The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-05-15
A LOSS OF INCOME.
Receivers for Railroads Have Side
tracked Enterprise.
A study of the "Hand of Tou--A
Blow Directed mt the Heart
OF Prosperity-Open Mills
Increase Incomes.

All available IactS point 10 the conclu-
sion that the people of the United States
have, during these three years Of free
trade and industrial famine, been suffer
ing from a loss of part OF the enormous
income of those engaged in gainful oc-
equations. The sidetracking of all en-
terprise, the destruction of our indus.
tries and forcing our railways into the
hands OF receivers, has resulted in an
almost fabulous loss of income. AS the
whole nation has shared in the pros
perity, so all classes were affected by the
depression. IL is folly 20 imagine for a
moment that the occupations of part OF
the people OF nation can be taken away
from them and wages reduced, and the
rest of the country remain prosperous.
The American farmer has suffered
during the last few years simply be-
cause the consuming powers of those
engaged in manufacturing and mechan-
zeal pursuits have been curtailed. IL
should be remembered that we are all
part OF one great living organism. as
intimately connected as the parts of
the human body itself. Hold up your
left hand and imagine the thumb and
four fingers the five grand divisions
of the gainful occupations as returned
by the census department. The hand
Of toll" represents these workers, num-
bering 22,735G61 persons. Left of the
life line, including the thumb, repre-
SCENTS the farmer. or over 100000 Of our
workers; the forehnger we may assume
represents those engaged in manufac-
turing and mechanical pursuits and
may represent those engaged In per
sonal and domestic service, exceeding
100000 in all; the third finger repre-
sents those engaged in trade and trans
portation, exceeding 3,326,000, and the
little finger represents the professional
class with less than million; the whole
representing the national hand of toll,
and total engaged in gainful occupa-
tions of %, 1885, Col.
Now il is impossible for any one Of
these five different classes to set up in
business for itself and thrive while it's
fellow finger is injured. When the blow
was struck at our manufacturing in
dustries what happened? Work and
wages stopped. The wages of 4,713,ooO
workers were either reduced or stopped
altogether. How much were those
wages? About SO, 1854, 100000 in 1890.
Probably more in 1892 A cut Of
only ten per cent. all around means a
loss of S25O,0O0000; a 20 per cent. reduc-
ton means a loss annually of $5O0,00o,-
000
The blow directed at the heart of our
prosperity paralyzed other organs. 1t
seriously affected our railways and
threw out of employment $4,000 men
and reduced many others TO three-quar-
ter time. In short, il raised havoc with
the country With the election of McKin-
ley hope has returned once more. With
favorable legislation, our manufacture
ers may be able to start up again. The
same is true OF our railways. The ex-
tension OF the present interstate COM
merce act giving the roads power TO en-
force the present schedule under the SUI
pervision of the commission, viii en-
able the railways Of the country TO be-
gin the building of 1880 miles of rail-
way already projected. This means the
OF $500, 100000 mostly in la
Dor. As the opening of the mills will
benefit the railways, SO the prosperity
Of the railways will enable the manng-
ers 10 eXpend millions on needed equip
ments, which will give employment TO
numerous branches OF manufacture.
Once put the incomes of the people,
engaged in manufacturing, in
transportation, professional or dcmes-
tic service. or in agriculture, right again
md the money question will disappear
During the last four years we have made !
less commodities, carried less freight |
and less passengers, worked less hours |
and less men and women, and paid less
wages. Once start our army of work
ers up again and the whole country will |
be benefited. To that end President |
called congress together.
A RAN CMOKE