Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-22
settle the IL. IL. Question.

has decided that legislature is not u
competent tribunal to judge what "A
reasonable rail road rate is, and that
"the court is the ONLY TRIBUNAL com-
petent to decide what reasonable rate
is, why not the government build II
trans-continental road from New York
to San Francisco, with II few feeders
north and south to the most important
commercial centers?
You ask how can this be done, We
would suggest that the present Con-
gress, while it waits" instruct the
President of the U. S. to order some of
best Army Civil Engineers, who have
but little to do-aud who are drawing
big pay-to at once survey the shortest
and most practical route between the
two extreme points OF tine continent,
and make report to Congress as soon
as possible of the cost to grade and
bridge said road, which must be
double track road. Other committees
to be appointed by Congress, compe-
tent and honest, to report as to the
cost of tieing, equipping and complet-
ing the entire road with everything
new and first class, the bridges and
culberts to be of steel and rock, the
rails to be heavier than any now in
use, the cars and engines capable OF
twice the capacity of those now in use.
All this, Including a well equipped
telegraph system the entire route,
would not cost to exceed 500, 1000, 900.
Now Congress should authorize the
Secretary of the Treasury to issue said
amount, which should be made full le-
gal tender for all dues and demands
whatsoever within the U. S. Now hear
some machine say 80, going to set the
printing press running and grind out
some fat money to flood the country,
eh?" AS National bank currency, or
fat currency, is good, and redeemable
in the present greenbacks, las they are)
which greenbaclls are not full legal
tender, then surely the new issue
would be as good as the II. b. currency
now in use; and if one dollar and forty
cents would be too great an initiation,
if this machine could not stand this ex-
pansion, then let's call in and destroy
an equal amount of national bank cur
rency, that gets in circulation only BY
drawing interest and is not full legal
tender.
This done, | would set some of the
idle men in every county from New
York to California grading, tieing and
railing this double track, peoples road,
and pay Sl.25 or 81. 80 and board, per
day, for eight hours work. Such a
home market as has never been dream
ed of would be established from end to
end of this undertaking.
Can you comprehend how many men
could be employed and how this money
received for honest work would get in
circulation and be expended for sup
port of families, etc, instead of by be-
ing loaned over bank counter, draw
ing interest, o.. usury only to the bank
or.
Men should be set to manufacturing
the very best steel rails, cars, engines
etc, and building substantial, but not
gaudy depots, and other necessary
buildings. Space is too limited to elab-
crate as to the extra demand for all
eatibes, as well as materials, which
would be used in construction. lmag-
inc the road all finished with the finest
trains and everything complete. Now
! ask, what has il cost? What indebt-
edness, what has been accomplished?
1t has cost what the paper and press
work would be to issue the SlOn, 900, 900
or no more than the expense would be
in issuing the same amount of bonds
or bank currency.
There is no ndebtednesS, no watered
stock or bonds; but Sl0O. 900, 600 of ac-
tual wealth has been added to the ma
tion and it belongs to the people. Next
Uncle Sam should invite the best rail
road and telegraph men in the nation
to go to work at the highest wages
paid by any similar employers and
eight hours should constitute days
work.
Do you think the Supreme court
would say that Uncle Sam can't carry
freight and passengers cheaper than
roads mortgaged for twice what this
one cost, and bonded for three or four
times as much more, has to charge?
Don't you think this would settle the
freight and passenger rate question?
Uncle Sam would say to the wheat,
corn, hog and cattle raisers, ''ship over
your own road it has no debts, no in
terest, no taxes. no dividends. no liti- !
cation, no high salaried officers TO pay,
and will carry everything at the low
est possible rate, only exacting enough |
to pay good wages, all legitimate and |
necessary expenses, to keep up wear,
tear and any accidents Whoever be-
lieves rates would necessarily be more
han 4 to cent per mile for passenger
fare, and one third what is now charg- |
ed for freight rates, has studied or
thought on the transportation question
but very little and displays his igno-
-,noa The hat - all thar would 10 |