The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-08-30
Legislation and Railroad Construction.

The following extract from the Invest
ment Circular of John II. Davis d Co., for
August, too truthfully portrays the deplor-
able condition to which railroad construc-
tion in the west and northwest has been
brought by too much buncombe legisla-
tion. The facts and figures given below
certainly furnish much food for the refec-
tive mind, and worthy careful perusal:
AS in 1889, the table of new milage
shows in a very forcible manner the effect
of the hostile attitude of certain western
states toward transportation corporations,
both upon railway companies and capital
lists who furnish the money for railway
building. As has been frequently pointed
out, Iowa has taken the lead in unjust leg
islation. In the nine years from 1879 to
1887 inclusive, the average annual increase
of railway mileage in that state was 452;
in the two years of 1883 and 1889, when
Iowa was flying the banner of hostility and
oppression, the average was 81 miles; in
the first half of 1880 not one mile of rail-
road has been laid. In Minnesota, where
there has likewise been high-handed in
justice on the part of legislators and COM
missioners, only two miles have been added
in the half year, while the average for the
ten years from 1879 to 1883 was 2S4. Ne
braska has been apparently envious of the
record of Iowa and has entered upon a
similar crusade. The result is shown in
the building of only 20 miles thus far this
year, and of but 46 miles in 1889, while the
average annual increase for the ten years
from 1879 to 1888 was $685. miles. The
state of Kansas, which was built up from
364,OOO population in 1870 to nearly l,500,-
600 in 1883, mainly by the growth of her
railway system, and which had an average
annual addition of 633 miles in the ten
years ending with 1883, has likewise disre-
garded gratitude or equity in her recent
dealings with railroad corporations. The
effect is seen in an addition of but 60 miles
in the year 1889 and of 81 miles in 1880.
In these four states altogether only 1923
miles have been built this year, and only
1884 were added in 1889, against an aver
age of 1859 for the ten preceding years.
It would be folly to attribute these notable
] results to other than the cause we have
named. As the the Northwestern Rail
roader of st. Paul says:
ssIt is not that there is not room for
many more miles of road. II is not that
there is not need of new roads in many di:;
rections. II is not that particular locali-
ties are not asking loudly enough for new
lines to be built. The reason is to be found
solely in the oppressive anti-railroad poll
cy which the northwestern states have seen
fit to adopt. The public abuse Of corpor-
ations makes railroad building and rail
road operation q thankless task. The leg
islation of the northwestern states during
the last few years, and the course pursued
by the railroad commissioners Of these
/ states, have made the profitable operation
Of railroads, even under the most favorable
conditions, a thing almost impossible. \ = =
\ The granger policy has almost absolutely
killed the investment of outside capital in
tho northwest. It has, for q time, put q stop
VI to all construction; and the same men
who, in the mass, are responsible for the
cessation Of railroad building, continue
from every city and township TO clamor for
new extensions and competing lines z