railroads higher
than abroad, it still would not alter
the general fact that our roads can
afford to transport passengers full as
cheaply as those of Europe. The
profits of business always depend
upon the amount that can be done
with the same amount OF plant. The
railway plant required to carry 100
passengers day is exactly the same
as for 1000 passengers. The same
expensive roadway must be con-
structed and maintained, the same
stations must be provided, the same
engines, and nearly the same cars !;
the same staff of engineers, conduc-
tors, station agents. telegraphers,
superintendent, etc, must be en-
ployed and paid the same salaries.
We are much greater travellers than
the Europeans, the same number OF
people in a community furnishing
from two to five times as many pas
sengers per annum as the average
acrass the Atlantic. Our railroads
carry over 5OO,O0O,OOO passengers
, year, making an average ofbetween
eight and nine trip per year for every
man, woman and child Ill the country
The average in Hungary is but one
trip per year per head OF population
, but tive in Austria, and but five II
Germany.
If the maximum fare in this country
we're but one cent a mile for short dis
tances, with a proper reduction TO-
l long trips, the number OF passenger
r carried would be quadrupled at least
the railroads would make grea
y deal more money, and the pleasure
enterprise, and progress of the peopl
: would be immensely promoted.
p Land Grant Monthly:
The opinion of Judge Shiras, OF tn
, United States district court, in tn
l. Des Moines river case, is undOubtedl
q good law, as the law now stands
d but it is a strange commentary o
IS the management OF the land depar1
% ment of this government. To think tn
~ law can be so framed as to give 2O2
J 900 acres of the best land in Iowa t
1, set of sharpers who never gave
Us dollar for it, and the governmen
a patents be pronounced good fC
N nothing, although for twenty-fiv
II years in the hands of actual settler
i would be pronounced too preposte
III GUS for belief, we're we not brougf
face to face with the actual fact
e: The manner in which the affairs {
Id the department of the governmer
e. has been managed the greater pal
a of the time for the past 40 years
" simply shameful A vast majorit
VI OF the monstrous monopolies of t,
ct day had their origin right Their
p Men have risen, in scol es of instance
o. by means of wholesale theft of d.
o. main from obscurity to vast wealt
H. and controlling influence in gover1
m mental affairs, that otherwise wou]
re not have been heard of except in the
l immediate circle. The camel hs
~ the half Of his body in the house nov
lg Let the people open their eyes
IS. the facts ere it is too late. Sem
lie torial junkets to the distant territol
I'd OF Alaska are of yearly occurrenc
r. A great territory exists there. TT
III movements OF the politicians in tn;
is direction need watching.
~ Figures That Talk.