The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-01-15
WILL BREAK The MONOPOLY.
THE SOLUTIONEOF THE TRANS
FORTATION QUESTION
AT HAND.
DR.. johnson, of the Willmar Tri.
bune, Thinks Electricity is to Be
the Salvation of the Farmers.

There is no doubt whatever that in the
near future the transportation question
will be solved by the adoption of a better
and cheaper system of transportation
than steam railways We may confident
ly say, that even if Uncle Sam could to-
day buy all the railroads in this country
for their actual value it would not be
policy to do so. In few years many of
our superfluous railroads will be aban-
dcned no doubt, and cheaper modes of
inter communication adopted. Only the
main trunk lines will remain, and it will
probably be military, as well as a COM
mercial necessity, for the government to
operate and control them, if not actually
own them.
The substitute for railroads is the BIZ
cycle, the horseless carriage, and the
trolley car The bicycle will once more
and more into use, especially when a
high grade wheel can behad for less than
$40, as will soon be the case The manu-
facturers of bicycles require so small
capital that it can never be mOnOpoliZed,
or made subject to trust processes of ex-
tortion.
The horseless carriage, gas or oil mo-
tor is already a demonstrated success
both for passenger and freight traffic of
limited distances. With our inland nav
igation improved, and public highways
built such as you find in Europe now,
the railroad monopoly will be busted for
ever. 1t is small matter for the state
or country, to build the necessary leading
main roads for central traffic. Let the
state of Minnesota, for instance, put $1O.-
100000 into proper system of high
ways. and that will be the end of all rail-
road eXtOrtion.
The oil or gas motor, or even steam
traction engine will do the rest. AS with
the bicycle so with this, the cost of the
outfit is so small that there never can be
a monopoly of it.
The elevated electric trolley car is the
third system that will play havoc with
the railroads in certain lines of freight
transportation. Grain for instance can
be moved for any distance by this system
cheaper by far than railroad. No road
bed, grading or bridges are necessary.
A post hole is all the right of way that is
needed. The length of the pole adjusts
the grade. A cross beam on the top of
the pole and two iron rails Ike or in
ches constitute double track trolley line
Cars of iron cylinders 8 or 10 feet in d-
ameter and 16 or 20 feet long, hangs be-
low the track suspended on rollers like
a barn door, The power is generated and
the whole system is operated at stations
along the line. 1t costs lessp than 81 900
per mile to build and equip the system.
There is no doubt whatever that wheat
can be transported from Willmar to
Minneapolis for two cents per bushel
on a trolley system. And it would only
cost 100000 to build such a line. All
that would be necessary really to get
such line would be to build it across
our own county, as the other counties
would no doubt build their part.
Thus science and inventive genius Of
man has come to the rescue of the farm
ers and industry generally by these re-
cent inventions for improved transporta-
tion facilities. 1t simplifies the whole
question. Government ownership of rail-
roads implied that the general govern
ment should act in this matter. With
these improved inventions that is not
necessary, nor desirableI 1t is now simp-
ly question of highways Each state
can construct them as she likes Individ-
ual enterprise will do the rest
The next legisla ture should create a
department Of public highways. Com.