The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-05-17


controls the old common roads. 1t was
well enough to let corporations ex-
pertinent with railroad buiding until it
was demonstrated that railways were a
success, Just as was done in many
places with turnpike roads. But that
they should permanently be made a
means of enriching individuals at the
expense of the public is not to be per-
mitted by free people.
IT would not, perhaps, be so imme-
diately necessary to take these highways
out of the control of corporations,-or
of immensely wealthy individuals, If
such would be content with the fair in
come on their cost. But every success
full railroad, - and nearly all we'll
managed railroads are now successful
is paying dividends of six per cent and
upward. They have received their
charters from the people, and the stock
holders have no right TO more than a
fair interest on their investment. Yet
the roads are run on the principle of
charging sail that the traffic will
bear" 1t is probably well that they do
so, for that is the best way to arouse
the public, and lead it to thinking the
matter over, and learning that there is,
in free country, no need of submitting
to the extortion of corporations. The
issue of new stock at par to present
stockholders, when it would bring
double that if sold at auction, is just
literally highway robbery. And yet
a Boston lawyer declares the opposition
of the people to this stock watering ("
as " the doctrine of the Western popu-
lists run mad" 1t strikes us that there
is a good deal of method in such mad
ness; and we would advise the corpora
tons and their attorneys not to stimu-
late the spread of that kind of insanity
too much, if they want to hold on to
their roads.
SOME who have not studied the sub
ject much, and especially the farmers,
have the idea that the assumption of
the railroads by the states and the
Union will entail upon the people an
immense public debt, upon which in
terest must be paid by taxation. But
this is not so. There need be no real
debt at all. Let the roads be taken by
the government at fair valuation,
aside from the franchise, which is sim.
ply grant from the public which the
public may rightly resume. Then the
roads can easily be made to pay the in
terest on bonds issued for their pur-
chase. 1t would cost the people moth
ing, and they would soon get the bene-
tit of better management, and of con-
tinually falling rates of freight and pas
sage. Government administration OF
railroads is already an actual and well.
tested thing in Europe; about half OF
the roads there being already national
property. Every road in America
ought TO be made so within the nexl
ten years,-and would be if our farmers
understood their best interests. Fol
the farmers have more interest in this
matter than any other class of citizens
because they suffer most from railroad
extortion. -
THE Dairy World, remarking upon
Mr. A. X. Hyatt's criticism of" All the
time in the barn " dairying says: " He
is a skilled dairyman and positive in his
opinions. He does not believe in the
non. exercise theory for cows, and in
his latest thrust at the advocates of il
he says: If what Mr.. Harris has said
is true it explains why cows get so poor
in fy-time. 1t takes most of their food
to run their tails. And yet some OF
my best cows-the easiest keepers
never stop their tails from January to
December, sleeping or waking. TITS 6
hard tale to believe. If every stroke o.
a cows tail takes food they shall &C
with the horns.'" We don't think the
tails are in any danger on that account
Exercise does not hurt COW, if it is Of
the right kind; and switching off flies
seems to us to be that kind. But il
you will wipe off your cows every nigh,
or morning with cloth wet in weak