The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-14

Yesterday morning q train of twenty-five cars,
loaded with the plant Of an Iowa industry,
passed through Huntington bound for another
state. The train contained the machinery, i'm
plements, patterns, etc., of the Road Grader AMI
Scrsper Works, OF Mount Pleasant. Ia, now be-
ing transferred to Aurora, Ill. Several more
trains will soon follow, for it was q large manu-
featuring plant, involving capital of perhaps
10000. And strange to relate, II was Mount
Pleasant enterprise, owned by Mount Pleasant
people, Who were and are anxious to build up
their home interests. Why, then, is this valu-
able industry, employing 900 or 800 hands, and
having . magnificent trade, covering various
states of the Union, being moved away by the
citizens who are the most interested in keeping
1t in Mount Pleasonte
The answer is not hard to find. The reluctant
movers can answer It. Their enterprise il being
exiled from the state through the operation Of
national and state railway laws. The Mount
Pleasant Company, owned and operated by
home interests, struggled long and hard to con.
tend against fate. They found that with the
contemplated expansion Of their business they
could save, by removing to Chicago or vicinity,
$4,000 year in freight charges. This alone
represents large profit 1t Is a profit at Chi
cago; 1t is . corresponding loss in Iowa. Very
few Arms or companies could stand such
drain as that But the Mount Pleasant Com
pany held on, hoping that the courts, or con-
gress, or the state Legislature would afford re-
lief. No relief came, and no prospect OF any.
The demagogues who were running party eau
cnses still found in the hue and cry against rail-
ways an open sesame to Office and political
power. They cared nothing for the industries
of state, so that they got the votes.
Finally removal seemed to be an absolute
necessity. A majority of the stockholders still
opposed the change out of regard for the inter-
ests of Mount Pleasant They tried to figure out
some way to avert the removal. Again they
went all the figures, but the lowest possible
estimate showed q difference OF 81 900 q year in
freight charges on the business before enlarg-
ing "You gentlemen" said Captain Smith, the
general manager, shave the sentiment ON your
side OF the argument, but have the figures on
miue," And that was true; and finally the
company reached an agreement to remove the
works TO Aurora, H., which Is on the Belt
Line railway that encircles Chicago and
gives them the same freight rates as In the city
ITSELF They will greatly enlarge the plant.
The new buildings are eighty feet in length and
make an aggregate of . quarter of a mile in
length And this is lowas contribution to Chi
cago's greatness. II is the same kind of con-
tribution as Marshalltown and other inland
towns have made TO engerge Chicago rs
monopolist OF the manufacturing industries OF
the West This Is achieved by idiotic Law
which some people bslieve was framed TO help
Iowa The state needs TO be saved from such
helm as that Ii is the help of the boa constructor
that is squeezing the life out of Iowa inland
towns and enrsehsag Chicago. Is it not about
time to call halt to such follys"