People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-05-07

The following paper was read by
Senator Forney before theKansas state
board of agriculture and was printed
in the quarterly report of that insti-
tuition, for the quarter ending March
81, 1894:
"Since the landing of the Pilgrim
fathers on PlrmouthRo Rock down to the
present time, the necessity of cheaper
transportation has been one Of the
greatest questions before the people.
This will 30 doubt continue as
long as time lasts: or at least until
the several years yet to come fail to
bring forth inventions, such as i'm
proved machinery, the application of
steam, electricity, ETC, which have in
variably reyOlutionized every industry
and consequently forced a change in
the business systems.
y " IT'S true the desire for more rapid
and cheaper transportation, by those
who have!'preceded US, has added
greatly to their convenience and fnan-
cial advantage. We must admit
that transportation has graduallyand
almost maryeioJsIy decreased during
the past century. but it is only the
reward Of untiring work and persist
ent demands Of the people, justified
by the emergencies existing at the
particular time, coupled with their
necessities.
"As an explanation of the above, |
will state that 100 years ago it cost
from 30 to Il cents to transport one
ton of freight one mile. The six
horse team, the long half-mOOn wagon
box, a big whip, saddle, jerk,line,
Jockey stick and mud road were the
necessary,eQuipments.
"The next era was the building OF
national and state roads, styled turn
pixies The agitation by the people.
in order to get the state and nation t.
furnish means to build these, and
finally the appeal to the state repre-
sentativeS in congress, were not in
vain. After the completion of these
public roads or pixies, the citizen,
were delighted to realize that the
cost off transportation was reduced
over 5Oper cent, after paying excess
i've ChargeSoat the toll gates; yet the
average American was not satisfied.
During'the administration of Wash
iagton and ending with the admins
tratiOn Of Van Buren,, there was
nearly 100000 appropriated by the
general government and several mil.
lions by the several states for the
building of these thcrOughfares.
'The object of the government was
to build national turnpike from
Washington City to the Mississippi
river, in order to reach natural uavi-
CATION. However, the pike was not
completed. farther west than Wanda.
liza, Ill. The recuniary advantage
which by'buildirg these roads accrued
to the people generally, and the farm
ers particularly, in that day, may be
estimated, but cannot be computed.
THE next era was the building of the
artificial transportation ways known
as calls. The Erie canal Was COM
menced in 1877: twas many long years
before it,was completed. This won
derful water way connects Lake Erie
with the Hudson river, reaching from
Albany to Buffalo, a distance OF 1863
miles. THE Erie, as well as other ca
mails, exercises an influence over other
ferns OF transportation, in the pres
ent day, much similar to that per-
formed over the speed OF the engine
by the balance wheel and governor. J
Again the people were made to rejoice.
A practical demonstration proved to
them the valueOf the canal, by reduc.
ing the cost of transportation fully
nlne-tenths Of the turnpike charges.
From 1875 to about 1910 there was
great boom in canal building. Dur
ing this period there were about 800
miles of canal constructed. costing in
the neighbOrhoOd OF S2l5, 100000.
We have now reached the era of
railroad building, which, to say the
least, is wonderful. No doubt there
are men here who can remember when
the first bObtail Baltimore & Ohio
railroad was built-Only Is miles long
in 1880. The company made ar.
engagements to operate the same b,
horse power and sails. Just at this
time there appeared on the stage Of
action such inventors as Trevithick.
W0l., Thomas Payne, Oliver Evans.
Jno. Dixon aud few others, proudly
bearing, as it were, above their heads.
the complete, beautiful and wonder.
full expansiveiengine. Upon the &C
ceptance Of the same, the canal horse.
the sails and the long wagon box wer,
displaced and soon became relics O.
the past. Comment is not necessary.
Rejoicing does not express the feel