The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-10-15
Suicidal Policv.

IS built. if ever, it will go to Stuarts
Draft. for that would accommodate
fertile farming country, now isolated,
and tap the only demonstrated iron sec
ton of the South River District Ii not
at Stuart's Draft, then at Vesuvius. 1t
is at these two points where lateral
roads have been constructed to accom-
date the developed iron ore, and where
operations are actively going on for the
shinment of iron ores and manganese.
Near Vesuvius is located the Mine Bank
property. owned by the Virginia Mining
and Investment Company, where mill
ions of tons of ore are in sight, and the
nearly ready for its shipment. lt
is here where the Augusta Mining and
Investment Company is operating
large manganese mine, and have been
shipping the ore for months. Enlarged
facilities are being provided for much
more extensive mining, as the Company
is satisfied that it has a large deposit of
this valuable ore.
But as to railroads. What is the use
of planning and scheming to build more
railroads, if the Farmers Alliance is to
take charge of the Legislature, as they
will, and use legislative power to cripple
them. Hostility to the railroads is pro
claimed by almost every Alliance man
Won talk with In their secret conclayes
they discuss the most effective method
to retard and destroy railroad usefnl
ness. They want to create a commas
sion, composed of men who know very
little about the workings of railroad cor
porations and the difficulties with which
they have to contend, to control all rail
road interests-to assume substantially
command of other peoples property,
and manage it to suit themselves and
not to consider the interests of the gen
eraI public and especially not to con-
slider the private capital involved In
railroad enterprises. There is an insane
notion prevailing in Alliance circles,
that the railroads are the enemies of the
farming interests, when in fact they are
the best friend the farmer has. There
is a constant grumble going out about
the expressions and wrongs inflicted by
the railroads, and unjust exactions
made, when in fact the railroad man
agements have as much as they can do
to keep out of the hands OF receivers.
Unless the farmers of Virginia shall
reach the conclusion that the farmers of
NJ hor, ir
crude notions about legislating to EN-
barrass and cripple the railroads we
have, there will be very little more rail
road work done The Board of Trans
Granger or Alliance men, who hereto
fore have been breathing vengeance
against railroads and their management
have had their eyes opened. The whole
question related to railroads was SUBJ
mitted to this Board for examination
and report, and last week they did re-
report. And what is the result. The
Board is composed of State officers, but
the real work of this examination was
done and the opinions formulated by
three men called secretaries, whose find
ings the Board has received and en-
dorsed.
These secretaries, appointed because
of fitness for the task, held meetings at
different important towns throughout
Nebraska, and invited all persons having
grievances to come before them and
state the complaints with any proposed
remedy, adding, however, that the well
fare of the whole State would be first
considered. These meetings were at
tended by the railroad managers, so
that charges of unjust discrimination
were discussed by both parties. After
such examinations, the secretaries now
unanimously report that any compul-
sorry reduction of present railway tariffs
would work injury to Nebraska's busi-
ness interests. The report assumes $780,
roads on the average, and on this as
sumption figures out a very small profit
to the carriers. Hence the old cry OF
exorbitant profits must lose its force, the
discussion thus finally resolving itself
into the question whether the tariffs are
fair commercially.
1t is to this point that the secretaries
report and arguments are mainly direct
ed and the case is strongly presented.
The report condemns the agitators who
denounce railways at farmers meetings,
as ignorant of the subject or willfully
malicious. Such professional agitators
usually call attention to high local-that
is, station to station-tariffs, but forget
to add that less than per cent. of Ne
braska's products move to local markets
Corn is not sold in Nebraska villages,
but in Chicago, and the transportation
charges to that great market are the
parts of the tariffs which really concern
the farmer The statistics presented
show clearly enough that on the ques-
ton of Chicago rates-a question, by the
way. out of Nebraska's jurisdiction in
any case-the railways have more than
favored that State.
The railroads in Virginia. like those
in Nebraska, are doing the best they
can for the farmers, to keep themselves
alive. They have to have revenues and
they must establish tariff rates to pro-
cure them These tariff schedules are
arranged, after patient study and inves-
tigation, to apply, as nearly as possible,
equally to all interests. What object
could the railroads have in discrimina-
ting against the farmers? None what
ever. On the contrary their interest lies
in encouraging development and indus
try of every kind, and this they do
Some interests may feel the effect of the
rates more than others, or think they
feel it, but that is foreign to tie pur-
pose of the railroad arrangements. The
fact is, speaking gently, the Alliance
does not know what it wants. Intoxicated
with political success, and unused to
the exercise of legislative powers, the
danger is that some very foolish and
harmful laws will be enacted, especially
SO if the ignorant demagogues who are
railroads and trying to
make the farmers believe they have a
mortal enemy in railroads, are given
free rein in the legislature. In