The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-01-13
a NEW SCHEME.
Lot Us Have Transcontinental Railroad
The Nlcaragua Canal.


Lot Us Have Transc0ntinental Railroad
The Nicaragua Canal.
We recommend the immediate or
ganization Of a company for the con-
struction Of new transcontinental
railroad extending from ocean to
ocean, with tributary lines penetrat-
ing every important point upon the
continent says the Topeka Advocate
and Tribune. Such a road would
constitute the greatest railroad sys-
tenn in the world. Farmers should
unite in the organization of this COM
pany because. after its completion.
they could ship their own products to
market over their own road at cost.
Merchants should go into 1t because
it would enable them TO handle their
own merchandise at cost At the
same time the stockholders would de-
rive revenue from the government
for carrying the mails and other gov
eminent supplies and likewise from
the travelling public. Such a road
would also at once put an end to ex-
orbitant freight charges by greedy
corporations
But some one may object on ac-
count of lack of capital. Bless your
poor innocent SOUL that is just where
you are off your base. 1t wouldn't
| require any capital at all You don't
know how easy the thing could be
done. Have you been humping
around all these years and haven't
yet learned how to build railroad?
just look at the Union Pacific road.
for instance The fellows who built
that road didn't have any money of
their own. They didn't need any.
They had what was infinitely more
valuable. They had cheek. They
simply got charter and went up to
Washington with it and asked the
government to issue bonds enough to
build road. The government was
generous and not only gave the nee
essary bonds but threw in few
millions of pocket money while the
work was going on. Uncle Sam also
had a good lot of land lying along
the route that he had no particular
| use for at the time, and he threw
that in also. Have you forgotten
how it was done?
Then take another example. There
is company now organized TO dig a
big ditch across the isthmus. through
which the world commerce may be
floated from ocean to ocean. and made
to pay tribute to the company. The
government proposes to issue 800. :
000 600 OF bonds to dig this ditch.
1t is estimated that it will only cost
$50. 600 600. but then the fellows who
have undertaken this great patriotic
enterprise must have little pocket
money to keep there going. and $40. :
0O0 900 is a small affair for Uncle
Sam. A great government like ours
can afford to be generous and it is.
Now. what is the use of you fool
farmers sitting around and growing
about the robberies of transportation
companies when you can just as we'll
have a railroad Of your own by ask
ing for it? Don't say the government
would not give you bonds. Have
you ever asked for. them? Just try
it and see how promptly they will be
granted.
The scheme to have the United
States government to guarantee
500. 600. 900 of bonds for the con-
struction of the Nicaragua canal and
to make those bonds basis tor the
continuance of the national banking
system. is the impending danger to
the interests of the people at the
present time The combined power
of plutocracy will be brought to bear
to carry the plot through the present
congress 1t is dangerous in more
ways than one.
First-It saddles another batch oil
interest bearing bonds upon the in
dustrial classes Of this country for
the benefit Of Wall street coupon clip.
pers.
Second-It secures the perpetual
ton of that best banking system in
the WORLD for an indefinite period.
Third--It loans the credit OF the
government to a corporation for the
.construction of great public water.
way which that corporation is to own
and control and by means of which
it will levy exorbitant tribute upon
the commerce of the world.
FOURTH he estimates of the cost
of construction of the canal are abou,
500 900, O00. and yet 500. OOO 900 Of
bonds are asked for or $40 OOl OOC
more than are necessary.
If the government were to own an6
operate this canal in the interest o.
and for the benefit of the people,
every patriotic citizen could we'll af-
ford to favor such appropriation as
might be necessary for its construc
ton: but there is neither logic no,
sense, to say nothing about patriot
ism. in the proposition to construct i
and give it to set Of highway rob
bers.
Asking Too Much.
Monopolists complain that work
ingmen are asking too much. Thi